Bringing the faith community together

BARRHEAD-The Agrena's parking lot was turned into an impromptu church on July 19 as Barrhead Ministerial Association brought the community's faith community together for a drive-in style community church service.

More than 100 cars, packed the parking lot and it is estimated that between 300 and 400 people took in the service.

Churches included in the service were Barrhead's United, Bethel Pentecostal, Alliance, the Church of God and Rich Valley Community churches.

However, Teresa Kristel, one of the event planners from Barrhead's Bethel Pentecostal Church, said the service was far from impromptu as it was several months in the planning.

"It all started at least two months ago when churches were looking at different ways to connect with their congregations," she said.

As part of the public health restrictions, churches had to limit the number of parishioners who could attend services in person and then close their doors to the public.

Since then the province has allowed churches to re-open their doors with restrictions.

As for the community service, a stage or tented area erected near the Seniors' Drop-in Centre while volunteer parking attendants helped arrange the cars into three rows of about 20 cars facing the stage. There were also two additional rows of vehicles to each side of the tent. 

Kristen said each of the contributing churches was in charge of a section of the service.

To make sure the audience could hear the service along with a portable sound system the service was broadcast via FM radio.

"Our volunteer parkers held up signs telling the frequency to tune to," she said, noting that Bethel had a low power-transmitter that is usually used as an in-house sound system.

Because it was necessary to boost the range of the broadcast, they had to increase the power of the transmitter which required a licence from innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. Although the transmission was low power, Kristel said they received reports that that people could hear the service on their radios as far as Brookside Village and the Co-op gas bar.

She said that although churches are now open to the public as long as they follow Alberta Health Services guidelines and many have begun holding in-person services, the ministerial association might contemplate having another drive-in event.

"It was a way to bring the faith community together and bring, in a time when it is difficult due to COVID-19 and we were able to do it safely. I can see a time when we might want to do that again," Kirstel said.

Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com

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