Quarantine sparks creative celebrations

IN OUR CONGREGATIONS

We had a particularly interesting circumstance this year as it relates to the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine. We have been live-streaming our Sunday services on Facebook for quite some time, as well as services in church, so the knowledge of how to do that was an advantage as far as “what do we do now” once the doors were shut.

Since mid-March our church has been closed to in-person worship because of the virus, so we stormed ahead online, armed with our skills with MEVO (a video streaming technology) and a brand new Music Director in the person of Colin Welford (who conducted at the English National Ballet and Royal Opera House, directed the music for “Lion King” on Broadway for six years as well as all its international shows, “Hamilton” in Chicago, etc. No small talent and a world-class organist).

Colin records his more difficult organ pieces for separate (and notated, often funny) videos online. Pastor Dawn does weekly podcasts on Facebook, and her husband (Mr. Bob as the kids call him) reads Thomas the Tank Engine stories online weekly.

So far, so good…. but Pastor Dawn Volpe’s anniversary of her 35th year of ordination and her 65th birthday lay ahead in July. What to do? She was very stoic about it—“We’ll celebrate when we can all get together again”—but the Joint Board didn’t want to let it go at that.

With the help of the Joint Board, Colin and office staff, a very covert operation was set afoot. We even set up a separate email account from “Pastor Iverson” (our Ephraim founder) so that all communications could take place beyond the nose of our pastor.

There were meetings off-site, communications with old mentors and friends, family and members/friends of the congregation and musical guests to keep everyone apprised of our progress. Because of the limitations of the number of people one can have in an indoor space when there’s a pandemic taking place, it took hours to figure out the logistics of moving people in and out of the church at the proper time (with 17 masked participants, which included seven musicians and their sometimeslarge instruments).

Congregants at Ephraim Moravian Church didn’t let COVID-19 stop their celebration of Pastor Dawn Volpe’s ordination anniversary and birthday. Costumed (and masked) members played music, Bishop Paul Graf brought greetings, members paraded for Dawn’s birthday and a special appearance from “J.J. Groenfeldt,” one of Ephraim’s first pastors

Her anniversary celebration came off with nary a hitch. Pastor Dawn was ushered into the church with only some instructions of where she had to move and when as the dance began. Bishop Paul Graf was a surprise guest to greet her, a whole musical number of “How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria” with lyrics rewritten by Colin had to be pre-recorded on video and shown during the service. There were presentations and a visit from J.J. Groenfeldt (one of our first pastors, portrayed by Rob Moore).

Because the Volpes’ son Rob had played a “Star Wars” theme at the end of Dawn’s very first service in Ephraim 10 years ago, Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine, in full costume, showed up to play Star Wars’ “Death March” as the postlude. Fellowship with cake and birthday streamers was held outside, well-spaced for all. Both the service of celebration (July 26) and the “Maria video” are on Ephraim Moravian’s Facebook page.

Celebration over? No. Pastor Dawn’s birthday was two days later, and she was unaware that a drive-by celebration was going to happen, with live music, balloons, posters and more than 70 cars to wish her well, complete with drone documentation. The kids made the posters the week before so that they could be involved, and they also sang a combined “Happy Birthday” video that was presented to Dawn.

It’s been a difficult time without seeing our members and friends each week; we have been having outdoor Bible studies and a series of Vespers services outside, but we don’t know how long this will continue with the virus numbers still climbing here in Door County. We are striving, however, to continue to prove that COVID can’t stop love! n

Diane Kirkland is secretary/treasurer of Ephraim Moravian Church in Ephraim, Wis.