Janita Krayniak is the pastor of the First United Methodist congregations in both Lovell and Powell. Light from the stained glass windows streams over her in the vestibule of the Powell First United Church.

Tribune photo by Connie Burcham

Janita Krayniak is a busy woman. But she fields her responsibilities with what could be called panache. She has a style and flair all her own, which isn’t easily achieved by a pastor.

Krayniak has served as the minister for the First United Methodist Church of Powell as well as the UMC at Lovell since July. She moved here from Colorado, where she was a pastor and directed children’s programs at a Methodist church. And she is from Georgia originally. 

But one Sunday a month, she can be seen bounding out of Union Presbyterian Church in a wild dash to make it to her other duties on time. 

On those particular Sundays, Krayniak assists Union Presbyterian by directing its handbell choir. It’s regular director, Linda Murray, is recovering from surgery.

The arrangement began simply enough. Krayniak wanted to borrow a handbell to use in a service for All Saints Day on Nov. 1, so she phoned over to the Presbyterians to locate one.

Barbara Fulton at that church asked about Krayniak’s experience with handbells and then talked her into taking over the choir as director until Murray is strong enough to retake the position  when bell choir returns in the fall. Krayniak’s undergraduate degree is in sacred music, and she had long served in musical ministry, so it was a good fit.

“So, through borrowing a handbell I found the need there,” she said. The arrangement will continue through Palm Sunday.

The only way the triple duty worked for Krayniak was because of the timing of the services.

The Lovell Methodist service is at 9 a.m. and the Presbyterian service starts at 10:30. The Powell Methodist service begins at 11.

“It’s a tight turn,” Krayniak said. “But if it were at any other time, it wouldn’t have worked out.”

“It’s a God thing,” she laughed. 

The two churches are collaborating on a few other services as well. For example, there is the Maundy Thursday shared service and communion at 7 p.m. All the consumables for the communion will be individually prepackaged so that COVID protocols can be observed. After each congregant has picked up the sacraments, family groups may gather in dispersed areas of the sanctuary and take communion together. A Tenebrae service will be held on Good Friday and a sunrise service is planned for 6:30 a.m. at Crown Hill Cemetery. There, Krayniak said, worshipers can remain in their cars if they choose. 

Is it a little strange to hold a worship service at a cemetery? Not from Krayniak’s point of view.

“The first Easter was at a tomb,” she pointed out.

Later that day, the churches will hold a shared breakfast and egg hunt at Union Presbyterian. 

“Pairing with the Presbyterian Church is a gift for Holy Week,” Krayniak said. “There are some wonderful, wonderful folks there and all over the community. We can all learn so much from each other if we would just put aside our need to be right.”

Krayniak is eager for warmer weather and the chance to get together with other musicians, perhaps outdoors. She put together a music, art and drama camp in Colorado Springs when she was in ministry there. The camp involved half-days and at the end, the attendees put on an art show, bell choir and staged dramatic pieces. Krayniak hopes to pursue something like that in Powell as well. 

Until then, she will be looking around her communities, searching for ways to serve and meet the needs of her congregants. When a need arises, you can bet she will be there. With bells on.