Some Merced churches moving forward with drive-in worship, other services during pandemic
Following an amended county health order and directives by the Attorney General of California, drive-in worship services were recently allowed to move forward in Merced County and throughout California.
Some local churches say they are adopting the unconventional service style in an attempt a return to businesses as usual — or the closest possible alternative.
Central Presbyterian Church is facilitating communion at some point this month via drive-in distribution, Pastor Dave McGurk said.
Safely secured in sealed packaged, communion bread will be passed out by individuals wearing masks and gloves to congregants in cars, McGurk said. The communion can then be taken at home. The church is holding services online.
McGurk said he believes people are grateful for a touch of normalcy. “This is a time when faith becomes important to people,” he said.
As a pastor, McGurk said it’s difficult to not be able to worship with his congregation, or visit sick people who are in need.
“The shepherd needs to be with his sheep,” he said. “I think they’ll be glorious rejoicing with the chance to gather again.”
Pastor Craig Greatman of This Ain’t Your Mama’s Church, a community biker church, said a system for drive-in communion hasn’t yet been ironed out, but the church has been doing drive-in service for some time now. “I absolutely do think it’s a great thing for the community,” he said.
Greatman began preaching in the church parking lot about two weeks before Easter, he said.
As a “quirky church,” Greatman said it wasn’t unusual that they do something different. A stage is set up on a large trailer truck for Greatman to preach from. A mobile DJ assists with sound, amplifying it loudly for vehicles in the parking lot. Those who want to keep their windows closed and air conditioning on can also listen via radio.
More than 30 cars recently attended, with multiple family members in each vehicle, Greatman said. Cars are ushered in by parking attendees to spaces separated by cones.
The services are streamed live on Facebook, too. Most online services show a pastor behind a camera preaching from a room, Greatman said. The view count is rising, and those watching online one week often show up in person the following week.
Greatman said he hopes the services inspire other churches to innovate. While the community cannot gather together, drive-in worship acts as a gateway for getting back to normal, he said.
“It’s been a positive impact on remembering who we are, remembering why we need each other and why we need community,” Greatman said.
Still, he said preaching to rows of cars rather than the faces makes for a disconnect.
“It’s a community experience, preaching,” said Greatman. To better connect, he said he tries to make eye contact with worshipers through vehicle window shields that don’t have a glare.
Face-to-face contact is essential for any community, Greatman said, noting that he is concerned about the feelings of loneliness individuals are experiencing. “Human contact is vital,” Greatman said.
Greatman says drive-in church is a step in the right direction, though he believes coming together in church while practicing safety precautions should be considered an essential service.
“I think it’s going to be a reunion in many ways,” Greatman said when asked how it will feel to eventually congregate together in person. “Just a sense of relief, a sense of peace, a sense of normalcy. All those things that make us human.”
This Ain’t Your Mama’s Church drive-in worship is Saturdays at 6:30 p.m. in the church parking lot at 3312 G St., Merced.
This story was originally published May 2, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
