Local churches have moved online to mark Holy Week and Easter services.
St Mark's Anglican Church will hold its online Good Friday Service at 8am at http://www.southhurstville.anglican.asn.au/newsletters.html
The Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Glenn Davies has asked all Anglican Churches in the Sydney Diocese not to have services in response to the coronavirus emergency.
"In light of the Prime Minister's announcement banning enclosed gatherings in excess of 100 people, I have decided that the Anglican Church in Sydney should suspend all public church gatherings until further notice." the Archbishop said.
"We are encouraging all our churches to consider providing their services online or by other communication methods," he said.
The Sydney Diocese of the Anglican Church is providing a schedule of livestreams of services at https://sydneyanglicans.net/livestreams
Catholic churches are currently closed for public Masses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, many of priests are livestreaming private Masses each week via their parish websites and social media platforms.
At least 25 parishes are doing so across Sydney and includes a number of parishes across the St George and Sutherland areas, including in Cronulla, Engadine, Como and Penshurst.
The Parish Priest of St John Bosco in Engadine, Fr Mick Court is livestreaming his Sunday Mass onto his parish website and You Tube channel and while celebrating the Mass, he is remembering the parishioners who would normally be there through including photos of them on the church pews.
Some of these photos can be seen on the parish website: http://www.bosco.org.au/
The Sydney Diocese of the Catholic Church is providing a livestream of Easter services from St Mary's Cathedral at https://www.sydneycatholic.org/holy-week-live/
These start with Maundy Thursday (April 9) Mass at 6.30pm.
Good Friday will see a livestream of the Mass for the Stations of the Cross at 10am.
At 3pm there will be Mass for the Celebration of the Passion of the Lord which will be televised on Channel 7.
Holy Saturday Mass will be livestreamed at 6pm.
Easter Sunday Mass will be held at 10.30am and will be telecast on Channel 7.
The Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, Anthony Fisher has written a pastoral letter to Catholics reassuring them that their safety and wellbeing is paramount during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In cases where public Masses have to be suspended, a dispensation from attending Mass is granted and Catholics will be able to fulfil their Sunday Mass obligation by setting aside some time for prayer at home, reading the Scriptures of the day and watching Mass on television or online.
Archbishop Fisher said priests will continue to serve the sick, elderly and frail, including those suffering from COVID-19 but those who are sick should not attend Mass.
To assist parishioners unable to physically attend Mass through this crisis, a dedicated webpage has been set up through the Archdiocese of Sydney website at: www.sydneycatholic.org/coronavirus-updates/
The Uniting Church Australia provides an online worship list at https://nswact.uca.org.au/covid-19-information-for-presbyteries-and-congregations/livestream-options-for-worship-during-covid-19/
