NAHANT — In the spirit of new beginnings, Nahant Village Church will hold its Easter service outdoors at sunrise.
The service, meant to be a creative way to keep worshippers safe while providing them with an opportunity to gather with their church community during the COVID-19 pandemic, will take place rain or shine.
“In these COVID times, it’s important for people to get together, and this is a way we can do it safely while we can’t go into the sanctuary,” said Reverend Terri Motley, a Nahant Village Church member. “Faith is something that’s shared. The spirit visits us when we’re together in ways that it doesn’t when we’re praying by ourselves.”
This isn’t the first time the congregation has opted to host services outside.
Motley said Nahant Village Church managed to hold a handful of COVID-friendly, outdoor services last November, but the onset of cold weather eventually forced the congregation to turn back to virtual services over the long winter months.
With spring fast approaching, however, parishioners are looking forward to not only better weather, but the possibility of a light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The people who braved the cold to come out (for the earlier services) really seemed to enjoy it,” Motley said. “People really want to be together.”
Worshippers will meet at the intersection of Cliff Street and Nahant Road at 6:15 a.m. and begin the service with a few short readings before making the trek to 405 Nahant Road at 6:23 a.m.
An additional live-streamed service will be held later in the day, and residents who wish to attend the virtual service will be given the option of picking up communion at Nahant Village Church or having it delivered separately.
Questions and virtual signups can be directed to the Rev. Jeffrey MacDonald at [email protected].
“(Anyone who plans to attend) should be prepared to either meditate on or share what they hope will be reborn for them in this next year to come,” Motley said. “Easter is a time of rebirth and resurrection. I would encourage people to think about for themselves what they would like to see reborn or resurrected.”
