Church members 'Stay Home' with on-line Holy Week services

La Conner area pastors spoke to empty pews on Easter Sunday, but their messages were heard by many.

At La Conner United Methodist Church, it was a combination of a colorful Living Cross of spring greenery and flowers placed on the front door and use of new technology that got the word out.

Meanwhile, parishioners at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in La Conner were able to view Easter Mass livestreamed in English and Spanish on social media in either real time or in an archived mode.

Attempts to reach the La Conner Christ the King Community Church by press time were unsuccessful, though Christ the King Church in Bellingham has been regularly livestreaming its services. So, too, has His Place Community Church in Burlington, which enlisted La Conner Mayor Ramon Hayes to perform a piano solo from his home on Easter Sunday.

Local churches have turned to new ways of sharing the gospel, sometimes with surprising success, while the state observes a “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” policy in order to stem the spread of COVID-19.

Those were much in evidence during Holy Week.

“It’s challenging,” Skagit Valley Catholic priest Fr. Paul Magnano told the Weekly News, “but we’re connecting in this new way. Even though it can’t totally make up for when we all gather together, we know people are watching from their homes or wherever they’re plugged in.”

Magnano is part of a pastoral team under Fr. Tom McMichael that has been conducting livestreamed worship services on a rotating basis from the Skagit Valley’s Catholic parishes over the past month. Those have received more than 1,000 views and offer parishioners the opportunity to post comments, he said.

“It’s been well-received,” Magnano said of the on-line format, “and we’re learning how to do it better each time.”

Magnano said no more than eight people are allowed in the sanctuary for each livestreamed service, an experience akin to working in a recording studio.

Rev. Marcella Baker of La Conner United Methodist Church knows the feeling.

“I preached Easter Sunday in a church with empty pews,” she said, invoking the charge of St. Francis of Assisi, who famously challenged the faithful to preach the gospel at all times and, when necessary, use words.

That’s where the Living Cross came into play.

“The Living Cross had a powerful Easter message,” said Baker, “that spoke to many without words.”

As for words, Baker found those in no short supply, either.

“I have been doing Sunday services and daily Holy Week meditations using low-tech videos and MP3 recordings of hymns sung by soloists,” she said. “This is more the preference of many people in our congregation, who have an aversion to Facebook or Zoom.”

Church members and others were encouraged by email to drive or walk by and say their ‘Alleluia’ on Easter Sunday, Baker said.

For those who did, the Living Cross became a symbol of new life and beauty that connected the church and townspeople, said Baker.

“The pews were empty inside,” Baker said, “but people even stopped to have a picture taken at the cross.”

That seemed quite fitting given the impact of the virus crisis.

“Creation always inspires us to remember that new life comes after death,” Baker said. “Somehow spring seems to announce that best to many of us here in La Conner with daffodils and tulips.”