The Alberta government has allowed churches to gather in groups of less than 50 or 1/3 your auditorium size. This is a great opportunity for churches to begin to gather again. Many churches have opted to stay online for their Sunday morning gathering but what other ways can they gather outside of a Sunday morning service?
1. Prayer Meetings
Gather the church together to pray. Have a directed time of prayer for people, for the church, for lost souls and for the healing of our world from COVID-19. Incorporate times of intentional fellowship and sharing before and after the meeting.
2. Fire Pit Gatherings
Bring your own lawn chairs and snacks and gather around a fire pit for a time of fellowship and prayer. Maybe hum along to a worship song? Keep social distancing and think through washroom facilities. Enjoy time together in a larger group as you take in the outdoors and God’s beautiful creation.
3. Workshops
Host a workshop on mental health or marriage. Have socially distanced seating and order snacks or lunch through skip the dishes. Use Brett Ullmans’ talks on Mental Health or Family Life Canada webinars for marriage. Have people invite their friends and family to join them and serve the community with practical, faith-based resources.
4. Drive In Services
Invite people to a unique type of service with a drive in service. Set up your worship team and preacher and broadcast to the cars in the parking lot. Have something for kids in the service as well and make it a family gathering. Remind your congregation to invite their friends. You can check out helpful tips here.
5. Walk Thru Service
Design parts of your church like “stations of the cross” and have different activities for smaller groups to participate in: scripture reflection, lighting a candle for a lost one, confession of sins and nailing to the cross, reflective worship etc… Ensure each station is sanitized after each group. Have a two hour time slot that people can show up and put them into smaller groups to journey through this interactive experience. Once they finish, they can fellowship outside in the parking lot or in another wide open area of the church.
Be creative, be innovative and see what God will do. What other ways can you gather outside of a Sunday morning service?
Jeremiah works as an Effectiveness Coach with the ABNWT District of the PAOC. He is a passionate and creative leader who believes that the church is the hope of the world. He uses collaboration, innovation, and inspiration to challenge churches and their leadership to engage in the only mission Jesus ever sent his church on: making disciples.