Dressed in the white robes of Easter, the Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II and the Rev. Dr. Diane Moffett — together with remote appearances by the Rev. Cindy Kohlmann and Ruling Elder Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri, Co-Moderators of the 223rd General Assembly — leave little doubt in a worship video that was released on April 8 that the good news of Christ’s resurrection transcends the despair, economic deprivation and isolation brought on by the coronavirus.

With Nelson, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), offering up a thoughtful, timely sermon and Moffett, president and executive director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency, welcoming, praying and promising God’s “peace, poise and power for this time and always” during her benediction, the video, recorded last week in the Chapel of the Presbyterian Center, is designed to unite Presbyterians in spirit during their Easter worship on April 12.

The video, completed by Mike Fitzer of 180 Degrees, was publicized on several PC(USA) outlets, including the denomination’s website, pcusa.org, and the PC(USA) Facebook page beginning April 9.

The video contains captions in English, Spanish and Korean (press the CC button on the button right corner of the video to turn it on). The PC(USA) also posted Spanish and Korean versions of the video.

“You are welcome to use the video however you like,” Nelson and Moffett say in a letter to Presbyterians. “We hope it is helpful for congregations that are unable to hold their own virtual worship. Even congregations that are already streaming worship may wish to watch. You may choose to create a sense of community by asking your congregation to watch the video at an appointed time.”

Our hope is that Presbyterians might unite in spirit during worship on Easter.