Trinity Church holds drive-by service to stay connected to its parishioners
The novel coronavirus continues to prompt some innovative approaches to stay physically distant and yet find meaningful and personal social connections.
Many local churches are holding services virtually, but Trinity Church in Wenatchee took a unique approach for Sunday’s service — a drive-by event.
Congregants started by driving to Methow Market where they prayed for the health and success of our local businesses. The second station was next to the building Trinity shares with the Wenatchee Brethren-Baptist Church on Okanogan Street. Prayers were extended for the residents of Colonial Vista and other vulnerable adults in our midst.
At the third station, in the church parking lot, they were invited to participate in a silent meditation, then they drove a few car lengths to have Pastor Matt Canlis give a brief talk. Each family was handed some bread to take home. The goal was to have members “leave with bread and hope,” Canlis told me. “It’s about keeping spirits up as clouds gather,” he added.
Members also donated food to be given to Serve Wenatchee Valley, an organization that is devoted to helping keep people from dropping into homelessness through a variety of services.
Canlis was the subject of a documentary called Godspeed: The Pace of Being Known, which chronicles what he learned at a parish in Scotland about meeting people face-to-face and emphasizing building relationships more than preaching sermons. He recently completed a companion book called Backyard Pilgrim to help people apply those lessons in their life.
The Sunday service was getting a steady stream of congregants when I stopped by about 9 a.m.
