Molly Raraigh, children's ministry director at Saxonburg Memorial Presbyterian Church, tapes a video story time of the Story of Jonah onTuesday. A new story Raraigh tapes at home, at a park, or at church is uploaded twice a week to the church's Facebook page and YouTubechannel. “We try to give people the experience with Christ even though we can't gather at church,” Raraigh said

Like many other churches, Saxonburg Memorial Presbyterian Church has been delivering church services and providing other activities for members online during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Children can tune into the church's Facebook page or YouTube channel to watch and listen to Story Time with Miss Molly hosted by children's ministry director Molly Raraigh of Sarver.

“We try to give people the experience with Christ even though we can't gather at church,” Raraigh said.

She records Story Time at her home, at a park or at the church and posts the stories Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11 a.m.

“It can be viewed anytime. They can click anytime,” she said.

The Story of Jonah was one she recently posted.

“I just try to find something different that relates to everyday, but it goes back to the Bible that we're supposed to live by,” Raraigh said.

In addition, she records a segment that is edited into the church's virtual worship service, which is posted at 8 a.m. every Sunday.

“I do a skit or a children's sermon — a story for kids that adults can relate to as well,” Raraigh said.

The church's pastor, the Rev. Douglas Dorsey, conducts the service just like he would in a live service, youth minister Ben Case records a sermon for young church members, and music minister Dan Byerly plays hymns and songs for the service.

Byerly said his wife, Melissa, plays the piano in their home, and their three young children occasionally sing along for the recording.

He said he uses his microphones and recorder and some of the church's sound equipment to record the music.

“Right now, we do it right out of our house. We have a piano in our living room, so we do it there,” Byerly said. “We record some video and put it all together.”

The location and technology doesn't detract from the message carried in the music.

“It's the music of the church teaching people the truth of scripture. That means everybody participates. The children are singing. We hope families are singing along at home,” Byerly said. “Part of worship is singing praise to God, and we hope everyone at home is joining in. The main part of the service is the word of God.”

He said members of the church band also record music for services, and church members occasionally record themselves singing hymns solo and submit them for the service.