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Church leaders adjust to needs of congregations

by Amy Quinlivan Mineral Independent
| April 2, 2020 11:25 AM

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Barbara Morris makes final adjustments to the video screen on her iPhone while Derek and Shelly Larson warm up for online worshiping at New Day Fellowship in St. Regis last Sunday. (Amy Quinlivan/Mineral Independent)

As Pastor Morris Hill stood on the small stage alongside New Day Fellowship’s worship team, his wife Barbara tapped the record button on her iPhone and before the morning welcome was finished comments started popping up.

“My kids are all gathered. Thank you, Morris and Barbara.”

“We live in a wonderful time of technology. Thank God for our all our blessings.”

“Praise the Lord for technology!”

Although the small church sanctuary in St. Regis was empty Sunday morning, dispersed by COVID-19, the congregation was able to gather online and connect in Spirit.

More than 30 people tuned in to worship on Facebook Live with Derek and Shelly Larson, while Zach Desoto played the drums. Pastor Morris then led a sermon on a biblical response to the COVID-19 epidemic.

“We are going to connect in community, even as this situation we are going through with the COVID-19 virus,” he said. “It’s not going to keep us from connecting with people.”

Online streaming and video recorded sermons are not new for church services, large congregations around the country have been utilizing this ministry outlet for over a decade.

But with the present executive orders from state and federal officials recommending that group gatherings not exceed 10 people to help prevent the spread of the Coronavirus, this is a problem for even the smallest church communities in the area.

Other churchgoers across Mineral County have had to embrace cyber services during this unprecedented time. St. Regis resident Judy Minson-Eisenbacher is normally found in a pew attending mass on Sundays at St. Mary Queen of Heaven Catholic Church in Superior. But until further notice she will be worshipping from the security of her home on her iPad.

“Our parish is very close, we are a close church family and I miss that,” Minson-Eisenbacher said. “I’m missing the interaction.”

But to bridge the gap for now, she streamed a live mass from Toronto, Canada. She was hoping to join in the online mass in Helena but technical difficulties arose.

“The Bishop was very informative and had good teachings, it gives you a different perspective watching mass somewhere else, seeing how different parts of the world are dealing with the virus,” she said.

Pastor Gray Repke has filled the pulpit of Superior Community Church for 40 years. This was the first sermon he’s ever given to a screen instead of a sanctuary of friendly faces.

“I’ve never dealt with anything like this before,” he stated.

The first Sunday during the social distancing directives Repke stuck with producing a basic sermon, but going forward they hope to add some hymns to the virtual worship service. R

“I think a lot of people are bummed out that we can’t meet as a group, but most are very understanding,” Repke said. “Really, we’re not afraid of getting the virus, but of giving it to someone else. We have to be responsible as a church family.”

As the state and nationwide initiatives to slow the spread of COVID-19 continue into April, it is unknown when church doors will open again, but for now believers are grateful to come together through technological means.

“I believe people need to hear the Word and feel like their worshipping from home, but by no means is online a substitution for meeting as a body of believers,” Repke said. “It is still that hour or so where you focus and worship the Lord.”

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