St. Damien Parish is among the local churches making worship services and events available online.
By TIM KELLY
Anyone who is a part of the Ocean City community as a permanent member or a devoted visitor will tell you that Ocean City doesn’t do things halfway.
For example, when the challenge arose for Ocean City churches to keep their flocks connected in a virtual way during the most reverently observed week on the Christian calendar no less, church communities all over town rose to the occasion.
Online worship, live streams of events, even a “Minecraft” video game-inspired Easter egg hunt for youngsters and online Easter fashion parade appeared in response to Gov. Phil Murphy’s and church leaders’ stay-at-home order to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
A prime example is St. Peter’s United Methodist Church. The historic house of worship at 501 East Eighth Street would normally be abuzz with activity, music and the voices of congregation members. Instead, all the buzz – and there is plenty – is through the parallel world of cyberspace.
“Never has being a church been so important, yet so difficult,” United Methodist Pastor Larry Oksten said. “We continue to worship, gather resources and provide assistance to the community.”
At St. Damien Parish, a similar can-do attitude prevailed. For years, the stirring Stations of the Cross re-enactment by the St. Damien Hispanic Community has been a Holy Week tradition, but in 2020, the critical social distancing element of fighting the virus made it impossible.
Disappointed but undaunted, the Parish posted a video of the 2019 Stations appears on the St. Damien Facebook page.
St. Damien Parish is among the local churches making worship services and events available online.
St. Peter’s and St. Damien are but two examples. A selection of online worship options appears below. Check with individual church websites for other virtual Easter events throughout Ocean City and environs:
