We asked area pastors and readers how the pandemic has strengthened their faith. Here are some answers:

The Rev. Christopher M. Zelonis, pastor of SS. Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church, Lehighton: I don’t know if I’ve learned these things so much as experienced them with new force: People’s faith and charity manifest not only in times of acute tragedy, but also in more protracted periods of anxiety.

I am as susceptible to feeling the effects of isolation as anyone else, and equally liable to resort to unhelpful attitudes and actions when so stressed.

We can get impatient, of course, and take out on others the oppression of life’s uncontrollables, but deeper down, as this great feast reminds us, God’s love is stronger than sin, suffering, and death. He has a track record, in Christ, of bringing good out of evil.

The Rev. Suzanne Brooks-Cope, pastor of St. Matthew’s United Church of Christ, Kunkletown; This has certainly been a challenging year for the church. Churches tend to be slow to change. We love our ritual and our traditions. This year has helped all churches to make adaptive changes in the way we go about ministry. St. Matthew’s UCC has made a commitment of time and resources to make sure we can livestream our services from the sanctuary. Last summer, we met outside in the beauty of God’s creation throughout the summer months.

We continued our support of two food pantries. We are helping a friend in Zambia empower a group of women to build a multipurpose building to teach reading, writing, sewing and catering. We had a scaled back Strawberry Festival and car show that enabled us to provide needed fellowship to a pandemic fatigued community in our beautiful church grove. God is present and faithful even amid this pandemic. As difficult as this past year had been, we have found new ways to minister to our congregation and community. I have been amazed at the generosity and resourcefulness of our church members.

Rev Lauren Wolfe Blatt, St. John’s Lutheran Church, Mahoning: This is the second year we are celebrating the Resurrection of our Lord under the veil or shadow of a global pandemic.

There’s no doubt that this year is better than last year. There are less cases, fewer unknowns, and we are incredibly blessed by the COVID-19 vaccine, which many people are receiving (especially the vulnerable). It’s all a process, but I think every day gets brighter.

Nevertheless, there were dark and lonely days over the last year. I know that even when it felt like God had abandoned us, when we felt like we were going nowhere, when we experienced the dark night of the soul kind of sadness... I know it was then that God drew closer to us. I know God showed up.

For me, there were dark days, especially being a pastor, because there were incredibly difficult decisions that needed to be made. God was faithful, God is faithful, and on Easter Jesus will again conquer death.

Even in the midst of pandemic, when death still seems so real, God is with us. God directs doctors and nurses caring for people, God aids researchers and scientists to create vaccines, and God sits with those who grieve. I pray that you too will experience God’s closeness and steadfast love this Easter.

Nichole Eckert of Tamaqua: I would like to share that I’ve had a relationship with Jesus Christ since I was 23 years old. One thing I have learned is that this coronavirus is not the end of my destiny, it’s just a challenge and one way or another, at some point I’m going to get through this, we all are. This is just a season, this isn’t the end. I feel this virus taught me about how important it is to read the news and know what’s going on in the world. This virus has also taught me how important it is to be safe and take care of myself inside and outside and how great it is that I’m God’s temple and his masterpiece and I definitely want to take care of his temple and masterpiece and I’m going to.