St. Andrew Episcopal Church in Yardley is adding a COVID-19 memorial service to its traditional 8 p.m. Easter Vigil, reports the Bucks County Herald. The April 3 “Memorial of Light” will honor all the victims of the pandemic, many of whom went publicly unmourned because of distancing restrictions. 

Submitted images of lost loved ones will be projected on the church building. A solo flute will accompany the photos. 

“The death and illness of the past year have been difficult for everyone,” said the Rev. Canon Hilary Greer, rector of St. Andrews. “The 500,000 lives lost are just a fraction of those who have died this past year. The inability to gather for strength and comfort has been particularly hard for people whose loved ones have died of any cause this past year.” 

“We have plenty of room for people to safely gather in their cars or standing outside,” said Rector’s Warden Kathy Royal. “We want to give the entire community an opportunity to be together safely and remember those we love, as well as to share hope in the life to come.” 

Community members can also view the projection online through the church’s Facebook page or through Zoom, accessed from the church’s website. 

More information on Easter at St. Andrews is available at the Bucks County Herald.