Perry Hall Church Holds Drive-Up Church Service

PERRY HALL, MD — A drive-up Perry Hall church service Sunday may have been a first of its kind in the area, according to one official.

The Perry Hall Family Worship Center hosted a drive-up service at 11 a.m. in the parking lots of its church building at 5125 East Joppa Road.

Driving up to church enabled the center to follow local orders restricting gatherings while also bringing together a faith community that had been unable to meet in person for months.

This week County Executive Johnny Olszewski announced he was easing some restrictions on businesses such as retailers but ordered houses of worship to remain closed.

Religious centers did, however, get the green light for drive-up services.

"Our houses of worship can meet while observing public safety precautions," Councilman David Marks said after the service, which he reported he attended.

"I believe this was one of the first of its kind in the county," Marks said. "These are the type of common sense ideas I will continue to promote as your Councilman."

Pastor Dominic Correlli said he talked with the Baltimore County Police Department before the service to ensure the church was adhering to the guidelines set forth by the county executive.

People were asked to stay in their cars and bring their own communion, and the church building was closed.

"We're adhering to all the Baltimore County executive orders," Correlli said in a YouTube video before the event. "You come and you go."

There were no other events before or after the service, such as Bible study.

Driving up to the church for the service was "a great time for all of us as a church family to begin to come back together again," Correlli said.

"This is a time to hear from God," the pastor said. "It's going to be a great experience."

In the future, if the service gets rained out, the pastor said the plan is to livestream the service on the Perry Hall Family Worship Center Facebook page.

The church also posted its service online: