BENDIGO'S churches are finding new ways to celebrate Easter, as physical gathering bans prevent normal services.
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Many have turned to livestreams, recordings and radio in their plans to remember the death and resurrection of Jesus.
The Catholic Diocese of Bendigo will livestream from St Killian's Church on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday.
The diocese also has Holy Week prayer resources people can use in their own home.
Bishop Shane Mackinlay said it was painful and distressing to close church doors, but people understood the reason behind the precautions.
He said the church was also encouraging people to make their own Way of the Cross, to pick places on their favourite walk where they reflect and pray as they remember Jesus walking to the cross.
Bishop Mackinlay said the sense of darkness and abandonment in Jesus' death spoke into the present situation across the world.
"The most obvious is of course Good Friday and the Cross itself, which is such an experience of Jesus being on his own, being abandoned. He says on the cross, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me'," Bishop Mackinlay said.
"Yet it's precisely there in the midst of that experience, the most alone, the darkest experience, that God raises him to the new life of the resurrection, which is the heart of our Christian hope."
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Anglican Diocese of Bendigo Bishop Matt Brain said many churches would be livestreaming or offering recorded services.
He said a livestream for the whole Diocese would be available on its website and YouTube channel.
Presbyterians and Baptist churches are also streaming services and broadcasting on LifeFM105.1.
Reforming Church Pastor Russ Grinter said what people in the church family missed most was the community. He said Reforming Church was focusing on hosting Zoom Rooms for people to explore Christianity, open to everyone.
Bendigo Baptist Senior Pastor Dave Lovell said the pandemic had changed the way the church gathered, but hadn't stopped it from being a church.
He said previous livestreams had attracted well over 1000 viewers.
The Bendigo Central Cluster of Uniting Churches are offering recorded services on Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
Many churches are offering food packs or support for people in need.
Service livestreams at:
Are you celebrating Easter in an alternative way? Let us know at addynews@bendigoadvertiser.com.au.
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Elspeth Kernebone
Accident brought me to journalism, but every day convinces me again that strong media is more important than ever. After a starting off as the sole reporter in a tiny NSW town, I’m loving the teeming metropolis that is Bendigo. Focussed on health, business and education. Got a tip? Email elspeth.kernebone@bendigoadvertiser.com.au.
Accident brought me to journalism, but every day convinces me again that strong media is more important than ever. After a starting off as the sole reporter in a tiny NSW town, I’m loving the teeming metropolis that is Bendigo. Focussed on health, business and education. Got a tip? Email elspeth.kernebone@bendigoadvertiser.com.au.
