Prayer

Videos of prayers in British Sign Language are available from Christian BSL. 

Join evening prayer live from Taizé, broadcast from the community on their Facebook page.

The Time to Pray app (Church House Publishing/Aimer Media) includes the orders of service for both Prayer During the Day and Night Prayer. The app is now completely free to use.

The Time to Pray podcast features daily audio to accompany the app.

Prayers and intercessions about the outbreak from the Church of England are available online and as PDF downloads to print and share with those without internet access. Print copies are also now available to purchase from Church House Publishing.

Prayers for days of lockdown from An Ordinary Office.

Radio 4’s Daily Service features a Bible reading, prayer, and music.

The Thyne app that allows users to record themselves saying prayers that can be sent to others.

Music

Join RSCM in singing their Hymn for the Day. A new video with music and lyrics is published every day, Monday to Saturday.

The Taizé Community have given permission free of charge for the use of the songs of Taizé in any streamed, podcast or online services or prayers in the UK and Ireland. (See conditions on website.)

Mental health

A collection of reflections and Christian meditation techniques designed to help people cope with physical distancing are available to read online and to download as a PDF to print (Church of England).

Anne Holmes offers advice to clergy and lay people who are struggling with their mental health: How to build resilience during Covid-19 crisis (Church Times).

Worship

A free phone line, Daily Hope, offers Church of England prayers, hymns and reflections 24 hours a day: 0800 8048044

The Arthur Rank Centre has collected a selection of worship resources and practical advice specifically for rural churches: Together Apart: A rural church response to coronavirus

From the Church of England: Guidance on Spiritual Communion and Coronavirus

Fischy Music, which writes worship songs for children, is streaming a free assembly every Monday on its Facebook page.

Listen to David Suchet read the Sunday lectionary readings each week. The recordings are from the NIV Audio Bible via Soundcloud, which you can use either personally or download for use in online services (Hodder Faith).

Live streamed, prerecorded and interactive online services

A beginner’s guide to live streaming your service (Church of England).

The Revd Bryony Taylor blogs on two alternatives to live streaming: creating a podcast for your church and prerecording a Sunday service.

The Revd Ruth Frampton offers tips for holding worship over the phone using a teleconferencing service (Arthur Rank Centre).

Church Service Planner and GoChatter provide free online tools to help church leaders to plan interactive online services and pass on videos about Covid-19.

RSCM offer detailed advice on the rules around including music under copyright in a streamed worship service.

Detailed information on podcast and streaming licences available from One License.

Professional support: Captive North, who have live streamed sessions for us at the Festival of Preaching, offer consultancy services and equipment hire to churches looking to start live streaming.

 The Archbishop of Canterbury has launched a free dial-in worship phone line.

Funerals and bereavement

The Central Readers’ Council has compiled a range of support for Readers conducting funerals during the coronavirus outbreak.

Advice for clergy and reflections for mourners unable to attend a funeral (Church of England).

Social action

Cinnamon Network has launched a series of webinars to help churches become involved in social-action projects. 

Theology and reflections

Theologians share their words of hope for anxious times as part of the #Theologyinisolation blog series (SCM Press).

Daily reflections from the Bishop of Leeds, the Rt Revd Nick Baines: Nick Baines’s Blog: Musings of a restless bishop.

On his blog, the Bishop of Ramsbury, Dr Andrew Rumsey, considers communion in a time of quarantine. He is posting regular video messages.

The Bishop of Liverpool, the Rt Revd Paul Bayes, is posting Bible reflections on his YouTube channel.

Malcolm Guite, the poet of our Poet’s Corner column, has launched a new YouTube channel: A Spell in the Library.

Don’t forget: your weekly Church Times includes a reflection on each Sunday’s lectionary readings and dedicated faith features.