The Rev. Joseph Beardsley, center, offers the Easter morning sermon Sunday outside Minot United Methodist Church at 142 Minot Ave. Beardsley says Sunday was only the second time he has seen those who attend his church in person in more than a year. “Some of these people I have not seen in all this time,” Beardsley says. Because parishioners gave the thumbs-up following Sunday’s outdoor service, Beardsley says he is open to having parking lot services on a regular basis. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal Buy this Photo

Parishioners attend the Easter morning service Sunday at Minot United Methodist Church at 142 Minot Ave. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal Buy this Photo

Members of the Minot United Methodist Church at 142 Minot Ave. gather Sunday for an Easter morning service at the church parking lot. Parishioners have gathered only one other time in more than a year. A decision was made to hold a service in November, but when COVID-19 cases continued to increase across Maine, organizers decided not to host another service until Easter Sunday. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal Buy this Photo

Joy Beardsley bows her head Sunday while her husband, the Rev. Joseph Beardsley, leads in prayer during an Easter morning service in the parking lot of Minot United Methodist Church at 142 Minot Ave. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal Buy this Photo

“GD CARES” reads Betty Prindall’s vanity license plate. “GD” is short for God, Prindall says. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal Buy this Photo

Doug and Cynthia Larrabee of Mechanic Falls receive communion Sunday from the Rev. Joseph Beardsley and lay leader Joan Spitzform at Minot United Methodist Church at 142 Minot Ave. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal Buy this Photo

The Rev. Joseph Beardsley says the outdoor service Easter morning at Minot United Methodist Church at 142 Minot Ave. was a lot of trial and error. “Christ has risen. That’s what is important,” Beardsley says. “We make up the rest of the details as we go.” Daryn Slover/Sun Journal Buy this Photo

Betty Prindall of Poland makes an offering of peace Sunday to the Rev. Joseph Beardsley during the Easter morning service at the Minot United Methodist Church at 142 Minot Ave. The peace sign has replaced handshakes at many socially distanced services during the COVID-10 pandemic. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal Buy this Photo

The Rev. Joseph Beardsley offers the Easter morning sermon Sunday outside the Minot United Methodist Church at 142 Minot Ave. Beardsley says Sunday is only the second time he has seen people who attend his church in person in more than a year. “Some of these people I have not seen in all this time,” Beardsley says. Because parishioners gave the thumbs-up following Sunday’s outdoor service, Beardsley says he is open to having parking lot services on a regular basis. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal Buy this Photo

“We went ahead on faith,” the Rev. Joseph Beardsley said of the decision to host Easter morning service outside Sunday at the Minot United Methodist Church at 142 Minot Ave. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal Buy this Photo

Lay leader Joan Spitzform, left, and the Rev. Joseph Beardsley, background, go from car to car Sunday while offering Communion at the Minot United Methodist Church at 142 Minot Ave. Spitzform said not being able to have the once-a-month bean suppers has been tough financially on the church. “We are famous for our pies,” Spitzform said of a top seller at the suppers. “We are excited to open back up.” Daryn Slover/Sun Journal Buy this Photo

Allen Messer, left, Cynthia Larrabee, center, and Doug Larrabee listen to the Easter morning sermon Sunday from the parking lot of the Minot United Methodist Church at 142 Minot Ave. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal Buy this Photo

Eva Rice, center, of Auburn and her grandson, Alexander Hurteau, left, of Turner socialize Sunday following the Easter morning service at the Minot United Methodist Church at 142 Minot Ave. Rice and Stella Messer, not pictured, made cinnamon buns to hand out following the service. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal Buy this Photo

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