Several Episcopal Churches are doing pandemic-appropriate drive-thru nativities, and similar opportunities this year.
Add your church’s drive-thru events of the season in the comments.
As time allows, we will update this post.
Here are some of the drive-thru events across the country.
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December 18 – 29 • 5:00 – 8:00 pm
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For the first-time, St. John’s is offering a “drive-through nativity” experience. There will be Christmas lights, life-sized, still-life scenes from the Nativity story and much more. Tune in to a special radio station upon arrival to listen to carols that tell the Christmas story. This event will be held on site at the church, 1707 Gouldin Road in Montclair (Oakland) for 12 days in December. The event is free and open to the general public, with attendees enjoying the experience from the social-distancing safety of their cars.
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The drive-thru at St. John’s was covered by the East Bay News.
Cathedral District of Jacksonville offers contactless way to get in festive spirit
Every evening from Nov. 27 through Dec. 31, The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, First Presbyterian Church of Jacksonville, First United Methodist Church, Historic Mount Zion AME Church and St. Johns Episcopal Cathedral will shine as part of a driving tour that includes more than 100 brightly lit trees. Other significant landmark buildings will be illuminated as well.
Virginia Beach churches Bethlehem Walk Drive-thru
The pandemic will not stop what would have been the 15th year of the “Bethlehem Walk” for the Little Neck community of Virginia Beach. …St. Nicholas Catholic Church, St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church and Lynnhaven United Methodist Church [are] involved. We’ve had more than 20,000 visitors.
Realizing that social distancing is going to make wandering the “streets” of Bethlehem impossible, the group is creating a drive-thru version of the story. On Dec. 4 and 5, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., visitors will drive through the St. Nicholas Church parking lot and see the story’s familiar characters and animals through a live nativity scene.
Illustrated Ministry has a kit for purchase for “Do Not Be Afraid” — an intergenerational, virtual pageant that can be done via Zoom. Practical Resources for Churches offered a webinar on “New Ways of Doing the Christmas Pageant.” And Miranda Hassett, rector of St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church [Madison, Wisconsin], posted on the Building Faith blog of Virginia Theological Seminary some Zoom drama tips for productions involving children.
Norton Shores, Michigan churches collaborate
Start at St. Gregory’s Episcopal and travel to Breakwater Church of the Nazarene and Trinity Lutheran to see parts of the Christmas story.
ECHO Toy Drive & Living Nativity Drive Thru, St. Christopher’s Episcopal, Springfield, Virginia
A drive-thru journey to Bethlehem, Grace Episcopal, Gainesville, Georgia
Drive-by nativity, Good Shepherd Episcopal, Centennial, Colorado
As our gift to the community during COVID, please join us for a drive-by “Living Nativity” event which will be held on Sunday, December 20 from 4 to 5:30 pm in Good Shepherd’s parking lot and grounds. Highlights include “visiting” the creche, enjoying the festive lights and music, and even seeing Santa – all from the comfort of your car. We will be collecting canned goods for Covenant Cupboard Food Pantry, so load up your trunk with cans for the needy! You will be able to “pop” your trunk and drop off the food in safety with our volunteers.
Drive-thru nativity, St. Mathew’s Episcopal, Snellville, Georgia
Featured image from Grace Episcopal, Gainesville, GA.