A note of thanks to our ministry colleagues in the Minnesota Conference Karla Hovde, Christa Meland, and Cullen Tanner for compiling this list of resources.

We’ve scoured the Internet and compiled some excellent virtual resources for Holy Week and Easter at a time when in-person gatherings are not possible. As you make plans to celebrate this important week physically apart from your congregation, consider planning a big, in-person Easter celebration on the Sunday when you’re able to be reunited—whenever that may be.

Worship

Crowdsourced ideas for Holy Week and Easter Sunday: Church Marketing University collected ideas from people in its online community and compiled them into a fantastic list that includes everything from how to promote your virtual Easter worship to how to follow up with people once it’s over; the list also includes worship ideas for each day of Holy Week, ways to bless your community, and kids ministry/family activities.  Access list

Maundy Thursday family meal with worship: Gather your family together for a simple meal on Maundy Thursday. Frame the meal with a time of worship around the table. Rev. Teresa Whetsel, who serves at First UMC in Miller, South Dakota, created a liturgy for worship. Access resource

Holy Week Tenebrae: A home-based devotional: Since so many will spend Holy Week at home this year, Salt Project created this downloadable resource that blends a traditional Tenebrae service with a home-based approach, a kind of “Advent wreath in reverse,” engaging the key stories and themes of the week in a fresh, familiar new way.  Access resource

‘The Heart of the Matter’ Easter series: This fully-scripted Easter season series from Marcia McFee’s Worship Design Studio has been developed specifically for at-home worship either led by a leader online or done by folks at home via Zoom or alone.  Access resources

Palm Sunday liturgy: The Ministry Lab, an ecumenical ministry that supports innovation in faith communities and is supported by the Minnesota Conference, has created a fully scripted “Liturgy of the Palms” that can be used for worship on a virtual platform. It contains multiple adaptations to help congregations find what’s best for them.  Access resource

Prayer and reflection

Praying with a centerpiece: Website Godspace provides instructions for creating a centerpiece in your home. Each day, you’re invited to read a scriptural passage and then modify the centerpiece as directed to tell the story of the last week of Jesus’ life.  Access resource

‘Poured out’ monologues: This Holy Week experience from Marcia McFee’s Worship Design Studio offers six dramatic monologues by characters who were with Jesus in his last days, along with ritual actions for a faith community that can be easily led online via livestream or Zoom.  Access resource

Holy Week pilgrimage: Stations of the Cross: This experience from Marcia McFee’s Worship Design Studio is adapted from a fully scripted Lent series; it includes access to signs and artwork to print out and create a “virtual pilgrimage” or you can simply use a provided video that contains all of them.  Access resource