Florida Gets Ready to Celebrate Easter at a Distance

Different denominations are using live streaming, driving parades and parking-lot congregations to continue with the Easter traditions.

Coronavirus has affected more than a million and a half people in the world. According to the Florida Department of Health, the positive cases are increasing fast, a total of 15,456 and 309 deaths. 

With this reality, it becomes more imperative that people follow the stay-at-home orders. Gov. DeSantis was one of the last governors in the U.S. to implement these measures. His executive order considers religious services conducted in churches, synagogues and houses of worship an “essential activity.” But congregations are choosing to keep their parishioners safe.  

Priests and pastors are conducting the services by live stream and some churches have created drive-in services.

Live Streaming

The Trinity Parish church in St. Augustine, Florida called it, “coming together without living home.” They had a Palm Sunday Parade where they drove together, and will continue to have digital worship through live streams of the services all the week.

The Diocese of Orlando also streams masses daily from St. James Cathedral in Orlando.

Calavary has services in English and Spanish that they stream on their web pages and Facebook. During the Resurrection Sunday service, Calvary Español will give groceries to the community.

City of Life Church in Kissimmee had created “Church at Home,” that besides offering religious services, also has a chat group to pray together. They have an online service for kids and an “After Party,” an online gathering right after 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m services.

East Coast Believers, a nondenominational church, is holding prayer sessions in a daily webcast and will stream three services on Sunday. They have campuses in Lake Nona and Oviedo.

Drive-in Services and Food Drives 

Since religious services are not banned in Florida, but trying to avoid big congregations, some churches have created “Drive-Thru” services. 

One of them is Eastwind Pentecostal Church on Palm Bay. 

“Since church services are deemed “essential services” we’re excited about “Drive-in Church” services in the church parking lot; we can come tune into the service via the radio and worship together from the safety of your vehicle,” wrote pastor David Myers, on the church website.

The church will also broadcast a service online, through YouTube, Facebook and their website.

Faith Assembly in Orlando also has a drive-thru for grocery distribution tomorrow and four online services on Easter. Recently, the church partnered with Orlando Dream Center and Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida collecting donations. They collected almost 30,000 pounds of food to feed families in the area.Daytona Beach Drive-In Christian Church is already drive-in. The congregation meets in the shores of Daytona Beach and enjoys the location. The church is having its regular drive-in service and also streaming. They also sent Easter gift packages for the children, by mail. On Sunday they will have an Easter Sunrise Service at 6:30 a.m.

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