KATY MAGAZINE NEWS
July 26, 2020
By Natalie Cook Clark
St. Peter’s United Methodist Church in Katy will hold a special drive-through prayer experience Saturday, August 1. Although in-person worship hasn’t resumed, the church has found ways to serve the Katy community, and keep their congregation connected despite the requirements of social distancing.
The Power of Prayer
“As a church that believes in the importance and power of prayer, we are excited for our first Drive Through Prayer opportunity for our church and the Katy community,” says Dr. Pat Sparks, the head minister for St. Peter’s UMC. “We, as a church staff, have experienced and understand that our members, families and community are experiencing anxiety, job loss, fears, and stress related to the prolonged impact of COVID and the distancing measures that are in place because of it.”
The drive-through, welcomes all families, and will take place on Saturday, August 1 from 9 - 11 a.m. Families will drive around the back parking lot under the covered awning off of Shillington Drive and Kingsland Blvd.
“They will just drive up, put on their masks, roll down their window and let us know how we can pray for them,” explains Sparks. “We will write down their prayer requests and pray with them.”
For everyone’s safety, the church asks that participants wear masks, even while sitting in their vehicle.
“This will be an opportunity for individuals and families to come and safely be prayed for,” says Sparks.
All Vehicles to get Prayer Bags, Popsicles
Each vehicle will get a prayer bag and the ministers will also be passing out popsicles.
“I have been a pastor for over 43 years,” says Sparks. “I never could have imagined trying to lead a congregation through a world pandemic. I continue to pray for God’s wisdom and guidance as I seek God’s direction for such a time as this.”
Anyone unable to attend can still receive prayers. Prayer requests can be sent to Rev. Whitney Peper.
St. Peter’s UMC continues to serve their members and community through multiple virtual experiences. Through, what they call the “Neighborhood,” they offer a cooking show, book club, trivia nights, and more.
Many Virtual Ways to Praise, Connect
On Sundays, the church offers three ways to worship virtually through their website, Facebook livestream, and YouTube channels. At 10 a.m., virtual guests can choose to tune into to the Traditional, the Element (contemporary), or the West Campus services. Sermons are also saved on the website to be viewed anytime.
“I have decided to align our return to in-person worship with Katy ISD’s school schedule,” says Sparks. “After communicating with the Task Force, listening to medical experts, and talking with other pastors in the area, I believe this is the best course of action.”
Visit St. Peter’s UMC’s website for ways to stay connected and for updated information regarding their services and return to in-person worship.