Drive Thru Church [Open]

CMR ^ | July 6, 2008

[NYer]

A Protestant church in Georgia has added a drive-thru service, says the Post Bulletin.

By the time the Rev. Norman Markle started his sermon, everyone was still in their vehicles -- just as planned. The 150-year-old New Hope United Methodist Church is offering a drive-in service, hoping to attract new visitors with an unusual worship experience.

"Maybe they don't have a church or don't care to get dressed up to go to church; let's find a way to eliminate all that," Markle said. "People go where they're comfortable."

The service has all the markings of traditional worship -- hymns, a Scripture reading and a sermon -- but everything is broadcast over an AM radio station. Attendees can stay in their cars, spread a blanket on the ground or go inside the tiny chapel, depending on where they are most at ease.

Markle is hoping to draw attention to his 88-member church, which is off the beaten path in a suburban Atlanta area now crowded with automotive repair shops, car dealerships and fast food restaurants. He plans to run the services through the fall, or until the weather gets too cold to sit outdoors.

The church hopes to add a monthly communion to the drive-in service, where attendees would be served the bread and grape juice in their cars. Some Sundays, coffee and doughnuts will be offered after worship.

Doesn't this strike anyone in their cars as somewhat irreverent?

What scares me most about things like this is how you can pretzel yourself into the logic of thinking that any way to get people to come to Mass is good. I believe the only thing saving the Catholic Church from such tom-foolery is the Eucharist.

A recent Sunday drew about 20 worshippers for the drive-thru service. Most of the group sat in their cars and trucks. The crowd included three dogs and several people munching on breakfast as they sang along to "Just a Closer Walk with Thee."

One family piled on a blanket in the back of their pickup truck with their rat terrier, Kapone, and listened to the sermon. "I think it's incredible," said Kapone's owner, Renee Ford, who's been a member at New Hope for three years. "I've never had an opportunity to worship in the open air like this."

Yeah, there's nothing like the smell of exhaust fumes in the morning to inspire awe and thanks in the Creator.

This is not a completely novel concept. Markle said there are 11 churches across the country that have drive-in services today.

One congregation in Pennsylvania started its drive-in service in the 1970s and gets about 70 attendees each Sunday, said the Rev. Tim Stradling.

Here's my favorite part. You ready? No, really. Get ready.

Since the church is surrounded by homes, worshippers are encouraged to quietly respond to the sermon, he said. "If you're saying 'amen' by beeping horns, you might be waking up a neighbor," Stradling said. "If I say something and I'm looking for response, they flash their lights or stick their arms out of the windows."

And the angels continue to weep.

[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

I’m going to have to agree with the Catholics here - this is ridiculous!

[NYer]

Apparently, this church is not unique.

[svcw]

I remember churches taking over drive in theaters.
Just pull up put the speakers on the window and listen to the sermon.
Did not even have to get the kids out of their pjs.

[marshmallow]

"You wanna a cake wid dat......wid or widout sprinkles?.....special blessing or just da basic vows? "

"OK thank you.........dat'll be $25.50.......please drive around to da window............"

[elcid1970]

Admin Moderator, I wish to protest post #5.

[NYer]

Lol!

[Admin Moderator]

Personally, and without presuming to speak for any other mod, I’d like to see Manfred gone.

[trisham]

Great. Thanks for the input.

[frankiep]

I see we have a troll here today.

Hello, troll!

[marshmallow]

Probably the only thing more absurd and deceptively evil than this is the Roman Catholic Eucharist.

Thanks, Manny.

The past few days on FR haven't been good ones for you with threads pulled etc., but with this comment you've really outdone yourself.

It takes a special talent to divert a thread about a drive through church into the Catholic flame war du jour, but you've certainly made a valiant attempt.

Nice work.

[trisham]

Thank you, AM.

[ChurtleDawg]

This forum has hit a new low.

[Manfred the Wonder Dawg]

Edit: left out a word; first sentence should read: “No, I’m NOT calling the body of Christ evil.”

[soupcon]

I went to drive-in movie services all the time with my grandparents 40 years ago. And it was a Catholic service. The snack bar was closed, though.

[ChurtleDawg]

the thing is sola scriptura is not repugnant at all, it is just a logical fallacy.

you see, often things are not spelled out in black and white in the Bible, and one has to have something to guide them in interpretation. For example, Catholics use the writings of the Church fathers, the pronouncements of the Magisterium, writings of the saints and doctors of the church, and the creeds from the major ecumenical councils.

[Admin Moderator]

Religion Mod is a bit busy today, so I’ll step in and say, what part of ‘[Ecumenical]’ do you not understand? Don’t come back to this thread.

[elcid1970]

Thank you, Admin Moderator, for intervening.

Even though you banned me for a week last year.

;^)

[trisham]

LOL!

[DaveMSmith]

Our church has an online congregation and we worship weekly. In her later years, my MIL would watch Mass on EWTN when she couldn't make it out.

There are plenty of examples of the Lord preaching outdoors. I don't see the issue.

[AnAmericanMother]

Second time this thread you have inadvertently spoken the truth.

Doesn't it get a little tiresome to be attacking Catholics all day long? Shouldn't you be worshipping God by whatever lights you follow, instead of indulging in all this venom?

Consider, also, that hate is simply love that has lost its way. Perhaps you should reexamine your vociferous attacks on the Church and entertain the possibility that the Holy Spirit is calling you to reconsider.

[wideawake]

Seconded.

[wideawake]

The issue is not conducting services out of doors.

The issue is whether sitting in your car, with your dog, eating breakfast and listening to the radio is reverent.

If they were inside a diner with every group sitting at a booth talking and snacking with a sermon being piped in over an intercom, the fact that they were isnide wouldn't be the important factor.

[Ottofire]

Okay, if this is an ecumenical thread, how are we to approach it?

Can we be critical of this trivialization of faith, or being under the cover of ecumenicalism are you suggesting this is something which we are to accept?

[DaveMSmith]

My dogs are here when I listen to worship services and mom had her dog in her room when she watched Mass on EWTN. Occasionally, mine want out and I'll either pause the audio or get up from the chat.

I'll look up Scripture passages and paste them to the chat -- it's interactive. With the audio services, I'll take notes and look things up so I understand them fully.

I'm not sure we have a 'snack restriction', but I almost always have a cup of coffee on my desk. There's always a pot of coffee going at our church, too. (for Bible Study and afterwards)

I think the purpose of listening to the radio in the article is to actually hear the sermon.

[annalex]

how are we to approach it?

I think you are right, Otto, -- a thread whose premise is critical cannot be ecumenical.

[Religion Moderator]

The thread tag has been changed to "open" because the article is "antagonistic."

Nevertheless, Manfred, do NOT return to this thread.

[tiki]

Not really, some rabid anti-Catholics have hit a new low. Pray for them, they must be miserable.