Congregation Gathers On Santa Monica Beach To Worship
Recent warm weather drew people to the beach in November like a summer day.
Ellie Tsai, a UCLA student, leads The Commons Los Angeles (TCLA) Congregation in song playing guitar. The group met in person on the Santa Monica beach instead of the usual stay-at-home Sunday zoom service. The TCLA gathering set up public address gear for music and ministry in the sand while observing social distancing and wearing masks.
TCLA is based in Westwood and serves the greater campus and surrounding community as a non denominational church group. The COVID-19 restrictions have been overcome by this faith based community with flexible adaptations using Zoom, Facebook, and Internet platforms.
”Our Sunday beach gathering was so joyful and much needed. The ability to safely gather outside together at the beach was a great reminder that we are not meant to do this life alone but together with others in community.”, said Caleb Price, music director for TCLA.
The safe outdoor gathering is short lived. L.A. County officials have again ordered stay-at-home lock down regulations that ban in-person gatherings like the recent beach event. The surge in countywide coronavirus infections requires this shutdown.
