Bethany Wesleyan Church, Cherryville, Lehigh Township, will hold an innovative candlelight service for the 2020 Christmas season.

“Christmas Candlelight Services” is at 6 p.m. Dec. 20, 23 and 24, Becky’s Drive-In, 4548 Lehigh Drive, Walnutport, Lehigh Township.

“We’ve held candlelight services previously every year at the church,” says Pastor Dwight Addington, Administration and Assimilation Pastor, Bethany Wesleyan Church (BWC), referring to the Main Campus, 675 Blue Mountain Drive, Cherryville, Lehigh Township.

“This year, BWC is wanting to provide a candlelight church service for the community because so many churches have to be closed at this time,” Addington says.

Numerous Lehigh Valley churches shifted from in-person Sunday services to services via the Zoom online platform during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In-person candlelight services have also been curtailed.

“It will be on three different dates so if one works better for them, they can do that,” Addington says of the candlelight services at Becky’s Drive-In.

Bethany Wesleyan Church draws 1,100 attendees on a typical Sunday to its three campuses, including BWC Cherryville; BWC Palmerton, 457 Delaware Avenue, Palmerton, and BWC Lehighton, 1122 Fairyland Road, Lehighton.

Pastor Casey Spencer of BWC Lehighton will lead a “Lessons and Carols” service, 4:30 p.m. Dec. 20, outside on the lawn at the church.

Referring to the “Christmas Candlelight Services” at Becky’s, Addington says, “The service will be starting at 6 p.m. and will be on the big screen at Becky’s.”

“We’ll have a self-contained bag that will have a communion set and an electric candle.”

After attendees arrive and park at Becky’s Drive-In, they are to remain in their vehicles.

“I had someone approach me and asked if we are giving out regular candles to be burning in the car. I said, ‘No we don’t want to get into that at all,” Addington quipped.

Turning serious, Addington continued, “There are so many churches that are worshiping totally online or else they’re having parking lot services.

“It is true that you can worship at home by yourself, but most people believe it’s important to commune in community to worship.

“It is a time for miracles and it is a time we see God work in people’s lives. There are times that God, the Holy Spirit, really speaks to us. Christmastime is a good time for that.”

Addington says a lot of planning has gone into the candlelight services.

“We put a lot of time and effort into it. We pray for every aspect because there’s so many aspects.

“When you drive into Becky’s you will be welcomed by members of the church, holding signs, and you will be directed to the parking area.”

The 50-minute service will be pre-taped at the BWC Ministry Center and projected on the large movie screen at Becky’s. If needed, the service will also be projected on the second screen at Becky’s. The sound will be heard via the radio in each vehicle.

Pastor Kevin Fetterhoff, BWC Cherryville lead pastor, will give the sermon. The Praise Worship Band, which accompanies services at the BWC Ministry Center, will perform. A children’s service is included.

“There will be pre-service videos,” says Addington. “One of them will be telling the Christmas story through the eyes of a child. There will also be Christmas trivia questions, some taken from the Bible and others taken from the traditions of Christmas.

“Sometimes somebody will ask, ‘Do we have to be a member to attend?’ or ‘Do we have to be a member to receive communion?’ All of our services and the communion table are open to all,” Addington says.

BWC’s Easter Services at Becky’s Drive-in generated regional and national media buzz.

“The Fox News Channel mentioned our drive-in service on its website and MSNBC actually sent a reporter and a couple of cameramen to our Easter Service at Becky’s Drive-in to report live from the service,” says Addington. “We had a couple of news services from Philadelphia come up, and an NPR station. It was just amazing the coverage that the drive-in service at Becky’s got.”

It wouldn’t have been possible without Becky’s Drive-in. “They are a tremendous community partner in the area,” Addington says.

Addington and his wife, Carla, who live in Schnecksville, North Whitehall Township, are the parents of two married adult children and have one grandchild.

“My father was a pastor and at one time was the lead pastor at Bethany Wesleyan. We’ve pastored four churches in Indiana and Pennsylvania,” says Addington.

According to The Wesleyan Church website, the denomination was founded in 1968 when the Wesleyan Methodist Church and the Pilgrim Holiness Church merged.

The church derives its name from 18th century Church of England priest, John Wesley, an Oxford scholar who regarded himself as “a man of one book,” the Bible.

Wesley founded a school for orphans, initiated job programs, backed medical assistance for the poor and championed efforts to reform prisons.

Wesleyan groups in England and North America opposed slavery, advocated for women’s rights, and stood up against the exploitation of child labor.

Information: https://bethanywes.org/