Your Guide to Preaching Resources During the Pandemic
Photo by Dhaya Eddine Bentaleb on Unsplash
You’ve got enough on your plate these days.
That’s why we’ve compiled these resources to inform your preaching.
From information about the pandemic to preaching strategies to stories that will inspire and lift spirits—you’ll be able to return to this collection again and again in the coming weeks.
Roughly organized into four categories, these resources will help you and your listeners walk around the idols of scarcity and fear to remember that Jesus’s resurrection always means every story—even our story of this pandemic—contains hope.
Preaching and Spirituality
“Resources for Christian leaders during the Coronavirus pandemic” from Faith & Leadership (Duke Divinity School)
“We update this list of information from government and media sources at least three times a week to offer guidance to pastors and other Christian leaders struggling to respond to the pandemic of COVID-19.”
A study gathering U.S. sermons to “capture the comprehensive breadth of religious responses to the spread of COVID-19” for Preaching Goes Viral (Miami University)
As an extension of Gray’s ongoing “Empathy and the Religious ‘Enemy’” project, the initiative will build a crowdsourced database that will be made publicly available to journalists, religious groups, scholars, and others seeking to track and understand the religious responses to the pandemic.
This special edition episode of the Sermon Brainwave podcast focuses on preaching and the pandemic. From Working Preacher (Luther Seminary), Sermon Brainwave is “an engaging weekly conversation on Sunday's Scripture passages.”
Join Profs. Rolf Jacobson, Karoline Lewis, Joy J. Moore, and Matt Skinner for a conversation around preaching and pandemic.
Beginning the week of March 16, a generous group of HDS students will help us with brief, daily inspirational postings to the HDSSA and RSL Facebook pages and to the RSL Instagram account (@HDSRSL) to keep us spiritually supple and connected throughout the days ahead. Follow us!
Where to Find Good News in Real-Life, Right now
“Some Good News” hosted by John Krasinski
“The Office” co-star offers a weekly, 15-minute good-news show from his home office. Laced with humor and genuine pathos, Krasinski’s YouTube episodes have gone viral for good reason.
“Coronavirus chronicles: Here's some good news amid the dire reports” by Richard Trenholm on CNet.com
“From vaccine progress to people uniting in friendship and solidarity, some positive COVID-19 news to keep things in perspective.”
The Upside weekly report by Mark Rice-Oxley from The Guardian
“The good news files: joy and silver linings in the coronavirus pandemic”
“New jobs, new homes, new babies: Some feel guilty about celebrating right now. But should they?” by Gary Dinges for USA TODAY (April 10, 2020)
Life—and celebration—goes on during the pandemic. Plus, 100 things to do when stuck inside.
Several websites are devoted entirely to real-life, feel-good stories:
Art & Entertainment to Lift Your Spirits
Music to Your Ears
Many performers have offered free, live concerts from home, including Keith Urban, John Legend, Matt Steele, Chris Martin, and Jennifer Hudson.
DiscoverMusic: A Guide To Live-Streamed Music Events During Self-Isolation
From the website: “We’ve got your self-isolation entertainment needs covered with a list of must-see live-streamed concerts, virtual festivals and more – all updated daily.”
One World Together at Home: This livestream concert organized by Lady Gaga brought together artists around the world to raise money for Global Citizen, a social action platform
Josh Groban’s “Shower Concerts” when he—yup!—sings in the shower (without the water running!). His version of Leonard Cohen’s “Halleluah,” along with violinist Lucia Micarelli, made me weep.
Andrea Bocelli’s Easter concert—Music For Hope, Live From Duomo di Milano—has been viewed by more than 38 million people around the world.
Arts & Culture
Your ultimate museum virtual tour guide! Visit museums around the world and even some aquariums!
Monterey Bay Aquarium Live Cam
Watch God’s creation in action! Watch sea otters, a coral reef, or the Monterey Bay itself. It’s sure to put you in a better mood!
Watch for new movies on your favorite streaming service
New movies that were in production are skipping the theater altogether to be shown directly on the home screen instead.
Fitness classes
Search for live and recorded fitness classes you can do at home without any equipment —except a little of your own sweat!
How to Help from Home
Donate & Volunteer
Global Citizen: The organization for which the “One World Together at Home” benefit concert was organized by Lady Gaga.
Feeding America: A fundraising website dedicated to assisting those who are hungry in the U.S.
“How you can help during the coronavirus outbreak” by Kanyakrit Vongkiatkajorn and Laura Daily for The Washington Post
“Several nonprofit organizations could use your time and money to make sure vulnerable populations are cared for during the pandemic.”
“Millions of people can't afford food right now. How to help with coronavirus relief” by Katie Conner for CNet.
How to help people, restaurants, food banks and more.
“Don't Be Discouraged. Here's How To Help During Coronavirus” by Ari Shapiro for NPR (a 15-minute listen)