"I just got tired of everything being the same."
It would seem that friends Hannah Siegmund, Jarrett Haas and Bri Mitchell chose an inopportune time to launch their new church. The grand opening was March 1.
With only three services behind them and the coronavirus demanding social distancing, the fledgling congregation of mostly 20- and 30-somethings moved nimbly into virtual worship.
For now, Different Church — yes, that’s its name — has stopped meeting in the space it rents from the St. Petersburg Opera Co. And they’ve had to stop enjoying a before-worship coffee social, singing a blend of church music and secular songs about hope and togetherness and listening to Siegmund’s sermons before heading out for lunch at a nearby restaurant or craft brewery.
Last Sunday, the new nondenominational church, founded with the mission of creating an inclusive community that welcomes LGBTQ+ members, invited the congregation to follow Siegmund’s sermon at 10:30 a.m. on Facebook. At other times, it can also be seen on YouTube and heard on podcasts.
Read more at the Tampa Bay Times