Mantua – Pastor Chad Delaney from the Mantua Center Christian Church last held services in person on March 7th. But his work leading the small Disciples of Christ community of believers has been busier than ever, even during while many have been sheltering in place at home. During this trying time, Delaney has learned to work through pastoral care situations without the aid of being face-to-face in order to help members through tragedies or difficulties.
Delaney, together with seminary student Sarah Smith (and the help of his teenage son, CJ) have been creating video church services each week that are posted each Sunday at 9:30 am — the congregants’ usual meeting time. Delaney noted that the initial videos were pretty basic, but as the weeks have progressed, the messages have expanded from simple sermons to services that include content like communion meditations from church elders, special messages for children in the congregation, even special music from gifted members. Video segments are collected midweek, giving the team a chance to exercise “skills they didn’t teach at seminary,” according to Delaney. He was pleased to note that Sunday services have been getting between 100 – 150 views each week…some from those far away who used to attend. He admitted to being, “heartened and surprised by the amount of participation and connection the church has experienced during this trying time. “Of course, we’d all rather be together,” he added. In addition, the church enjoys regular Bible studies via Zoom and weekly Zoom time with kids. He noted a drawback with online services, “it’s hard to know the impact you’re making.”
“We all just know that Chad has put forth great effort to pastor our congregation during the virus pandemic,” shared MCCC member Pam Auble. That’s why she her husband Dave hatched a secret plan, and spread it via email to the congregation. The message said, “Let’s shower Pastor Chad and the Delaneys with some extra love this Sunday. Join our “Pastor’s Parade!“ the note share. Would-be participants were given suggestions to decorate their car, write notes, or bring favorite treats for the pastor and his family. While everyone practiced social distancing, they still managed to enjoy each other’s company from a distance while bringing joy to their beloved pastor and his family.
The Delaneys were certainly surprised when a caravan of 25-30 cars drove to their home last Sunday afternoon. “It was so fun to see all five of them on the lawn waving (and crying),” Auble gushed. Kelley Owen marveled, “It was so good to see a lot of our church family!”
Folks waved signs and brought hot wings, homemade cookies, fresh herbs, games, cards — even a 40 pound bag of sunflower seeds for the family’s backyard birdfeeders. MaryEllen Derthick Hamlin shared, “We waved and said hello as we passed in our cars,” she explained. “We opened the sliding van door so they could see us and our poster better.” She noted that an especially exuberant parader hung out of her sunroof waving like a beauty queen, and the honking and happy noises encouraged neighbors to come out and enjoy it, too. Delaney joked, “I don’t know what a party looks like during a pandemic… but I think we just experienced it!”
The pandemic has created changes for everyone, and churches are no different. Delaney remarked that the earliest believers hid in catacombs, and yet the church persisted. Time will tell how long we’ll all continue to do things a little differently. For Delaney, it helps to looks at the bright side. He noted that online church services give him more of an opportunity to see colleagues’ work — something not possible during a typical Sunday. As we each adjust to the new normal and have an opportunity to embrace new ways of doing things.
On the church’s website, the grateful pastor posted, “While this situation is not how many of us would want it,” he shared with his congregants, we’ve learned, “the church isn’t just a building — we are the church together. And with God’s help and our determination, we can continue to make something new together.”
For more information, visit mantuacentercc.org online, on Facebook, or on YouTube at Mantua Center Christian Church.
