It has been ten months since I last walked into the sanctuary of a church to participate in worship. Given the current spike in COVID-19 cases where I live and the slower than expected distribution of the vaccine, I am unsure when I may next participate in worship as I’d always known it before COVID-19.
Today, for the first time since the onset of the pandemic, I gathered in the same physical place as others for worship.
Preparation
Last month, First Presbyterian Church (Fort Worth, Texas) launched a weekly parking lot service to supplement the weekly online service. This service, unlike some parking lot options, is designed for all attendees to remain in their vehicles for the duration of the experience.
In an e-newsletter dated January 1, 2021, the parking lot service was explained:
Also this Sunday, FPC is again pleased to offer parking lot worship at 10 a.m. utilizing radio station 99.9 FM as those attending remain in their cars, with members of their own household, parked in the two lots directly across from the Sanctuary. Worship leaders will be visible from the plaza in front of the Sanctuary. (Note: since cars will be parked within 6 feet of each other, masks must be worn if windows are lowered during the service.) Advance registration is not required for attending the parking lot service, however, those attending agree to remain in their vehicles for the duration of the service as we exercise the maximum in care and concern for the health of one another. Bulletins for the parking lot worship are available at fpcfw.org/worship. Printed copies will also be available from greeters in the parking lot.
Experience
A year ago, my wife and I walked the half mile from our home to First Presbyterian. Since the parking lot service requires participants to be seated in a vehicle with members of their own household, we opted to drive today.
As we arrived on campus, we immediately noted the road directly in front of the sanctuary was blocked off. Friendly greeters offered us printed bulletins, and directed us to available spaces in the two lots with clear views of the front of the Sanctuary.
After parking and turning off our vehicle, we tuned in to the radio station and readied for worship. In the ten minutes before the service began, we had a clear view of the worship leaders completing last minute preparations and of the attendees entering the parking lots and choosing their desired parking places.
Apart from the opportunity to honk horns to answer a few questions designed to promote engagement, the service was remarkably similar to the ones we’d experienced in the Sanctuary.
The only “surprise” occurred when my SUV decided that we’d used auxiliary power long enough, and automatically shut it off. Thankfully this was remedied in a few seconds with the push of a button.
So What?
Doing worship well during the pandemic requires moving beyond the in person worship that had been primary for nearly all faith communities for all of their respective histories.
Parking lot worship is a helpful option for those who seek to gather safely in the same physical space during a season when doing so in traditional manners is far from safe.
- Share one new (to you) type of worship (online, parking lot, drive-through, etc.) you’ve participated in during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Does participating in a parking lot service appeal to you? Explain.
- What is one innovation related to worship your congregation has made during the pandemic that you hope will continue well beyond it.
For more on worship during the pandemic, consider reading