Pipe organ music at Oak Harbor Methodist Church has provided a catharsis for community members seeking a melodious lunch break diversion.

The third of five 20-minute noon concerts was held Wednesday at the church. Pastor David Lura said four concerts were originally slated for the series, but a fifth organist agreed to play.

“We’ll now go into the first week of August,” Lura said.

While many churches have chosen to go more contemporary with their music, the Methodist pastor said his church has embraced its unique instrument and has chosen to share the music with the community.

“It’s been great. Organ music is not a favorite of a lot of people these days,” Lura said. “We have probably the nicest pipe organ in this community.”

With 14 people the first week, 16 the second, and approximately 40 organ aficionados on Wednesday, interest in the brown bag lunch organ concert is growing.

“I learned about it via the downtown Seattle churches,” the pastor said. “They use their instruments as a way for people to come with their brown bag lunches on their lunch hour looking for a place to meet and enjoy gospel music and contemporary Christian music. Last week our organist played ‘Take Me Out to the Ball Game.’”

Accomplished organist Vernon Greenstreet, a 35-year Oak Harbor resident who now makes his home in Bellingham, effectively filled the church with music, choosing pieces by J.S. Bach, Andrew Clark, Sam Batt Owens, and other musicians.

“I thought it was great,” said Carolyn Hansen, a recent Oak Harbor transplant. “This was the first we’ve been to and we were very impressed.”

Greenstreet’s reputation in the area precedes him and his history in the community cannot be overstated.

“Vern was the one who worked for the organ company that brought this particular instrument here,” Lura said. “He used to work on them and was the organist and choir director here when this instrument was secured. And so he is known by many more people.”

The organist also cut his teeth for many years as a high school music teacher in Oak Harbor. He has been playing the instrument since the eighth grade.

“It’s good to be back and I enjoy playing here,” Greenstreet said. “They put up with me.”

Lura was moved by the performance, adding that the adept organist has a special relationship with the musical instrument.

“I thought it was a good performance,” he said. “Vern knows the instrument more intimately than others and so he got a lot out of it and had a variety of music.”

Many of the lunch concert attendees have heard about the weekly event through word-of-mouth. A young couple wandered by the church one day and were lured in by the organ music. Lura said he will gauge community interest and plan next summer’s organ series accordingly.

“I didn’t anticipate that there would be a lot of people, but I wanted to get a feel for it,” he said. “If there’s enough interest, another summer maybe we’ll schedule another six weeks.”

Oak Harbor High School Librarian Lisa Smith will play at noon on Wednesday, and Rev. Carol Harlacher will close out the concert series on Aug. 2.