Week 27 - Safe Harbor Church of the Nazarene

safeharbornaz.org

This week the pendulum  swung the other way and we discovered a community that was probably one of the smallest we visited to date. Safe Harbor Church is centrally located on a main thoroughfare within easy walking distance of several multi and single-family housing developments.

SHC provided a welcoming environment as we were greeted by a number of congregants and the pastor prior to the service. There was a comfortable familiarity among those in attendance and we recognized and sang to two young women for their birthdays and an older couple for their anniversary. The auditorium was well lit with both artificial and diffused natural light. A projection screen was used during the pre-service announcements, while the audience read aloud the a Apostles' Creed, and as a visual aide during the message. Music was provided by a seven instrument orchestra and three vocalists, and was made up entirely of Fanny Crosby classics. In addition a special piece was performed by an eight voice choir with a solo by the pastor. All-in-all nearly half in attendance  participated directly in some way during the service.

The message was a continuation of a series that is looking at eight specific signs highlighted in the Gospel of John. As stated these signs were included "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" (Jn 20:31).  This week we took a look at the miracle of Jesus giving sight to a man born blind (Jn 9).

To begin with the pastor dispelled the myth that tragedy or misfortune only comes to those who sin, a common belief in Jesus time that persists even today. Like all of the signs that Jesus performed this one was designed to fulfill specific prophetic marks for the coming messiah that would have been understood by his Jewish community. In addition to the messianic fulfillment the pastor challenged us to consider another element to this event. Namely that "everything Jesus touches, changes."

1. God became man to turn creatures into sons; not simply to produce better men of the old kind but to produce a new kind of man.
2. Jesus didn't come to merely comfort sinners; he came to transform them into saints.
3. Some folks have a "Frebreze" Christianity-they aren't really clean, they just smell that way.
4. Jesus doesn't just cover up the sin; he purges it.

Ultimately, he stated, this was "not just a miracle of healing; it was a miracle of creation."

The pastor then led us in a time of reflection and communion open to all in attendance.

SHC offered a casual, yet traditional, environment. The congregants were warm and welcoming and, while they didn't highlight it, there was evidence that they are involved in serving those who are less fortunate in our community.  

Week 25 - Laurelwood Baptist Church

www.laurelwoodbc.com

Our visit this week took us both back to our Baptist roots having grown up in Southern and Conservative Baptist traditions. Laurelwood Baptist Church was comfortably familiar due to our upbringings, but the reality is except for the "Baptist" identifier in the name a visitor wouldn't notice much difference (if any) between LBC and the many "Community" churches in the area. We have noticed a trend for several years where some denominational churches have dropped the specific denomination from their name; our former church did so, unceremoniously, many years back.

LBC is in the middle of a major structural renovation of their main meeting space so they are temporarily using the foyer area. The space is large enough to handle seating for around 350 comfortably and this week was about 3/4 capacity. The main auditorium was closed off so we don't know what it is like. However, the temporary space was comfortable and well lit with plenty of natural light. We were surprised with how well the sound system was balanced for the space; the five member band's understated performance was a nice complement to the voices of the congregants. 

Attendance this week was made up of a broad cross section of ages. We were greeted by and engaged in conversation with a couple of older couples and we heard about active ministries with children and youth. During the announcement time several young people were brought forward and given an opportunity to share their recent experiences working with Christian Youth in Action, a ministry of Child Evangelism Fellowship. 

The pastor was away with family to participate in a grandbaby dedication so the Children's Ministry Director shared the message. The passage he taught from was Psalm 8:3-8 and the topic was entitled Discovering Your Purpose in Life. He first reminded, and challenged, us to create space in our lives for reflection. This reflective space creates the opportunity to contemplate who God is and who we are as part of his creation (vs. 3-4). With that reflection we are better able to understand the position of "glory and honor" we have been given in his creation (v. 5). With this realization of our position we should begin to understand our greater purpose to "represent God's reign" (vs. 6-8).

After attending this week we were talking with some long-time friends about our visit only to discover that they had both grown up in the church and could attest to LBC's long and vibrant ministry in the community. We were warmly welcomed by several people and definitely felt a heart of service both within and without their community.

Week 24 - Glenwood Community Church

glenwoodcc.org

Expanded our radius just a bit this week and ventured out near our old church stomping grounds. Glenwood Community Church is located on the way to rural Clark County, on the edge of cow pastures and tree farms. GCC is one of the larger churches we have visited, offering two services with seating for about 500. We went to the later service and the auditorium was filled to capacity and, from what we saw, GCC has a broad cross-section of ages represented. It was evident that they have a robust children's and youth ministry, however the emphasis this week was on the upcoming Vacation Bible School where they expected several hundred children to be involved.

The auditorium was well lit and had some indirect natural light from above. An overhead screen was used for song lyrics, announcements, and bible passages during the message. Music was provided by five instrumentalists, including two vocalists. One thing we noticed immediately with the music was that the volume of the band was well balanced to allow the voices of the congregants to be heard easily heard throughout the auditorium. In addition they lead us through a selection contemporary praise songs without over performing. 

The message was based on Luke 5:27-32 and entitled Following Jesus Changes Everything. One thing we appreciated was the pastor gave a brief recap of the previous week's message, something we have always appreciated from our old church and noticed is not that common. Leading us through an expository study of the passage the pastor focused on how Jesus' calling of Levi the Tax Collector (Matthew) lead to significant changes in Levi's life: he left everything and introduced Jesus to everyone. Bringing us to the part of the story where Jesus is accused of hanging out with the socially undesirable. Through the actions of Levi and Jesus we were left with several takeaways: First, following Jesus unmasks the motives and loves of our heart. Second, following Jesus changes everything that we have. Third, following Jesus changes the way we look at who we are. Fourth, following Jesus changes what we do. Last, following Jesus changes how we look at others. In light of this interaction between Jesus and Levi we discover that Jesus' deceptively simple sounding "follow me" encompasses every aspect of our lives.

The people of GCC showed a lot of energy throughout our visit. While our interactions were brief and perfunctory it felt that there is a high level of personal connection between regular attenders.

Week 23 - Orchards United Methodist Church

orchardsumc.org

Orchards United Methodist Church has been a fixture of the Orchards area for many years. Some may remember the old Freedom Tree that was prominently located at the front of their building before being taken down to make way for road improvements. Change is a constant in life, of course, and is true for OUMC as well as they welcomed a new pastor less than a year ago. As we have noticed at other church visits there has been quite a few that experienced pastor turn over in the last year or two. According to research this is pretty typical as the average tenure for a pastor is between three and four years.

OUMC is a modest sized community that holds one service on Sunday mornings with seating for approx 150. This week the service was about two-thirds full. However, their impact in the community extends beyond the traditional Sunday service. They are partnered with Iglesia Centro Pentecostal who provides Hispanic services in the evenings, are a sponsoring church of Friends of the Carpenter, and continue to be an important supporter of F.I.S.H. of Orchards.

We were greeted by several people on the way in and after chatting it up with the folks next to us everyone thought we were their guests. We even ran into a couple of friends from back when our boys were in cub scouts, took a moment for us to remember where we knew each other. During the service there was an extended meet and greet which allowed us the opportunity to visit with several more people. In addition the pastor greeted us before and after the service. While many congregants were on the older end of the age spectrum there were a number of families with young children. 

The auditorium is a traditional setting, as you might expect with the design era of the building, with plenty of lighting including indirect natural light. An overhead projection screen was used for announcements and song lyrics. Music provided by two musician/vocalists was a mix of contemporary praise and classic hymns and the volume was suitable to hear congregants joining in.

Following the offering children were invited forward for a message from the pastor. Since it was near the end of the school year he encouraged them to always have a heart for learning, teaching and praising. He gave the children plenty of opportunities to share their insights as well. In keeping with the theme of teaching all the Sunday School teacher volunteers were brought forward and recognized with a small gift for their faithful service. The pastor closed out this time with an opportunity for people to offer prayer requests and praises. Plenty of time was allowed and many people participated.

The pastor's brief message, based on Mark 12:28-34, was titled Love Trumps All. Drawing from the story of Jesus debating with one of the teachers of the law he shared three key points: 1) All scripture must be put up to the love test. 2) Wisdom is a function of Church-it's when we get together that we can come to a better understanding of God's truth. 3) Love is the irrefutable part of our faith. 

In closing we all joined hands and sang a song to send us on our way. Orchards United Methodist provided a relaxed environment with a nice blend of contemporary and traditional service elements. 

Week 22 - Bethesda Church

www.bethesdanw.com

Tucked away in former state social services office space Bethesda Church holds their weekly "celebration service" and celebration is a good way to describe their gathering. The first 60 minutes was high energy music and singing, and, yes, even a little "dancing in the Spirit." 

As re-purposed office space the meeting room is utilitarian and functional. Black curtain screens are set up around the perimeter to create a little more intimate setting. Lighting is provided by strings of light bulbs hung from the ceiling around the room. Seating is for about 350 people and this week it was near capacity. The sound system was surprisingly well balanced for the space and a projection screen was used solely during the music time. Music was provided by five instrumentalists, including 2 vocalists. During the opening music hour people were invited and encouraged to come to the front and join in, easily over a hundred did so. 

All age groups were well represented, with plenty of families and young children. Children were encouraged to stay during the music hour and then given the opportunity to leave for the children's class time. Our direct interaction with others was pretty limited, said "hi" to a greeter at the door and visited briefly with one person sitting near us. No printed material was provided so it was difficult as a visitor to know what was going on and what Bethesda is about.

As the music hour came to a close two young people came forward to give testimony on how they saw God working through them; at a laundry mat and a local coffee stand. In addition an elderly congregant came forward to speak a "word from God" that she had been given. In preparation for the offering the congregation read aloud an offertory proclamation about God's greatness.

The message, by the husband and wife pastor team, was a topical study of "Blessing" delivered in a two-way conversation, coffee shop, format. Drawing from Genesis 1:28 and Galatians 3:5-9, 26-29 they took us through a discussion of what "Blessing" is and what this means for an individual. Some of their key takeaways included "sometimes we embrace things as normal when they're not," "the Blessing assures success in all areas of  life," "I'm not waiting on a move of God, I am a move of God," and "we are walking in the Blessing right now."

At the end of the service people were invited forward who needed additional prayer and ministering, many went forward. The rest of us were free to go and enjoy a potato feed fundraiser for the youth summer camp program. 

Week 21 - Rhapsody Church

rhapsodychurch.com

We've all seen them, sandwich boards placed all around the city on Sunday mornings, advertising churches located in schools, strip malls, community centers, etc. This week we went to Rhapsody Church that Laurie had seen advertised at our local YMCA. The fact that they are located at the "Y" is not really that surprising, small start-up churches often need space that will accommodate early growth without the burden of purchasing a permanent location. What was a little bit unexpected was the level of connection YMCA still has with its "christian" roots. Of course, like the Salvation Army, it is easy to only associate them with the great social services they provide and assume they may have drifted from their origins.

As you might expect the Y does not have a chapel or church auditorium so the gym is converted into a meeting place. Having spent close to three years on the set-up team for one of the temporary satellite locations of our former home church we can appreciate the time and effort it takes to prepare this space to meet each week. 

As a gymnasium it is light on decorations but they use black room dividers around the perimeter to create a more intimate space. Lighting was provided solely by large windows located high up on the exterior wall, fluorescent lighting was available but not used. Seating, in folding chairs, was set up for about 200 and this week it was about two thirds full. The sound system was surprisingly well balanced for the space. And while the music was energetic and robust we didn't feel like we were being blasted out by the volume. Music was provided by a band of five instrumentalists, including two as vocalists. A single video monitor was used throughout the service for lyrics, video interviews, and message notes.

We were warmly welcomed by a couple of people and as first-time visitors received a gift of The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson. While there was a range of ages represented there definitely was the vibe of a younger age set. This was also evidenced by the fact that the children's ministry was growing and in need of additional volunteers. In fact the lead pastor was taking a break from teaching for two weeks to work with the children and highlight the need for additional help. We were both struck by the fact that the pastor would take time out of his teaching ministry to serve the children. It was also evident that RC is involved in several community ministries including Share, Open House, Vida's Ark, Freedom House, serving members of the Y, and reaching out to the residents of a large apartment complex nearby. In addition they are currently raising funds to provide the materials necessary to build a home for a family in Mexico.

As the pastor was away on assignment in the children's ministry the Y chaplain, Roger Button, gave the message. Drawing from personal stories, bible narrative, and a book he wrote, Dancing with God, he lead us through a talk entitled Paint Happens. Beginning with an anecdote of how he shook a can of paint without properly closing the lid (hence the title), to the narrative of Daniel and King Nebuchadnezzar, and finishing with a chapter from his book, about a motorcycle trip to the Great Lakes gone awry, he gave a thought provoking, and relatable, devotional talk on the topic that "it's not the challenge that defines you, it's how you handle it." 

RC's setting at the Y is fitting for their very informal format and culture. How often do you expect to hear the message on Sunday morning from a guy dressed in a hoodie sweatshirt? The service flowed but didn't come across as highly orchestrated. As Laurie put it, we "felt a good, relaxing, peaceful vibe from the visit.

Week 20 - Columbia Presbyterian Church

www.columbiapresbyterian.org

This week found us visiting Columbia Presbyterian Church, a church that we have known of for years, even have several friends that attend there, and yet did not realize how large a church body and how active in the community they are. Among the many community efforts one in particular, Compassion Connect free medical and dental clinics, is one that Loren has helped with on several occasions in years past. It is good to see CPC carrying the torch and continuing to facilitate this important ministry to those who still lack adequate medical and dental care.

CPC holds two services on Sunday and this week we attended the earlier one that is the more traditional service, the later one is more contemporary. The auditorium holds about 550 people and this week it was near capacity. The congregants in our service were a mix of ages but leaned to an older group. In all likelihood the later service might be a younger group. Being in the traditional service had a special benefit for us this week in that their hand bell choir performed a couple of numbers. Haven't heard a full bell choir in many years; a very meditative form of musical expression. They even did an arrangement of the classic song El Shaddai. In addition to the bell choir, music was a collection of congregational hymns with organ accompaniment.

The auditorium was comfortable with plenty of artificial and diffused natural lighting. In addition to the auditorium being large the front foyer was spacious, allowing plenty of room to stand, visit, and have coffee; as we saw many congregants doing before service. Two video projection screens were used throughout the service for song lyrics, scripture reading, and key message points. We were warmly greeted by several people and of course it was nice to see the familiar faces of a few friends.

The lead pastor was away for the weekend so we had the opportunity to hear one of the associate pastors deliver the message. He gave a very straight forward, to the point message. They are in a series entitled Connect the Dots and this week, in honor of pentecost, the message was about "a living hope." Prior to the pastor beginning two congregants read a selection of scripture passages that focused us on the object of this "living hope."  He then asked and answered several questions: 1) What is an area in life that needs hope? 2) What do we put our hope in; ourselves, others, circumstances? (Psalm 62:5-6) 3) What is the basis of our hope? Finally he directed us to our hope in a person. (1 Peter 1:3-5) Jesus is a living hope as he has ascended, he is a personal hope through the gift of the Spirit, and he is an enduring hope that we can keep our eyes fixed on.

It was nice to finally take the time to experience CPC's time together. In some ways it was much like what we expected yet in others it was different than we had envisioned. This church community is yet another example of many works of the Kingdom being done in and around the greater Vancouver area. 

Week 19 - Real Life Church

www.seekreallife.com

As our circle continues to widen we are beginning to find more churches off the beaten path. Those ones you most likely would never see unless you take a wrong turn into the neighborhood where they are located.

For those keeping track, Real Life Church is part of the Nazarene tradition. While this may be meaningful at some level the reality is a first-time visitor wouldn't notice any difference between RLC and just about any other non-denominational, "community," church.

RLC offers two Sunday morning services and this week we made the early one. With an auditorium that seats about 200 the service was at near capacity with a broad range of ages, including many children. While the auditorium itself was fairly dark (no windows), there was plenty of energy and we were warmly greeted by several people. Even from where we sat, about mid way back, the stage was comfortably close and we felt like there was a real connection between the speakers and the congregation.

Music was provided by a group that included four instruments and three vocalists, and was primarily contemporary praise songs. The music leader was very enthusiastic and really appeared to enjoy what he was doing. Video projection was used extensively for song lyrics, announcements, and throughout the message. The family & children focus of RLC was readily apparent with heavy promotion of the sizable VBS program they will be putting on at the end June. 

As it was Mother's Day Sunday we were well prepared for the typical message about mothers and their role in the family and church. This week we got a special treat instead. RLC is in the midst of a series entitled "How to Win at Life," and this Sunday the husband and wife pastor team, Jeff and Shelley, spoke together. Shelley was the focus of the talk centered on the question "how do we win at the important roles in our life?" She shared with us that she does not enjoy being the center of attention, prefers the behind the scenes kind of service. Her husband Jeff, on the other hand, appeared quite comfortable being up front; plenty of personality. However Shelley had been sensing for some time that she needed to share some things that were on her heart and Mother's Day seemed the perfect opportunity.

Shelley's realization that she needed to do this fit nicely with her first point: "Listen to the gentle loving nudge of the Father." Then she reminded us that there are times when we must "stop 'doing for' God and begin 'resting in' God:" resting by slowing down, relaxing, and abiding in God's timing. Thirdly, she challenged us to "allow God to remove the veil," allowing us to be transformed into his image for his purpose. Finally we were reminded that "winning as a mom or whatever role you have in life begins with a personal relationship with Jesus." Despite her admitted reluctance in speaking up front she expressed herself well and gave a relatable talk on life in general from a busy mother's perspective. Throughout the talk Jeff asked a few prompting questions and added a few of his own insights; very thoughtful and a great interaction with the two of them sharing.

Real Life Church's vibrant spirit was evident from the moment we arrived and as we left. As one member shared with us they refer to themselves as the "little church with a big heart."

Week 17 - Heritage Church

heritagenorthwest.org

This week found us visiting a church that is in temporary housing for the near future. It was mentioned that they had recently placed an offer on a permanent facility so stay tuned. For now Heritage Church is meeting in the Home of God building located on the east side of town.

The facility they are using is comfortable, seating about 350, with a stage large enough to easily handle six instruments and two vocalists. A large screen provided the backdrop and was used extensively throughout the meeting for video announcements and song lyrics. Congregants numbered about 150 and all ages were represented. Music was contemporary with one classic hymn and lead by a talented, and very energetic, member of the staff. In fact energy is how best to describe the morning, lots of energy. In addition we were warmly greeted by a number of people as we sat waiting for the service to start.

The lead pastor was on a trip to Nigeria, the purpose of which wasn't really made clear, so the message was provided by the associate pastor, Jeremy, who had recently joined staff. Since he is relatively new to the church this gave him an opportunity to share his personal story and faith journey. 

And quite a story it was. Raised, and active, in the Latter Day Saints until late high school when he had a crisis of faith and rebelled against everything. After dropping out of high school and leaving his parents home he moved in with other family, finished high school and joined the Marines. In the Marines he served several tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, and worked on developing his alcohol consumption skills in his free time. After being transferred to Portland, OR he was honorably discharged from the Marines, struggled to settle into civilian life, and eventually ended up in jail. While in jail he became acquainted with the pastor of HC and began his journey back to faith. Upon being discharged from jail he enrolled at Northwest University in Salem OR. Shortly after completing his studies he joined HC part-time on staff.

More than just a great story of a torturous journey of faith, Jeremy's story exemplifies what appears to be at the heart of the mission and ministry of Heritage Church. Meeting people where they are and walking with them on the path into a life of faith. 

To close out the service people were invited to come forward for prayer or encouragement. Having sat through many an extended altar call it was greatly appreciated when people were also invited to leave and fellowship rather than wait. Not something we had encountered before but certainly made sense.

Did we mention, visitors get a mug? 
The collection grows.

Week 16 - Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church

beautifulsaviorlutheran.com

This week found us back in the Lutheran tradition again. Loren has visited Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church a couple of times, many years ago, for Scout Sunday with a Cub Scout Pack our boys were in. It was nice to enjoy a service not having to keep an eye on a group of squirmy 1st-5th grade boys. Loren's parents were in town and, being the adventurous souls they are, joined us in our little project.

BSLC is a modest sized congregation that holds two Sunday morning services. The auditorium seats about 200 and this week, at the later service, there was a sizable group with all ages in attendance. Plenty of natural lighting made for a well-lit, comfortable, setting with lots of natural wood tones. No visual aids were used during the service but a printed order of service was provided to each congregant to follow along with. 

Just prior to the service beginning the Cantor came out and prepped us for some new songs that we would be singing during the service. Throughout the service music was lead by the Cantor accompanied by an organ. As we have come to expect the congregation is actively involved in nearly all aspects of the service; through responsive readings, responsive prayers, and song. As we have experienced elsewhere, BSLC practices an open communion so we of course took advantage of the whole experience. This time Laurie was prepared for real wine.

This week's service was focused on "Jesus as the Good Shepherd." In keeping with what we have come to expect there was  a short children's sermon first and about 20 children came to the front to sit with the pastor. One member brought in an Australian Shepherd dog as an object lesson of how the shepherd takes care of the sheep. 

The pastor's messages was taken primarily from Psalm 23, the classic passage often referred to as "the Shepherd's Psalm," and known by many whether they attend church regularly or not. The pastor lead us in a thoughtful look at why sheep need a shepherd and how this relates to Christ's role as the Good Shepherd. One thing that becomes apparent is that sheep are not terribly bright and without the watchful care of the shepherd they are prone to trouble. Not exactly a complementary image for us as the sheep if you think about it. We were admonished to be wary of those the pastor called "wolves in shepherd's clothing," or "false shepherds."

We did experience a first for us this week however. We both come from fairly conservative Baptist traditions and so the idea of women leading the service is not part of our experience. BSLC's pastor is a woman and this week Pastor Christie Manisto was assisted primarily by women throughout the service. One thing was abundantly clear, BSLC is all about serving each other and the community. From numerous community service activities, to the very warm welcomes we received from many, to Pastor Chris greeting, and hugging, each congregant on their way out. As guests we received what Pastor Chris calls "a hug and a mug" for visiting.

All and all an uplifting and encouraging time.

New addition to Loren's ever growing mug collection.

Week 12 - Evergreen Bible Church

www.evergreenbible.com

This week we knew that we would be busy Sunday morning so a Saturday service was in order. Unlike our last effort at a Saturday service when we had to go with plan "B" due to the church no longer being in existence, Evergreen Bible Church is alive and thriving. EBC offers two Sunday and one Saturday service times in English and one Spanish service Sunday afternoon. Having attended a church that offers a Saturday service we have grown accustom to the flexibility this provides.

A friend met us there who has attended EBC in the past so it was nice to see a familiar face when we drove up. We were warmly greeted by several people and the pastor's wife was chatted with us for several minutes, giving us a quick history of the church. As with many of the other churches we have visited, EBC provided an extended meet-n-greet time. An interesting anecdote about the challenges of multi-site/service churches has to do with greeting people. During the meet-n-greet time Loren was approached by an individual who looked like he wanted say "hi" but was a little hesitant. When he finally did he also asked if we were visitors. Upon hearing that we were he gave a big smile and said "yes, someone who is new." Now this does not mean that EBC never has visitors. What he shared was that with several services, and his work schedule, he is never sure who might be visiting and who has been coming for a long time. It was interesting that even in a church considerably smaller than the one we have attended it is possible to feel uncertain about who is and isn't part of the group.

While EBC does hold several services the auditorium only seats about 225. From an audience stand point we are beginning to feel that this is a pretty comfortable size. The way the seating was situated you can feel close to the speaker even from a back row. Artificial "mood" lighting was used during the corporate music time; with no natural light available in the auditorium. Contemporary music was provided by a five piece band, including 3 vocalists. A minimal amount of projected visual aid was used, primarily during singing and a little bit during the message.

A young woman who serves as a missionary teacher at Black Forest Academy in Germany was given several minutes to share about the work that she does serving missionary families from around the world. It was refreshing to hear from a younger person share about a little known ministry that directly impacts several hundred lives and families. It was even more refreshing to see the microphone be given over to someone who is not a member of the paid staff and is involved in the broader work of the church.

Given that this weekend commemorates the week leading up to the trial and crucifixion of Jesus the pastor's message focused on the events of Matthew 21. Against the historical backdrop of Jesus' time we looked at the significance of "Jesus' public announcement" (v. 1-11), "Jesus' authoritative cleansing" (v. 12-17), and "Jesus' withering judgment" (18-22). Being as far removed as we are from these events it often feels like there is a tendency to personalize and "over-spiritualize" them. This time, however, the pastor gave us a glimpse of what these events would have meant to the community as a whole. Jesus was a cultural and theological radical, he declared himself as The King, he confronted the religious, civic, and business leaders for their abuse of the marginalized, and he cast judgment on the entire nation of Israel. He acted against the structures and systems that ran counter to his purpose. In a time when we are more concerned with personal piety it is important to consider our roles in institutions that may run counter to the values of God's Kingdom.

We have really begun to appreciate the more personal connection between the pastor and congregants we have seen demonstrated at EBC and a couple of the other churches we have visited. While it may be a small thing, during the message congregants were asked to share translations from different versions of the bible. Not earth shattering but acknowledges in a small way that the audience can be co-participants in the teaching ministry of the church service.

Week 10 - St. Andrew Lutheran Church

www.salcvan.org

This week took us back to the "High Church" side of Christian tradition. Lest one thinks this is a pejorative be at ease, it is simply a term that identifies a church or denomination that follows and practices a liturgical and ritualized form of worship. 

Like our previous Lutheran visit St. Andrew Lutheran Church follows the same structure in their service. This was nice because we had a better idea of what to expect and, hopefully, consequently had less of a bewildered look about us. We are quick learners but it did help that St. Andrew's provided a detailed guide to the morning's liturgy, including all songs, responsive readings, and instructions for communion. Speaking of communion, they practice an open communion so we were able to partake this time. 

We entered through a spacious, well-lit, lobby into the main meeting room. Plenty of natural light is available from the lobby and a large skylight located above the altar-area in the front. This Sunday the lobby was set up to display hand-crafted items that were being silent auctioned off to support the St. Andrew Preschool. The auditorium itself is a unique modern design that accentuates the beautiful pipe organ set off to one side. This might be blasphemous but, in Loren's opinion, a pipe organ beats a six piece band on any given Sunday. The use of technology was limited but provided an alternative to following along in the printed booklet. One little criticism has to do with the sound system. There were times when the ambient noise in the room made it difficult to hear the speaker even though they were mic'd. That being said the acoustics of the room allowed for the voices of congregants to be easily heard, raised in unison during the singing of hymns. 

The theme of the message was "For the sake of witness." Drawing from scripture passages in the liturgy we looked at the call of Jeremiah and the story of the prodigal son to see how when we put aside our fears we open up opportunity for being a witness. Jeremiah put aside his fear of rejection by the people and the prodigal son put aside his of rejection by the father. In doing so they demonstrated a great witness of God's loving and gracious nature. The pastor's message was short and to the point. He didn't delve much into the scriptural basis of the message but rather offered clear, everyday, examples of how it might look to put aside fear like the two biblical examples. 

Starting on this project we knew that we would encounter things that contrasted with our conservative Evangelical church upbringing. This week was probably the biggest contrast to date. St. Andrew's has an Associate Pastor and Assistant Minister, both of whom are women. Now if you're a life-long Evangelical you probably felt a shiver go down your spine right about now. We call women "Director of ..." all the time, but "Pastor," not on your life. Of course for many in the Protestant tradition women pastors are nothing new. The reality is that in the Evangelical tradition women have functioned in pastoral roles for decades we just don't acknowledge it as such.

One thing was abundantly clear about St. Andrew's; they are a vibrant community that cares about "the least of these."

Week 8 - Living Hope Church

livinghopechurch.com

This weekend we had plans for a family picture on Sunday (only day we could get all ten of us together) and so we had looked around for a Saturday evening service to attend. Saturday is not new to us as we started attending the Saturday evening service at our previous church many years ago. There are some nice benefits to Saturday evening so we are not the least bit opposed to the idea. A while back, as Loren was looking for potential visit sites near our house, we came across one that was located just down the street and they met on Saturday evenings. Perfect!

You know that thing about "best laid plans?" Apparently that church is no longer in existence. Fortunately right across the parking lot is another church that also meets on Saturday evening, and no we didn't confuse the two. There actually did used to be a church that met in the building we first went to.

Our backup church was Living Hope Church that meets in a former Kmart store. Unlike other re-purposed commercial building churches we have attended, this one still has vestiges of its former use. Using black curtain walls in the main meeting area they are able to accommodate a variety of audience sizes and uses, very functional in that way. On this night the room was set up for about 350 people and there were approximately 100 in attendance. Most likely Sunday mornings draw a larger crowd. Two large projection screens and several flat screen monitors provided easy viewing of the speakers and musicians from anywhere in the room.

As soon as the service started the lights were turned off, with the exception of the well lit stage, and six instrumentalists/vocalists played 20 minutes of rousing songs. Following this the service leader led in prayer, announced several upcoming opportunities, showed a couple of videos and introduced a guest speaker. LHC has recently gone through a major disruption and is currently without a lead pastor so they are utilizing christian leaders, both from within and from outside the church, to provide teaching for weekend services. Lights were raised briefly during a short meet-n-greet just prior to the speaker. Upon reflection, that was the only time we interacted with another person in the room.

This week we had the privilege of hearing Mike Miller, Executive Director of the evangelism ministry Common Ground/Dare to Live. Mike shared the powerful story of how his family came to an understanding of who Jesus is and the gift of  redemption he offers. He connected his story of meeting Jesus to the ministry that LHC has provided to people in the community that are seeking what he did as a young person. Part of Mike's message was to be an encouragement for this community that has recently been knocked down by the former pastor's financial misdealings. In doing so he implied that LHC is the only church in Clark County that is bringing in people seeking Jesus, however they come, without judgement. We took a slight offense to this claim. While we are less than 10 visits into this journey we can say that we have been to several communities that are reaching out to people, where they are at, to help them grow in their understanding of Jesus and his gift to them.

If there is one thing we have learned after a lifetime of living with the body of Christ, it is that no one church community has a lock on reaching people who need to know Jesus. Mike's story was about how several churches his family had reached out too were not able too meet them where they were, one was, and they began their walk with Christ because of that one church. Nothing about his story categorically negates the work that those other churches were doing. We just never know who God is going to work through to see his purpose achieved.

Week 6 - Turning Point Christian Center

www.turningpointcc.org

At the outset of this adventure we intentionally tried to put in place as few restrictions as possible for selecting churches to visit. This week is an example of having to really stick to this intent. Typically Loren does a quick internet search of churches close to home, to find out service times, address, affiliations, etc. The affiliations part is where it can get tough; for Loren in particular and Laurie to a lesser degree. 

Turning Point Christian Center is affiliated with Assemblies of God. If we were not on an adventure of simply getting out and meeting fellow believers where they gather it would have been very easy to say "pass" on visiting TPCC. To be honest it would have been easy to pass on the Lutheran church we visited the second week, based on stereotypes we have grown up with. Fortunately we stuck to our intention of few restrictions and met nice people who are enthusiastic about their walk with God.

One word that would encapsulate the service at TPCC would be "energetic." From the opening song to the closing invitation the room was full of energy. The congregants were actively involved in the service with shouts of praise and "amen" from the back to being individually engaged by the pastor from the stage. The environment was very relaxed with people moving to be near the stage during times of singing. We noticed several special needs individuals who moved about the room and actively participated in the service. We were approached by several people, both coming and going, that gave us warm welcomes and chatted with us for a few moments.

Speaking of coming, this was the first time we have attended a church service by entering through a coffee shop located in business center. Coffee Revolution is the lobby for TPCC. Not a bad deal really, great coffee with a nice place to chat with friends. The auditorium seats a little over 100 people and on this weekend was pretty much at capacity. The music was moving with active audience participation. Prayers were frequent and everyone was encouraged to vocally offer up their prayer from where they sat.

This week the teaching portion of the service was led by the group Dream City Leadership Network. Using poetry, skits, video, and traditional teaching from Romans 12:1-2 they challenged the audience with the question of "What if." What if we truly understood what God has done for us. What if we actually chose to live according to his word. What if ... . 

The real question for us this week is what if we had allowed stereotypes to control our attitudes and actions? What if we had passed on visiting TPCC because of preconceived notions? Well at the least we would have missed meeting a community that is very enthusiastic about meeting with God. Probably, more importantly for us, we would have inadvertently started down the road of prejudging specific churches and limit what God has in store for us this year.

Week 5 - Living Water Community Church

www.livingwatercc.org

Whew! We made it over a month in this little adventure. This may not seem like much to some but for those of us (Loren) who avoid new social situations like the plague, this is BIG!

One aspect of this has been finding new church communities tucked away off the beaten path. Living Water Community Church is located just off a major thoroughfare, but enough that it is unlikely you will find it driving by. In fact we discovered it only after we discovered last week's church, Vancouver First Friends.

LWCC is located in a re-purposed bingo hall that has been tastefully refurbished and decorated to provide an inviting environment. If one of the members hadn't mentioned this bit of trivia we would have been none the wiser. The front lobby provides plenty of room to stand and chat with others, there was plenty of this going on when we arrived during the break between the first and second service. They even have a coffee kiosk that offers a number of specialty coffee drinks featuring BJ's coffee, a local roaster that does a lot for non-profit organizations. For the bookworm there is small selection of books available to purchase as well.

The auditorium is artificially lit with comfortable seating that is spread wide and only about 10 rows deep with space for about 250 people. You should feel comfortably close to the stage just about anywhere in the room. The stage is taken up by equipment for the five instrumentalists and two stand alone vocalists in the music team. One nice touch was their use of overhead technology. At first it wasn't apparent that they use projection, but after realizing that there weren't any song books for attendees to use it raises the obvious question, "how do we know what to sing?" Simple, just project it onto the walls, even though they are painted in a soft color like the rest of the room. No big screens needed and nothing to clutter the vision when not in use. Projection was used very minimally for the songs and briefly throughout the message. For those who come ill prepared there are bibles available to follow along in the scripture readings.

Speaking of the music, it was a nice blend of old and new. For the older congregants there were familiar hymns presented in a contemporary way that might appeal to younger congregants. Music was used sparingly throughout the service and definitely was a lesser part of the program. 

Like last week, LWCC's meet and greet time was extended up to about 10 minutes. This provides ample time to have a more meaningful conversation with one or two people than what we have been accustomed to. Following this fellowship time the children are excused for Sunday School for them. They were invited back at the end of the service to participate in communion and the closing song. Unlike the Lutheran church we visited, LWCC practices Open Communion, available to any who profess a relationship with Christ.

The pastor offered an animated and energetic message entitled "I am not ashamed of the Gospel" based on Romans 1:15-17. Beginning with an extended introduction, drawing from historical anecdotes of past leaders of the Christian faith, he laid the foundation for the expository portion. Cross referencing a number of scripture passages he demonstrated Apostle Paul being unashamed because (1) the Gospel is the power of God, (2) the Gospel produces salvation, and (3) the Gospel is for every person.

LWCC was very inviting with several people coming up to welcome us and share a bit about their church. While they may be off the beaten path and a relatively young community (15 years), LWCC has drawn a congregation that includes all ages.

Week 4 - Vancouver First Friends Church

www.vffc.org

We set out on this 52 week adventure with an intention to experience different ways of meeting with God. This week at Vancouver First Friends Church we left feeling like we had experienced something truly different. First though, if you are not familiar with the "Friends Church" think "Quakers." If that rings a bell but doesn't really mean much think George Fox, as in George Fox University; an influence in the Pacific Northwest for over 125 years. Not exactly the new kid on the block, but one that neither of us has any memory of ever meeting.

VFFC is a small congregation that originated in downtown Vancouver before relocating several decades ago to its current location. They are also going through a transition as they recently brought on a new, energetic, lead pastor. Pastor Peter made a point of seeking us out before and after the service, offering a small gift to enjoy at a later time; got to love Starbucks. We were approached by a number of people once they recognized we were visiting. Very warm and authentically welcoming, and according to one older gentleman they have "great potlucks." Ages ranged from children to elderly with the exception that we didn't notice any teenage or young adults. 

The meeting (in proper Quaker parlance) was a typical church service with the exception of a couple of elements. First though, after a welcome and prayer there was a time of singing both contemporary and traditional songs. VFFC is also looking for a music pastor so this week was a friend of Pastor Peter's from Newberg, OR. Musical accompaniment was with an amplified acoustical guitar for singing and organ for prelude and offertory. An overhead screen was used to project the words to the songs and the main points of the pastor's message. Hymnals were available in the pews, along with bibles for visitors. 

One of the exceptions we noticed was just prior to the Pastoral Prayer congregants were asked to publicly share a praise or prayer request from where they sat. A microphone was passed around to facilitate the speaker being heard. If you think about it, with so many of today's carefully choreographed church services the last thing you do is let someone not in on the plan have an opportunity to speak out. 

The next exception was the "meet and greet" immediately after the prayer. Most of us are familiar with the quick "say 'hi' to the person next to you" greeting time. Well, that's how it started so we dutifully stood, did the 360 degree turn to shake hands, and returned to our forward facing stance. About five minutes into it we realized that people were still "meeting and greeting." Looking around we were amazed to see full on conversations taking place all around the room, even out into the front lobby area. This lasted for about 10 minutes and left us intrigued with the idea that this much meeting time could be devoted to just catching up, but isn't that what "friends" do?

Just prior to beginning his message the pastor brought the children forward to pray for them and then dismiss to a children's class. We then participated in a responsive reading from a collection of bible passages woven together around the theme of the days message, "The Journey from Me to You." On a side note we had been told several times by various people that they were starting a new series based on the book Soul Shift. Later we realized that doing a "series" was a new experience and people were pretty excited about it. People have been encouraged to read the book and during weekday meetings they will discuss it. During the Sunday meeting the pastor's message provides a scriptural foundation. This Sunday the message was from Mark 9:30-35 with a focus on taking our eyes off ourselves and actually considering that everyone we come in contact with is struggling with their own stuff. That as followers of Christ we are charged with putting others before our-self. That I am to shift my focus from "me to you."

At the close of the service the pastor then once again opened the floor for anyone to share a word that they felt lead to share. This portion of the meeting is what they call "Open Worship" and was one of the elements we found new and unique in our experience. A second time, a microphone was offered to anyone who wanted to share something that they had learned during the message, whether it be by prayer, song, or word. Once again we were left with the feeling that as a congregant we were active participants in the meeting.

Week 2 - Peace Lutheran Church

www.peacelutheranvancouverwa.com/

This week was a bit of a throw-back for the two of us. In our childhoods each of our families attended churches that practiced more formal service styles. In a time when tradition is often treated as something to be spurned it was nice to participate in a service that is steeped in centuries of Christian heritage. 

One thing that stood out in particular was the congregation's involvement, common with a liturgical practice. Throughout the service the congregation participated in either responsive readings or songs. If you are unfamiliar with this, it is when the pastor (in this case) reads a passage and the audience responds by reading the next passage or singing a short stanza. The parts to be read or sung are provided in a book available at the seats. For the uninitiated, like us, it took a bit to catch the flow and rhythm so at times felt awkward. But this is true with any new experience. Even with a more formal approach we both were surprised at how quickly the time flew. We covered a lot of ground in a short time.

This week was to begin Epiphany but due to snow last week's service was canceled so we did catch up and finished the Christmas season. Leading up to the teaching portion of the service the Pastor lead us through several scripture readings from Genesis, Psalm, Galatians and Luke. Each passage laying the foundation for his message about the gift of God's son, with a great tie in to the tradition of gift giving at Christmas time. The message was to the point with an easily relatable application focusing on Zechariah's (father of John the Baptist) joyful response at the birth of his son [Luke 1:68-75]. Not your typical Christmas message but offered a new way of understanding an event often glossed over in the story of Jesus arrival. The pastor's thoughtful insights, sprinkled with humor, added to his message's application.

Peace Lutheran has a comfortable meeting room, seating probably less than 200. As last week there was no use of technology in performing the service. Songs and scripture passages are provided either in the weekly program or books at the seats. The organ is located in a balcony behind the seating below, its music filling the room without need for amplification. Well lit with both natural and artificial light the environment is warm and welcoming. 

We were warmly greeted by a few people and were not made to feel like our visit was an unusual occurrence. To be fair we didn't stay around after the service so we didn't provide opportunity for people to reach out to us further as visitors. We did notice that among the membership there is public recognition of both the joys and trials of life. After the service two women, ages 80 & 85, were celebrated with a cake for each. Granted one celebration was delayed due to snow the week before. Prayer was offered specifically for those who had recently been touched by death or sickness in the family. A small community, Peace Lutheran has members representing young children to elderly, giving the sense that people might be more aware of what each is experiencing.

It has been many years (decades?) since we experienced this form of meeting with God and yet there was something refreshing and authentic about our time at Peace Lutheran Church.

Week 1 - Vancouver Bible Fellowship

http://www.vancouverbible.org/

Our apologies to Vancouver Bible Fellowship, you were unknowingly our guinea pigs. Sunday was our first visit of the year and we were so far out of our comfort zone you can’t imagine. Not that visiting a new church is that unusual; just that we haven’t done it for over 20 years with the idea that we could end up at one of the churches we visit.

That being said we enjoyed our time at VBF. We were greeted very warmly by several people. Most went out of their way to come over and say “hi.” VBF is a smaller community so the fact that we were visiting couldn’t have been hidden if we wanted to. It doesn't help that we had the first (and only?) snow of the winter, making driving a bit dicey, likely contributing to a lighter attendance than normal. Of course this highlights an inherent flaw of our project; no single community can be adequately defined by a single interaction. We are under no illusion that we will capture the full spirit and character of each church with a one-time visit, however “52 church visits in 52 years” seemed a bit daunting.

The service was a typical format of an opening singing time, an offering, a little more singing, and then the message. One thing that stood out to Loren was how each portion of the service is referred to as an act of “worship.” In modern church parlance the term “worship” often refers exclusively to the music ministry of a church. Interspersed during the service were a couple of times of prayer and scripture readings. Another thing that we appreciated was the pleasant balance of the instrumental accompaniment volume to the voices of the congregation. The voices of those around us could be heard and not overpowered by the music. The focus of the music was on the songs and the congregants are equal participants. Simple and meaningful. Another feature of the service is that children participate in the first part for the music, prayer, and scripture readings. Just prior to the teaching portion they are invited to leave to participate in teaching geared for them.

The message was an in-depth, expository, treatment of 2Timothy 3:16-17. We were told by more than one person that the focus of VBF is the bible. This was very evident. Over the course of the message, that went about 40 minutes, we were taken through a word by word examination of the two verses. The pastor did an effective job of cross-referencing his talk with a number of additional passages from both the old and new testaments. The depth of his teaching leaves one with quite a bit to chew on and consider.

The meeting room was comfortable and inviting with seating for approximately 250 people. We appreciated the level of natural light provided by several stain glass windows, augmented with indirect artificial lighting. Very light and cheery with little in the way of additional trimmings. One thing missing, that has become a common fixture in many churches, was an overhead projector and large screen over the platform. While we noticed this, nothing was lost by its absence. The words to songs are provided in the service program and, if needed, free bibles are available.

So week one is in the books and despite our initial feelings of “what were we thinking” this was a fun experience and we got to meet new fellow sojourners. Thank you for joining us on this adventure and feel free to share your thoughts as we continue.