
DATE: Thursday, March 27, 1997              TAG: 9703270044

SECTION: DAILY BREAK             PAGE: E1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY DIANE TENNANT, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   76 lines

EASTER SUPER SERVICESCHURCHES GO OUTSIDE THEIR WALLS TO WELCOME THOSE WHO MIGHT FEEL INTIMIDATED BY MORE TRADITIONAL WORSHIP SERVICES.

WHAT BETTER place to celebrate Easter Sunday than the GTE Virginia Beach Amphitheater with 14,999 of your closest friends?

Perhaps Scope, with 8,499 of your friends. Or the Pavilion, with 3,099.

Several area churches, anticipating the crush of faithful at what is Christianity's most heavily attended service, have opted to move out of sanctuaries and into arenas.

The services are intended to make church less intimidating for those who attend only once or twice a year, usually Christmas and Easter. In addition, more seating will mean no need for folding chairs crammed into narrow church aisles.

``Easter is the high-attendance day of the year for churches,'' said George Sweet, pastor of Atlantic Shores Baptist Church, which will hold joint services at the amphitheater with First Baptist Church of Norfolk, Grace Bible Church of Virginia Beach and Faith Community Church of Norfolk.

``Some might fear the `stained glass barrier.' A lot of unchurched folks wouldn't come (to a sanctuary), but if you say, `Hey, we're going to the amphitheater,' they can handle that.''

Nationally known evangelist Jay Strack will be the main speaker. The churches will have a combined orchestra of 100 and a 400-voice choir.

Lack of seating was the factor that prompted Calvary Revival Church to rent Scope for the second year in a row.

``Our current sanctuary would not house the people that we expect to attract,'' said Richard Claytor, assistant to Calvary's pastor, the Rev. Courtney McBath. ``We want to make sure they hear the message.''

Calvary Revival seats about 675, he said. Scope, configured for the worship service, can handle 12 times that number.

The Pavilion has been leased by New Life Christian Fellowship, which will celebrate not only the resurrection of Jesus but also the addition of the fellowship's third congregation in Hampton Roads.

New Life has three congregations but only one pastor. ``We are unique in the area in that we have a vision to have multiple congregations - all one church but with multiple congregations,'' said Jerry Graham, who heads adult education for the church. The church has congregations at Chesapeake's Greenbrier and Great Bridge areas and now the Farmers Market area of Virginia Beach.

``Our highest attendance is at the 1,800 mark, and we're putting down seats for 3,100,'' Graham said. ``We're hoping to reach a lot of the community that doesn't ordinarily go to church.''

The Rev. Robert Reccord, pastor of First Baptist, said he had had his eye on the amphitheater as a worship setting since it opened in May 1996.

``It was a dream I had in my heart when I found out they were going to be building the amphitheater, to use it for entertainment and for strengthening the religious fabric of our community,'' he said. ``I just think the church needs to get beyond its walls more and more.''

First Baptist once held a Fourth of July service at Harbor Park, so it is no stranger to large venues. As for weather, well, the partners are praying for a clear day.

``We really want the Hampton Roads community to come out and enjoy what we believe will be one of the best services they've ever attended,'' Sweet said. ``I don't know of any other that's been this big.'' ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]

BILL TIERNAN

The Virginian-Pilot

George Sweet...

[Color] File Photo

TAMARA VONINSKI

The Virginian-Pilot

John C. Stennis

IF YOU WANT TO GO

GRAPHIC

[For a copy of the graphic, see microfilm for this date.] KEYWORDS: EASTER RELIGION