CHURCHES in Zimbabwe have, in an unprecedented development,
this year cancelled their traditional Easter retreats with most religious
organisations resorting to live streaming their services during the 21-day
lockdown.
The cancellation of Easter church meetings follows a
directive by President Mnangagwa banning all gatherings of more than 50 people
as a precautionary measure to curb the spread of Covid-19 in the country.
During the lockdown period, all citizens are required to
stay at home, except when seeking health services, buying food, medicines and
other essentials as well as to offer critical services.
In separate interviews yesterday, church leaders said the
cancellation of public services during the Easter holiday, which starts today,
is in compliance with lockdown regulations to combat the spread of the deadly
global pandemic, which has so far claimed about 90 000 lives with more than 1,5
million people infected globally.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe (ELCZ) leader
for the Western Diocese, Bishop Michael Dube said they have joined other
churches worldwide in calling off this year’s Easter meetings due to Covid-19.
“We have a challenge as you know that since the advent of
Christianity, this year is a year in which the whole world will fail to conduct
Easter during which people would traditionally gather in one geographical
space. We have resorted to exploring other avenues such as utilising social
media to spread the Word of God, although it will benefit mostly urbanites who
have access to modern communication tools unlike those in the rural areas,” he
said.
Bishop Dube said they are also encouraging their followers
to open WhatsApp groups for the purposes of sharing sermons, scriptures and
songs during the Easter holiday. “Some of our congregants have created WhatsApp
groups for our members and I believe, it is quite an effective way of spreading
the message of salvation as it reaches a wider audience. We have already come
up with Easter programmes and there are people who will be coordinating and
people are already geared for that,” he said.
“We start with Maundy Thursday, which is the Christian holy
day falling on the Thursday before Easter. It commemorates the Washing of the
Feet and Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles as described in the
canonical gospels. It is the fifth day of Holy Week, preceded by Holy Wednesday
and followed by Good Friday.”
Harvest House International Church leader Bishop Dr Colin
Nyathi said they will be running a virtual church for the congregants who will
access Easter services via livestreaming.
“We are conducting Good Friday services on livestreaming
including Easter Sunday as well as the Holy Communion. On Good Friday we will
primarily focus on the Cross and then Sunday on the blood and all this is done
via livestreaming. We cancelled our traditional gathering this year in
compliance with the Government ban on large gatherings as well as conforming to
the lockdown regulations,” he said.
Rev Lot Mateza of the Apostolic Faith Church (Ivangeli)
said congregants staying in the same neighbourhood will gather in small groups
during Easter. “In addition to livestreaming our services, we are also
encouraging our members to gather in small groups or alternatively conduct
family worship services in their houses as part of measures to combat the
spread of Covid-19. We also urge our members to observe the principle of social
distancing and avoid social contacts during services,” he said.
The Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church cancelled its
services and adopted a lengthy period of long-distance worship with congregants
encouraged to turn to digital platforms.
“To promote social distancing and minimise the spread of
the virus, members will worship privately in their homes. Necessary support in
the form of livestreaming, downloading or printed worship packages and sermons
will be availed to members through their pastors in order to facilitate similar
worship and study themes for church members until the end of the lockdown.
“Offertory readings will be given out to members through
the same channels for their convenience,” the head of the SDA Church in
Zimbabwe, Pastor Micah Choga, said in a statement.
In a statement, the Apostolic Faith Mission of Portland
Oregon in Southern Africa directed its branches in the region to cancel all
public church services and events until further notice.
“We recommend that all our branch churches follow the
guidelines issued by the Government. Kindly take advantage of services being
posted by our brethren in South Africa and we will also liaise with them to
also broadcast local services on YouTube and for those on WhatsApp, audio
messages will be sent. Until we can gather again, we recommend that our
congregation members join hands in their homes in prayer, and this is an
opportunity to engage in family worship time with those in our households,”
read the statement.
Pastor Goodwill Shana of Word of Life Church posted on the
church’s Facebook page notifying members on the cancellation of services during
Easter.
He said the church will reach out to members via live
stream on Facebook and other social media platforms.
The Catholic Church in Zimbabwe has also indefinitely
suspended obligatory Mass and banned some traditional church rituals such as
shaking hands and receiving communion
with one’s tongue to contain spread of coronavirus.
“All priests should, however, continue to celebrate Mass in
their parishes without a congregation on a daily basis. The continuing
celebration of Mass ensures that the faithful can be joined in the spiritual
communion with the priests of the Church . . . Knowing that the Mass is being
celebrated, joining in spiritually in that celebration; watching the
livestreaming of the Mass where possible; following its prayers, making an act
of spiritual communion: this is how we will share in the sacrifice of Christ in
these days,” the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference (ZCBC)
General-Secretariat said in the statement.
The ZCBC, made up of eight bishops, said congregants can
follow church services on live streaming and can pray at home as a family or
individuals.
The leader of the United Congregational Church of Southern
Africa (UCCSA) in Southern Africa Reverend Sikhalo Cele said his church will
not congregate until the situation normalises.
“We will continue with the shutdown until it is resolved.
We will only change our stance when we get new knowledge that is grounded on
scientific and empirical evidence,” Reverend Cele said. Chronicle
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