Natrona Heights parishioners go to drive-in for Easter Sunday services

Harvest Baptist Church in Natrona Heights, Harrison, hosted a cinematic Easter experience over the weekend.

From the comfort of their cars, members and nonmembers alike viewed a special Easter service on the big screen at Riverside Drive-In in Vandergrift.

Less than two weeks ago, leaders at Harvest Baptist had a professionally made film created for the show, running at approximately 53 minutes, said outreach pastor Dave Coyle.

“It’s a unique piece that will stream together some testimony from three different people telling the story of how Jesus changed their life,” Coyle said. “It’s all woven together with song.”

To host the service at Riverside, leaders from the church sought approval from the appropriate authorities, including local municipalities and the office of Gov. Tom Wolf.

To help minimize any health risks, only 150 cars were allowed to watch at one time. There were six viewings spread out over Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights — with 7:45 and 9:15 p.m. showings each day.

“Following the government protocol was very important to us,” Coyle said. “We wanted to maintain the respectable social distancing guidelines.”

At the end of the film, church members and viewers got a message from Harvest Baptist’s lead pastor Marc Likins, who has been hosting live-streamed Sunday worship services from the time the stay-at-home order was put in place. On Easter Sunday, he reinforced the importance of social distancing.

“But at least here we can still wave at each other across from the cars,” Likins said.

According to Coyle, the turnout was a great response, with about 1800 people enjoying the Easter Sunday message across the big screen over the three days the viewing was offered.