Kim Fundingsland/MDN Churches have turned to Livestream to keep their congregations engaged during the coronavirus pandemic.

Minot’s churches have not been spared during the current coronavirus pandemic. With social distancing the preventive practice of the times, congregations no longer gather for traditional services.

Instead, churches have turned to various forms of social media to stay in touch with their congregations. Clergy are conducting services and delivering sermons using Livestream services. Livestream enables anyone, anywhere, to see and hear their preferred church services without leaving their home.

One of the most important religious events on the church calendar is Easter Sunday. This year Easter is May 12. Oddly, there will not be congregations gathering together under one roof to celebrate. Instead, they will be tuning in from their homes to video presentations from the pulpit.

“There will be no Easter services. It will be Livestreaming on Easter Sunday and Good Friday as well,” said Desiree Uhrich, senior pastor at Minot’s Christ Lutheran Church. “This will be our fourth week of Livestreaming. The first week was sad and yet there is something very moving about it. We know there’s a lot of people watching.”

The number of times that a church service is viewed is easily tracked for Livestream broadcasts. Uhrich said one service had nearly 2,000 views, about four times more than what was anticipated.

“It’s a really strange phenomenon,” said Uhrich. “Sometimes revival comes in ways we don’t expect. God seems nearer at these times to people.”

At Bethany Lutheran Church of Minot, which has also been Livestreaming regular Sunday services, Pastor Janet Mathistad says she’s seen a similar reaction from people during the coronavirus pandemic.

“I think people are feeling faith is going to hold on when everything else is so shaky,” said Mathistad.

Mathistad said Bethany Lutheran has also seen an increase in the amount of people tuning in to Livestream services, including many from out-of-state locations.

“We know people are responding. Our on-line viewing has gone way up. We are reaching across state lines too, which is kind of a neat experience as well,” said Mathistad. “We often get texts when services are done. We do feel like the community is all there even if we can’t see them face to face.”

How long congregations will be kept away from church buildings is not known, but whenever the social distancing directive is lifted, the churches will respond.

“It’ll definitely be a celebratory worship service, a splendid worship service whenever we can come back together,” remarked Mathistad.

At Christ Lutheran Church Uhrich was also looking forward to the return of congregational gatherings once again.

“The day that we can all get back together again will be the most joyous celebration that I can possible imagine,” said Uhrich. “If there is anything good to come out of this it is that people will have a greater appreciation for one another and an awareness that we are so fragile and vulnerable.”