‘God is still in control,’ a sign outside the Wilkes-Barre Mennonite Church on Blackman Street proclaims to passersby. With the COVID-19 outbreak intensifying by the day, many worshippers are finding themselves missing the faith and fellowship of religious gatherings.
                                 Aimee Dilger | Times Leader

‘God is still in control,’ a sign outside the Wilkes-Barre Mennonite Church on Blackman Street proclaims to passersby. With the COVID-19 outbreak intensifying by the day, many worshippers are finding themselves missing the faith and fellowship of religious gatherings.

Aimee Dilger | Times Leader

Faith-filled worshippers miss getting together

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<p>School children kneel in prayer during a Mass on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 26, at St. Nicholas Church in Wilkes-Barre. More recently, churches in the Diocese of Scranton and many other places of worship have suspended public services due to concerns about the coronavirus.</p>
                                 <p>Mary Therese Biebel | Times Leader</p>

School children kneel in prayer during a Mass on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 26, at St. Nicholas Church in Wilkes-Barre. More recently, churches in the Diocese of Scranton and many other places of worship have suspended public services due to concerns about the coronavirus.

Mary Therese Biebel | Times Leader

<p>‘Keep calm and carry on,’ advises this sign behind St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Church in Wilkes-Barre.</p>
                                 <p>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader</p>

‘Keep calm and carry on,’ advises this sign behind St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Church in Wilkes-Barre.

Aimee Dilger | Times Leader

<p>Chalked messages outside Good Shepherd Lutheran Church on South Main Street in Wilkes-Barre urge worshippers to pray and ‘keep moving 4ward’ as Easter approaches. Many Christians are facing the possibility that the coronavirus outbreak will prevent Easter services from being conducted in person this year.</p>
                                 <p>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader</p>

Chalked messages outside Good Shepherd Lutheran Church on South Main Street in Wilkes-Barre urge worshippers to pray and ‘keep moving 4ward’ as Easter approaches. Many Christians are facing the possibility that the coronavirus outbreak will prevent Easter services from being conducted in person this year.

Aimee Dilger | Times Leader

“It’s killing me that I can’t go to Mass,” Karen Grula of Wilkes-Barre Township said.

“There is a really big hole in my life,” said Kathy Shucosky of Kingston.

“It doesn’t seem like a Sunday when you can’t go to church,” said Mary Ann Butera of Wilkes-Barre.

The women, all of whom spoke to a reporter last week via telephone, said that while they understand and agree with the need for social distancing, they are disappointed that the threat of spreading the coronavirus has canceled public services at their houses of worship.

They aren’t the only ones.

“No way is this going to be over in two weeks,” said Andrew Buleza, of Wilkes-Barre, who serves as a reader at Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church in Wilkes-Barre and regularly sets out the bread, wine and incense before the priest arrives. “This is the first time in my life (that I might miss Easter services.)”

“The decision to not have services was very, very difficult,” Guy French, president of the church council at Good Shepherd Lutheran in Wilkes-Barre, said Friday. “We’re evaluating the situation on a daily basis and we hope to return to having services on Palm Sunday (April 5).”

If that is not advisable due to a continued coronavirus threat, French admitted he will miss traditions such as the Good Friday Tenebrae, a service of music and singing that commemorates Jesus Christ’s crucifixion. “It’s solemn rather than sad; it’s beautiful,” he said.

Religious leaders from around the Wyoming Valley — among them Rabbi Larry Kaplan of Temple Israel and the Rev. Timothy Alleman from St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, both in Wilkes-Barre, and Pastor Raymond Petts from Back Mountain Harvest Assembly in Trucksville — have invited people to log on and watch videos of their services on the Facebook page or website of their respective congregations.

In addition to online services, Petts said, “We’re doing a daily Facebook Live at 8 p.m., as a time of prayer and communion. Our pastoral staff will take turns, and people will be able to log on and communicate. It’s really a time for prayer and encouragement.”

Bishop Joseph Bambera of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Scranton invited people to watch Masses via the diocese’s social media platforms, or on its television channel, CTV; and some individual Catholic churches have put videos of their Masses online.

Several local worshippers said they are taking advantage of technology to nurture their faith.

“I get these little sermons to think about as we go through Lent,” Mary Kiewlak of Nanticoke, a member of St. Faustina’s Parish, wrote in an email, explaining she has signed up to receive messages from dynamiccatholic.com and oblatesusa.org.

“I’m trying to formulate a schedule,” Tina Kellar of Plains Township also wrote in an email, explaining she’s participating in “morning prayer, daily Mass and praying the chaplet” through via live steam on Facebook. “That way I can share what I’m tuning into and invite my friends to join. It’s nice to see their names pop up. “…. is watching with you” — gives a little bit of connection to those I would see and join at church regularly.”

Kellar is a member of the choir at St. Nicholas Church in Wilkes-Barre, where choirmater Ed Loch, who is also spending a lot of time at home, said he has “developed a regular routine during these most unusual days. I begin my day by listening to Morning Prayer live streamed by Joseph Sudano, Faith Formation Director at St. Nicholas.”

Loch also reflects on daily readings from three Lenten meditation booklets, watches daily Mass live streamed from the King’s College Chaplet at 12:05 p.m. and “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy” prayers live-streamed on Facebook by Steve Angrisano, a composer of several hymns the choir usually sings.

Speaking of singing, several members of Loch’s choir are missing the joy of singing together.

“I have been involved in music ministry and cantoring/song leading since sixth grade, over 40 years now. Yikes!” Marie Helfich Shovlin of Mountain Top wrote in an email. “I find myself, in the silence of being home, being drawn to liturgical music favorites, whether it be playing them on the piano or listening to old favorites on a CD or (YouTube). The comforting and inspiring music is filling the silence in my home, heart, and soul.”

“I do miss the singing,” Mary Ann Butera of Wilkes-Barre said on Friday, when she had not yet missed a Sunday Mass with the choir but had missed a choir practice that was canceled.

Among the ways she’s keeping up with her prayer life, Butera said she’s reading a book of devotions by the Rev. Richard F. Sica “plus my son sent me one from Niagara University. I pray the rosary and I find a quiet place to meditate,” she added.

“It’s very sad (not to be able to physically attend services). I feel sorry for the older people especially whose lives revolve around church,” said Butera’s friend and fellow choir member, Mary Pat Brunner, of Wilkes-Barre, who also prays the rosary at home and is reading Sica’s book. “I think faith will get us through it,” she said. “God will get us through it.”

Karen Grula, who is a lector at St. Andrew’s Parish in Wilkes-Barre, echoed those sentiments.

“Today (Thursday) is the Feast of St. Joseph and I said a special prayer to him. That’s all we can do; stay home, wash your hands and pray that this will be over soon.”

“Thank God for the technology that can keep us connected with voice and video, if not in person,” Shucosky said, adding with a sigh: “When this is over there will be much rejoicing.”