Here & Now

Congregations Find New Ways to Celebrate Faith

Dale Vlastnik:

This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Zac Schultz:

Sunday usually means the pews are full at St. John’s Lutheran in Johnson Creek. Lately Pastor Dale Vlastnik had to be happy with filling the parking lot, since the Covid -19 pandemic has forced them to shift to drive-in services.

Dale Vlastnik:

We went right from traditional Sunday service to outside.

Zac Schultz:

Pastor Vlastnik says some members spend Sundays watching a web stream of the service, while others feel the need to be there in person.

Dale Vlastnik:

At a time when our own emotions run so high on account of the virus, the shutdown and the isolation.

Woman:

We are witnesses to all that he did.

Zac Schultz:

For safety, Pastor Vlastnik has his wife do all the lay readings, while he has another family act as ushers.

Dale Vlastnik:

After we sing together I invite you to please look to the ushers for directions on your way out. There are two stations. The first for your offering and the second for you to receive an Easter blessing as you are comfortable.

[Hebrew being spoken]

Zac Schultz:

In Madison, many of the synagogues have moved their prayer services online.

Betsy Forester:

Everything is online and via telephone and it’s working.

Zac Schultz:

Rabbi Betsy Forester leads prayer groups from the Beth Israel Center twice a day, six days a week.

Betsy Forester:

The fact that we can see people’s faces and we can gather with a group of people and see all of those present is a game changer. Right now I am going to mute everybody and we will begin. [singing] Lord prepare me.

Zac Schultz:

She says the fear and uncertainty of the moment are driving people to seek their religious community.

Betsy Forester:

They say there are no atheists in a fox hole and I am seeing some of that need for faith and groundedness.

Zac Schultz:

Rabbi Forester says the words of comfort were written long ago.

Betsy Forester:

So people are identifying with prayers in ways that they were not before. Even prayers that are very familiar are jumping off the page with new meaning and relevance.

Dale Vlastnik:

With our sin upon himself.

Zac Schultz:

Pastor Vlastnik is finding the same thing.

Dale Vlastnik:

We are spending a lot of time with the good book these days. One that comes to my mind, 2 Timothy, chapter 1, verse 7: God has not given us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power and love and self-discipline.

Betsy Forester:

I’m actually spending a lot of time in the Book of Psalms. Tears may linger for a night, but joy comes with the dawn. So on the one hand, we are in a time of grief, fear, uncertainty, anxiety. And on the other hand, we still hope and know in our hearts that it will not always be like this.

Zac Schultz:

A common theme for everybody is finding ways to cope.

Betsy Forester:

These are trying times.

Zac Schultz:

And leaning on their faith in the process.

Betsy Forester:

Thank you for being together. I hope to see you tomorrow.

Zac Schultz:

Reporting from Madison, I’m Zac Schultz, for “Here & Now.”

Betsy Forester:

Good night everybody. Stay well. Take good care.