Online Christmas services nourish our spiritual lives

Carols by Zoomlight are replacing the traditional Carols by Candlelight services as churches in Cardiff adapt to an increase in Covid cases.

This Christmas, churches such as Eglwys Dewi Sant, Cardiff’s Welsh language church, and Christ Church Roath, are adopting a hybrid model of church by providing services in person and online.

Christ Church Roath began podcasting church services during the first lockdown. Their PodChurch podcast has become integral part of their mission and ministry.

Rev’d Trystan Hughes, Vicar at Christ Church Roath, says “Last weekend, with the new variant of Covid and with the Government’s advice to choose carefully what we do over the Christmas season, we even moved our big community carol service online.

“While our Carols by Candlelight service is usually standing room only, the building was standing empty on Sunday night. But that doesn’t mean our community missed out on the beautiful singing of our choirs, uplifting readings, and the wonderful Christmas message of peace, hope, and goodwill to all. Instead, we brought them two special online carol services.

The first was Carols by Zoomlight, here we had screens full of smiling faces singing carols. The second was a wonderful Carols by Podlight, produced by a former BBC Radio 1 producer in our congregation. All the carols on this podchurch release were recorded by our own church choirs. Our main soloist, congregation member Owen Hurrell, was even a finalist on this year’s BBC Chorister of the Year.”

Online services can have a wonderful place in building community and helping people connect with God.

Rev’d Trystan recognises the disappointment cancelling onsite Christmas services can be but believes online services can be equally uplifting and joyful.

“It was a hugely difficult decision to take the carol service away from the church, but we had large numbers who had booked to attend so we wanted to ensure people’s safety. Once the decision to go online was made, on zoom and on podchurch, we were quickly able to move past the disappointment to providing joyful and uplifting services online, attended or accessed not only by those in our own community, but also many further away, including families from as far away as Germany.

“Meeting in our church building is such a joy and we have missed it hugely when the pandemic has meant we have cancelled in-person services, but this past 18 months has taught many of us churches that online services can also have a wonderful place in building community, widening access, offering hope, and helping people connect with God.”

Eglwys Dewis Sant have continued providing Welsh language online church services as a way of introducing the Christian faith to new Christians and connecting with current congregation

“This is the second year for us to create an online carol service, and we are especially glad we did as the news of the spread of the omicron variant has made many people weary about coming to church once again, and not everyone is comfortable with congregation singing at present," says Fr Dyfrig Lloyd.

Online carol services nourishes spiritual life and draws people closer to God.

“The beauty of an online carol service is that people can safely sing at home, or simply listen to the singing and use the podcast in a way that nourishes their spiritual life and helps them to draw closer to God.

“It is also a way into to church life, especially for people who have lost connection with church or those who are exploring the Christian faith and who may feel uncertain and scared about entering a church building for worship for the first time."

Carol services help people to enter more deeply into the beauty and mystery of Christmas.

Fr Dyfrig adds, “It is my prayer and hope that the podcasts allows people to experience something of the content and atmosphere of a normal church service in Eglwys Dewi Sant, and on that on their own terms. Carol services are a quintessential and traditional part of the run up to Christmas and to have the provision of an online carol service is a way of helping people to enter more deeply into the beauty and mystery of Christmas and coming to know the Word made flesh, lying in a manger.

Producing podcasts needn't be an expensive endeavor, says Fr Dyfrig. After all, the technology is in our pockets and at out fingertips.

“When the first lockdown came and we were quickly forced into action. We suddenly came to realise we had all the technology we needed in our pockets…our mobile phones. All our podcasts are recorded using mobile phones, even the films of the choir singing in the carol service.

“This podcast format has worked for us, as it allows people to use them in a way that is useful to them, and of course with the podcast being published on a public platform, anyone, anywhere can have access to them. Ensuring our virtual church doors are open to all has been a key consideration in choosing the platform for our virtual worship.

“When we returned to church to worship again we found that there were many who were still fearful of returning to the church building and the decision was taken to continue to provide online worship, and that need continues.

“We also found that by providing online services, many who have been unable to attend church because of ill-health for many years have once again been able to feel a part of Eglwys Dewi Sant’s worshipping community and we don’t want to lose this important spiritual provision and connection for those who cannot physically get to church.

“Also as all our services are in Welsh, the podcasts provide a useful worship resource for those who cannot access church services in Welsh not only in Wales, but beyond.

“And the great thing about a podcast, it can be listened to again!”

Follow PodChurch on Soundcloud: Stream Christ Church, Cardiff music | Listen to songs, albums, playlists for free on SoundCloud

Watch Eglwys Dewi Sant's online service: Eglwys Dewi Sant Caerdydd - YouTube

Llandaff Cathedral Livestream services: Llandaff Cathedral - YouTube