We are now settling into how we can worship during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we have made some startling discoveries: first that the viewing numbers for our Sunday podcasts exceed 4:1 the number of adults that attend our church on a normal Sunday morning; second that it is perfectly possible to use commercial teleconferencing software like Zoom and Google Meet to gather as the Church in a meaningful way - what we do with this technology is what makes the difference.

Now we have the challenge of not just carrying on as the Church in a new shape, we also need to mark the most important time in the Church's Year, Holy Week and Easter, when we celebrate what God has done for us in Jesus. He has saved us from our sin and filled our lives with Jesus' resurrection life.

Last year I wrote a guide to Holy Week. I have adapted it this year for our situation and you can find it here. You will need to use your imagination to picture how we would be worshiping if we were able to use the church, but that's the nature of Holy Week anyway, that we use our imagination to walk with Jesus on the Way of the Cross and out from the empty tomb on Easter morning.

Holy Week begins this Sunday with our Palm Sunday services. There is a lot of worship prepared for you to take part in. First we have our Gathering and Prayer at 11am. We are moving to using Zoom rather than Google Meet because it allows us to play music. The login for this service is on the Homepage, but I've also printed it below. It's worth pointing out that each of these services will include worship for children.

Palm Sunday Service for Christ Church
Time: Apr 5, 2020 10:45 AM London

https://us04web.zoom.us/j/543720877?pwd=RXFoTGM2Q0FmeEdXR2l5VXpRZDQ5Zz09 

Meeting ID: 543 720 877
Password: 028085

Dial by your location
        +44 208 080 6592 United Kingdom
        +44 330 088 5830 United Kingdom
        
Meeting ID: 543 720 877

There is also a Podcast for Palm Sunday which will be published at 12noon.

At 3pm we will release another podcast, this time of the Reading of the Passion. This year we are reading St Matthew's Gospel, so we are weaving in the wonderful music of JS Bach. We'll finish our day with evening prayer which we'll do on Google Meet

Join Hangouts Meet 

Meeting ID meet.google.com/znv-idxy-aft Phone Numbers (‪GB‬)‪+44 20 3956 6572‬

PIN: ‪836 861 473#‬

On Monday we will publish a set of Stations of the Cross written and read for us as a podcast by Gary Eaborn. Gary has used the prayer method we associate with St Ignatius Loyolla, and you'll find the pictures and the words will be a powerful way to keep Holy Week. The advantage with having these meditations as a podcast is that you can put them on pause while you think deeply and pray about what you've heard.

On Maundy Thursday we will meet on Zoom to remember Jesus washing his disciples' feet and giving us the Mass, his Last Supper. 

 Maundy Thursday Gathering and Prayer

Time: Apr 9, 2020 08:00 PM London

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us04web.zoom.us/j/7110...

 Meeting ID: 711 070 404

Password: 014345

Dial by your location

        +44 203 481 5240 United Kingdom

        +44 208 080 6591 United Kingdom

Meeting ID: 711 070 404

On Easter day we will use the by now familiar pattern of Zoom meeting and podcast. Again, the links will be posted on the website Homepage.