St. Mark’s Lutheran Responds to Pandemic with Online Worship

Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, professional staff and members of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Williamsport, have been working together to produce online weekly Sunday worship services for parishioners and members of the community.

The Reverend Brian D. Vasey, pastor, is liturgist and preacher for the Service of the Word which includes lessons, prayers, and a homily. Viewers are invited to participate in psalm and prayer responses, as well as in the singing of hymns. A special children’s message is provided by one of several puppets used by Pastor Vasey in his ministry.

Taping the service Samuel Robinson, who recently joined the staff as Organist and Director of Music, plays a prelude and postlude on the church’s Moller pipe organ, and accompanies hymns that feature vocal soloists, including Sadie Wentzel and Ray Huff.

Each part of the service is recorded at different times throughout the week and then assembled via editing to produce the final worship experience. Doing so requires the assistance of numerous others from the congregation.

Gary Weber serves as videographer and editor. Tim Vasey and Mabelle Davison assist in producing the segment for children. Parish secretary, Bernadette Jones, prepares a weekly online bulletin so that participants may follow the service while worshiping.

Plans are to continue to keep the members of the congregation connected via online worship until parishioners may gather with necessary safeguards in the sanctuary for in-person services.