Some churches would rather you stay off the grass, but one of our churches is inviting you onto the grass for worship. Mass on the Grass offers outdoor worship Wednesday evenings at St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church in the Keller/Southlake area of north Tarrant County. Everyone, including commuters passing by, is invited to 6 pm Wednesday worship and Holy Communion in the shade on the church lawn.
Mass on the Grass is worship in the midst of God’s creation. Feeling the breeze, hearing leaves rustle and birds and cars and soccer-coach whistles, sipping a water bottle, and wearing sunglasses are part of the outdoor worship experience. The liturgy of Enriching our Worship and its expansive language, images, and metaphors help tune everyone into different experiences of the Holy.
There is a great inter-generational mix at this service. Episcopal Youth Community (EYC) teens come for worship and fellowship. The Education for Ministry adult class members come before their meeting starts. Families spread their blankets as an anchor point, sometimes with one parent drifting in after a commute home. Toddlers aren’t confined to pews and have freedom to wander a bit. Other adults come after work or mowing the grass.
People, especially youth, have taken on new roles. The EYC comes early to help prepare and set up for the service, moving a portable altar out to the shade and moving benches for people who didn’t bring chairs or blankets. Young people hand out worship leaflets, read the Scriptures, enter into discussion instead of listening to a sermon, offer prayers, serve at the altar, and offer the chalice. Older adults enjoy watching the present and future of the church try out and master new roles. This differently-structured, communal worship is fulfilling for everyone.
St. Martin-in-the-Fields invites everyone to come as you are, bring a blanket or lawn chair and worship with them at 6pm Wednesdays this summer until September 2. Bring a picnic dinner and stay for fellowship! If it’s wet, Mass will move inside the church building and fellowship will continue afterwards wherever there’s space.
