Here’s how different faiths in East Renfrewshire will be worshipping this Easter

With several major religious festivals either under way or fast approaching, many people across the world are getting creative in order to celebrate while in isolation.

Office for National Statistics figures show that East Renfrewshire was home to 47,731 Christians in 2018, the most recent year with available data.

They will celebrate the resurrection of Jesus after his crucifixion on Easter Sunday (April 12).

In the lead-up to this, some people fast for Lent, while others give up certain foods. This reflects the biblical account of Jesus fasting for forty days in the wilderness.

The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Rt Rev Colin Sinclair, will deliver a video sermon and prayers on Easter Sunday that will be available on Facebook.

Many local churches across the Church of Scotland will also be streaming their Easter Sunday worship services online.

A message on its website said: “Easter may not look the same this year as it has in years gone by at your local church, but people across the length and breadth of the Kirk are working hard to ensure that we’re all still able to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ as we approach Easter Sunday.”

Scotland’s Catholic Churches will also be using social media channels to broadcast services.

And Scotland’ Catholic Bishops have issued an Easter message, saying: “As we celebrate Easter this year we cannot escape the suffering inflicted upon us by the Covid-19 Virus. The pandemic is afflicting the whole world and we pray for all those who have caught the virus, their loved ones and those caring for them.

“Our lives are greatly restricted and on Easter Sunday, the holiest day of the Christian calendar, we will not be able to go to church. It is hard to find hope in the present situation, but as Christians, we know that the risen Lord is our hope. His suffering death and resurrection give us hope that we will recover, that life will get better and that our nation will feel the peace and love of the risen Christ.”

The figures also show that there were 6,025 Muslims living in East Renfrewshire in 2018.

The holy month of Ramadan begins on April 23. Muslims fast from dawn until sunset during this time, and would usually then gather with family and friends in the evening for the Iftar meal, when the fast is broken.

It is a time of spiritual devotion, and one of giving, when people are encouraged to be charitable.

The Muslim Council of Britain has prepared an information “toolkit” to provide advice during the Covid-19 outbreak.

It says: “Many community groups are exploring alternative ways of keeping connected, including live streaming services, community radio stations and hot iftar meal drop-offs to neighbours.”

The document also recommends that people start fasting regularly to prepare themselves for Ramadan.

“Also, maybe it’s a good time to rethink your diet – some staples are now hard to come by, but unsurprisingly, fresh foods (such as fruits and vegetables) seem widely available,” it adds.

The 1,486 members of East Renfrewshire’s Jewish community began celebrating the festival of Passover on Wednesday (April 8), which will last until April 16.

Passover – or Pesach – is a time when Jewish people commemorate Moses leading the Israelites out of slavery in ancient Egypt.

Jews celebrate by eating a ceremonial meal called the Seder, reading the story of their ancestors’ exodus, and praying.

The Movement for Reform Judaism has posted an online version of the Haggadah – the text that recounts the Jewish liberation from slavery – on its website.

It has also written guidelines for people who want to use the video conferencing service Zoom for virtual religious services.

Its website says: “We are alongside all of our communities throughout this difficult and unprecedented time.”

There were an estimated 32.2 million Christians across Britain in 2018, according to the ONS data.

This was followed by 3.4 million Muslims, 953,000 Hindus and 311,000 Jews. Around 25 million people were recorded as having no religion.