Rev. Erika Gravely: Connecting Across Continents on Easter Morning

By Rev. Erika Gravely

On Easter Sunday, someone in the Springfield area attended worship online while her daughter, who was stuck in Chile because of the travel restrictions, attended as well. We used a live online survey tool called Mentimeter as a means to connect people in worship because they were physically apart from each other and asked "What does Easter morning worship look to you right now?" Amongst the answers that pointed to the awkwardness but joy despite it, the daughter posted her response, "I'm stuck abroad for the time being, watching the stream while on the phone with my mom, who is watching the service too! Got all dressed up for Easter but got cold, so I'm wearing a weird mix of church clothes and warm things." Her mom, who had slower internet connection in a rural part of the Springfield area, posted later, "We dressed in our Easter dresses and have my daughter on the phone in Chile watching with us."

While they were more than 5,000 miles apart, their answers posted up near each other on the screen. It was so incredible to celebrate the persistence of life in the resurrection and see life persisting to come together despite death and separation. 

"For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39.