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New Haven Pastors Adapt Easter Services

Courtesy of Pixabay

The week leading up to Easter Sunday usually means a marathon of church services. As Christians stay home this year, a congregation in New Haven manages to continue some traditions.
Pipe organs and bright tapestries still frame the minister during services at Community Baptist Church. Except, Senior Pastor Philippe Andal preaches to an audience on Facebook Live.

“It’s me, and our minister of music and two singers from our praise team, and we observe those social distancing guidelines even in the sanctuary. But it’s just the four of us.”

Andal says his Sunday resurrection service will still include Easter solos and children’s speeches. Congregants recorded them at home and shared for a pre-produced service on the church YouTube channel. Andal says he did miss Holy Thursday service, where clergy wash the feet of worshipers. But, staying home and washing hands is this year’s act of service in fellowship to one another.

Read the latest on WSHU’s coronavirus coverage here.

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Cassandra Basler, a former senior editor at WSHU, came to the station by way of Columbia Journalism School in New York City. When she's not reporting on wealth and poverty, she's writing about food and family.