In a first of its kind Sunday Mass, a Church in the Indian city of Bengaluru has come up with a unique idea of letting believers and god together amid pandemic with the concept of ‘Worship on Wheels (WOW)’, a drive-in Mass where can attend a service while sitting in their cars and bikes.
The contactless-drive in Sunday mass was organised by the Protestant church in a huge open parking lot, a 3-acre area of the Bethel AG Church International Worship Centre (BAGCIWC), where cars drivers' parked in the systematically organised slots and at least two projector screens were installed.
The worshippers rolled down their windows, turned off engines and prayed as the pastor delivered the ceremony on a stage and was telecast to paroshioners
According to church authorities, 260 cars turned up for the 9 a.m. session held especially for four-wheelers, and 85 bikes attended one organised separately for two-wheelers at 7 am and 5 pm.
The church authorities also took measures like thermally screening all the occupants of the car and made it mandatory to wear masks even inside the car.
The move came as the Karnataka state government allowed places of worship to open from 8 June.
The country, which has been under a national lockdown against the COVID-19 pandemic since 25 March, is presently under its first phase of reopening.
The church also plans to hold two services inside the church for those without personal vehicles in the near future.