Open Arms Church of Bradford will hold an outdoor worship service at Callahan Park on Sunday.
The event, called Church Without Walls, is set to begin at 11 a.m. and will feature music and an inspirational message.
The service is an extension of the outdoor gatherings the church has been holding in their parking lot since July, when restrictions on indoor gatherings were put into place to combat the spread of COVID-19.
“Though churches are exempt from that order, we wanted to take the opportunity to show what it would look like if the church was not just a building, but a people,” said Pastor Zoe Hatcher. “Now, we are hoping to bring this experience closer to town and worship with those who can’t make it out to our East Main Street campus.”
Hatcher said that the church views this event as a way to celebrate the community while taking the health and safety of community members into consideration.
“We are grateful we have the opportunity to change what could be divisive limitations into a unifying celebration of God’s ongoing work in these unique times,” she said. “The mission of the church certainly has not stopped, and we are anticipating many more exciting things to come.”
After the service, a picnic will be held, with pre-packaged bagged lunches provided for all in attendance.
The church will provide a free bus service for those wishing to attend at the following times and locations: Togi’s Sub Station, 402 E. Main St., 10:15 a.m.; Save-a-Lot, 75 Foreman St., 10:25 a.m.; the bus stop at Barbour Street public housing, near the VFW Bradford Post 212, 10:30 a.m.; Marilyn Horne Hall, Marilyn Horne Way, 10:35 a.m.; and Tops entrance, 150 E. Main St., 10:40 a.m. The bus will also make return runs after both the service and the picnic.
