Bel Air Livestreams For Easter Church Services

BEL AIR, MD — With most of the country on pause amid the ongoing new coronavirus crisis, residents in Bel Air will experience an Easter like never before. The coronavirus outbreak may stop people from attending church or temple in person and celebrating with extended family, but technology has provided a different way to observe the religious holiday: livestreams.

"One of the most painful and difficult decisions I’ve ever had to make as your archbishop was to limit Masses in the Archdiocese of Baltimore to private celebrations without the physical presence of the faithful," Archbishop William Lori said in a statement. The decision came after conferring with state leaders, public health professionals and archdiocese personnel.

"Those consultations convinced me that we must do all we can to prevent the further spread of the COVID-19 virus in our community, even if it means we may not be able to receive the Eucharist for what may be a significant period of time," Lori said. "This is for the wellbeing not only of the faithful of our Archdiocese, but for all the people of Maryland."

People can watch the Easter Sunday Mass with Archbishop Lori from Cathedral of Mary Our Queen at 12 p.m. through WBAL-TV on channel 11 or on Facebook.

Here are some Bel Air churches offering livestreams or webcasts of Easter Sunday services:

• Bel Air Church of the Nazarene — Facebook Live
• Bel Air United Methodist Church — Facebook Live
• Central Christian Bel Air — CC Life TV
• Church of the Reconciliation in Bel Air — Facebook
• Freedom Church — Facebook Live
• Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd — Facebook
• Mountain Christian Church — Church online
• St. Ignatius of Hickory — YouTube
• St. Francis de Sales of Abingdon — Facebook Live
• St. Margaret — YouTube

Did we miss yours? Add it in the comments!

You can also post virtual events on the Bel Air Patch calendar.

Pope Francis is providing livestreams of his celebrations throughout Holy Week, including his services for Good Friday and Easter Sunday. The pope celebrated his Palm Sunday Mass within Vatican City.

The pope livestreamed Easter morning Mass at 11 a.m. in Rome, which is 5 a.m. ET. You can watch the livestream through the Vatican Media YouTube channel.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City also offers an Easter Sunday Mass livestreamed at 10 a.m.

All Masses will be placed in the St. Patrick Cathedral archives for viewing at any time; all original airing times are in Eastern Standard Time.

The beginning of April is also a holy period of time for Judaism — Passover — which ends April 16.

For those interested in watching services from the safety of their homes, the Central Synagogue in New York City provides a livestream for its congregation.

The Central Synagogue is one of the largest Jewish congregations in North America and the oldest synagogue in New York City still in continuous use, according to its website.

Central Synagogue’s Livestream: Schedule below:

• Friday Night Shabbat Service: 5:45 p.m.
• Saturday Morning Shabbat Service: 9:15 a.m.
• Passover Seventh Day (Yizor) April 15: 9:30 a.m.

The Seder is the traditional meal each night of Passover, and many families are also turning to technology to help celebrate the dinner together. Apps such as FaceTime, Zoom and Google Hangouts are options to let families see one another without being in the same room.

Also, for people looking for a Seder to join, just Google “Zoom Seder,” and you will get options including guides on starting your own.

How are you celebrating the holidays in Bel Air? Tell us in the comments!

See Also:

• A Coronavirus Easter: How Families Kept Apart Embrace Each Other
• Harford Mall Cancels Events Including Easter Bunny Photos
• Easter Bunny Visits Havre de Grace: Watch