During the past 2 days we have been working on setting-up and testing out the possibility of using our St. Anna Facebook Page to “Livestream” Sunday morning services beginning this weekend at 9:00am (Orthros) and continuing through the Divine Liturgy which begins at 10am. You will be able to view and participate in the prayers and hymns being offered during these services on the St. Anna Facebook Page. If you are not yet connected to the St. Anna Facebook Page please go to this site and “LIKE” this page to receive notifications when the Livestreaming has started on Sunday: https://www.facebook.com/StAnnaOrthodoxColumbiaTN/
We will be sending out the weekly bulletin and service hymn sheet later today or tomorrow so you are able to print it off (if desired) or use it to aid you in your prayers during the services. Those who have been offering online Orthodox Church services in their churches for several years have suggested that we urge our parishioners to stand, if you are able, as you would during the services in the Orthodox Church temple, especially during the litanies and readings of the Gospel lessons. It is important to approach these special accommodations for participating in these services from your home differently than you would from other videos or TV you might watch. You are NOT simply WATCHING the clergy and chanters “do Orthros and Liturgy”. Please join us in offering these hymns and prayers to God and the Saints on your behalf, one another and for all of the world. Reciting the prayers and singing the hymns that you know, along with us will minister to your souls, further unite us as a parish (in diaspora) and amplify the effectiveness of our corporate prayers. Also, please consider gathering your family together, viewing the livestreaming in the same room and lighting candles or burning incense at your home icon corner or altar during the services. We all expect this to be a “short-term” adjustment but we can make the most of our current situation and still share in our Lenten journey as we set aside this time for the special accommodations which are being made during these days. Our services will not be “professional video productions” but we will do what we are able to make adjustments to our set-up, equipment and technical options to try to minimize the distractions and limitations we will likely encounter as we livestream these services. Your patience and feedback will be treasured during these days. Those of us working on this video option are not filmmakers or videographers but we are being advised by those who are as we work through this with their help.
St. Anna Orthodox Christian Church 