Black pastors see popular Easter services as an opportunity to rebuild in-person worship attendance

Rev. William H. Lamar IV, top, and Rev. Cozette Thomas, right, pray with a parishioner during Palm Sunday services at the Metropolitan AME Church in Washington, Sunday, March 24, 2024. Lamar says their churches are still feeling the pandemics impact on attendance, even as they have rolled out robust online worship options to reach people. – At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, when many churches moved their services online, the Rev. William H.

Black Protestants’ monthly church attendance declined 15% from 2019 to 2023, a larger drop than any other major religious group, according to a. They are also more likely than other groups to take in religious services online or on TV, with more than half saying they attend services virtually. Easter is typically a homecoming of sorts for Black Protestants, who traditionally wear new outfits accented with pastels and elaborateBut some of the vibrancy and pageantry of Black church culture was extinguished with the inability to gather, said KB Dennis Meade, an assistant professor of religious studies at Northwestern University who is curating a digital archive of how Black religious traditions adapted during the pandemic.

“Easter is the Super Bowl of Christianity,” she said. “When we realized that 37% of our people did not live in Memphis, we were challenged to figure out how we serve them now that we’re back in the building.” During the pandemic at Saints Memorial Community Church in Willingboro, New Jersey, the Rev. Cassius L. Rudolph scrambled to ensure his elderly members would be able to meet. The first Sunday that the church doors were closed, Rudolph, who began as the interim pastor in 2019, led the service via telephone.

United States Latest News, United States Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Easter Sunday and the Easter BunnyThe date of Easter Sunday changes each year based on the lunar calendar. This year, it falls on March 31. The Christian holiday is also celebrated by children with chocolate bunnies and egg hunts. The Easter Bunny's favorite workday has not been replaced by the Transgender Day of Visibility. A new Missouri bill aims to put teachers on the sex offense registry if they support transgender students' social transition.
Source: PolitiFact - 🏆 17. / 71 Read more »

Best customizable Easter baskets for everyone you loveGet personal this Easter with the best customizable Easter baskets for family and friends.
Source: CBSNews - 🏆 87. / 68 Read more »

Easter 2024: free Easter bunny photos, brunch specials and egg hunts in the ValleyNicole Gutierrez is ABC15's ‘Things to Do’ reporter, focusing on stories highlighting local community gems, family attractions, restaurants and local haunts.
Source: abc15 - 🏆 263. / 63 Read more »

Easter bunny teaches kids 'true meaning' of Easter in new book with faith focus'The Story of the First Easter Bunny,' a new book by New Jersey author Anthony DeStefano, works to claim the Easter Bunny as a Christian symbol and teach kids the real meaning of Easter.
Source: FoxNews - 🏆 9. / 87 Read more »

The Best Amazon Easter Gifts You Can Get in Time: Shop Easter Bunny-Approved PresentsFrom traditional baskets and unexpected seasonal selections, we've rounded up the best Easter presents on Amazon.
Source: etnow - 🏆 696. / 51 Read more »

Black pastors see popular Easter services as an opportunity to rebuild in-person worship attendanceAs Black Protestants prepare for Easter this year, they hope to welcome more people to church than since the COVID-19 pandemic began four years ago.
Source: wjxt4 - 🏆 246. / 63 Read more »