Church 'twitters' Easter story

A New York Episcopal church has come up with a unique way of telling the Easter story this year.

Trinity Church on Wall Street has been using Twitter to tell the story of Easter from the point of view of the main players in the story.

For a few hours on Good Friday afternoon Jesus, Pontius Pilate and others appeared to “twitter” their accounts of what was happening. Updates were sent to registered users on their mobiles or by email.

The idea came as a result of the church’s desire to use new technology to spread the Christian message. The church also has its own Facebook site and already uses Twitter to give updates to parishioners.

Linda Hanick, vice president of communication and marketing at the church, said, "What we are trying to do at Trinity Wall Street is to communicate the story of Christ in as many ways as we can," reports The Telegraph.

"This was kind of the next evolution in communicating the Gospel message."

The church has also been webcasting services and other events since the 1990s and allows people to view the Stations of the Cross online.

Below are a few extracts of the “twittering” to tell the Easter story this year:

twspassionplay via @Pontius-Pilate: What harm has this man done? Why does the crowd cheer on his murder? I wash my hands of this. They can do what they want

twspassionplay via @-JesusChrist: Father forgive them, they know not what they do.

twspassionplay via @ServingGirl: This crowd is rough. Talk of his blood on our hands...but if he is really the Messiah God will rescue him.