STURGEON BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – John Havemeyer has been looking forward to Sunday service all week.
A parishioner at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, he joined several others for a drive-in service.
“To visit His house and come together in corporate worship as we’re directed in the Bible.”
And even though church looks a bit different this week, Havemeyer tells FOX 11 it’s about staying connected.
“That’s the difficulty with this pandemic is that my children are somewhere else. Friends, family, things like that. So, it’s very important that as we can to actually, safely, stay connected.”
For Pastor James Gomez of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Sturgeon Bay, it’s an opportunity.
He tells FOX 11 he’s hoping the drive-in service can offer some normalcy, after Governor Tony Evers ordered a ban on all public and private gatherings of any number of people that are not part of a single household.
“I had a radio transmitter in my office that I just kind of had for a while and I haven’t used it for too much,” Gomez remembered. “I started thinking, ‘well can this be done?’ We can drive, we can park. We could socially keep our distance. I think this is a possibility!”
So area parishioners took to the parking lot. If the lot gets full, he hopes people tune in, even if from across the street.
Between volunteers to direct parking, and even making sure the music team is practicing social distancing, the setup takes a lot of work.
It’s all so parishioners like Havemeyer can come together safely.
“It’s very important in my life to stay connected with my Savior and my God.”
Pastor Gomez says for now Sunday morning parking lot services will continue.
