Church and States: We go to church down south

Dean and Mindy (not pictured) go to Bethel Community Church in Washougal, Washington

Bethel Community Church, Washougal, Washington
Why do people say “things are going south” like that’s a bad thing? We spent October to going to the furthest east, west, north, and south churches we could find in Washington state. Sunday we went south, and we thought it was a pretty good thing.

On Saturday night we crossed the border into Oregon. Because I work at a hotel in Seattle, we were able to get a free night’s stay at a sister hotel in Portland. After a good night’s sleep and a continental breakfast, we made the short drive back over the border to Washougal, Washington. (Mindy’s internet research turned up a town further south in the state, but she couldn’t find a church there. We could have gone to the other church on the same east-west street, but Bethel Community Church won our virtual coin flip.

When we pulled into the parking lot and got out of the car, we heard an amplified voice. We were curious if the church sound system was that loud, but pretty soon figured out it wasn’t coming from the church. The community’s Halloween 5K run was just finishing up a couple of blocks away, so we walked down and saw some of the costumes and heard some of the winners announced.

Then we headed back to church for the 10:45 am worship service. The gentleman who shook my hand at the door said, “Have a good day! God’s Word!”

A large area just outside the sanctuary served as a meeting place. People chatted as they got cookies cookies and water at a table or at the counter where coffee and tea was available. Mindy had gone to find a restroom, and so I stood by myself for a bit. No one approached me but, to be fair, I had a cold and was blowing my nose. I wouldn’t have wanted to approach me either. When I saw Mindy next, she introduced me to Penny, who had introduced herself when she saw Mindy at the cookie table. It was time to go in the sanctuary, so we found seats toward the back and watched the announcements on the screens up front (along with a presentation of the church’s core values).

Pastor Rich Blum walked the central aisle greeting people. He greeted us, and, in fact, had already gotten our business card from Penny. But now it was really time for the service to start. Pastor Rich pointed at his mike and the tech crew gave him sound. He directed all of us to look to the screen for video announcements (children’s and adult Christmas choirs were starting that day; there would be a Harvest Festival at the church on October 31st and candy was needed). Pastor Rich said the planned video promoting Samaritan’s Purse wasn’t working, so he just reminded people to pick up a box, fill it, and bring it back the Sunday before Thanksgiving. This was part of the church’s annual “Christmas in October,” which is a way they focus on missions. Pastor Rich then announced the greeting time.

I spent most of the greeting time talking with Darrin, who happens to be the chair of the elder board (he was sitting right in front of me). I asked him what led him to this church and what he appreciated about it. He said he and his wife had both grown up in (different) small towns, going to small churches. Before they came to Bethel, they’d gone to a large church of 3000 people. B, but Darrin said he knew more people in this smaller church than he had at the larger church. He noted that the greeting time this morning, with many people chatting for a prolonged time, was something that happened every Sunday. He also appreciated the expository preaching in the church and mix of hymns and choruses that appealed to young and old.

(Mindy and I particularly appreciated the lyrics of one of the morning’s choruses: “Shout to the north and the south, sing to the east and the west.” It seemed quite appropriate for our quest for the month.)

After singing and an offering, we stood as the morning’s Scripture was read. Pastor Rich said, “We stand to honor God as our only audience.”

Pastor Rich introduced Dennis Fuqua, the guest speaker for the morning and director of International Renewal Ministries. During the day’s “Christmas in October” celebration, the church has a missionary speaker during the worship service and another during a potluck following the second service.

Dennis’ message that morning was “Shalom Should Shape Your Prayers.” Shalom is the Hebrew word for peace, but it has a broader meaning: not just the absence of conflict, but also prosperity, health, harmony, favor, and security. Dennis talked to other people about what the word means and heard definitions such as “Nothing missing, nothing broken” and “The way things should be.” Perhaps the best definition is one Jesus used in John 10:10 -- “Abundant life.”

Dennis talked about a trip he and his wife had taken during the summer. They drove the perimeter of the state of Washington, praying that the towns they visited would have God’s Shalom. We could relate to that kind of travel (especially when he mentioned two of the communities we visited during October, Clarkston and Neah Bay).

After church, Mindy and I were debating whether to attend the potluck. Though visitors as a group had been encouraged to attend, no one had personally invited us, but then someone did, so we went. (We didn’t see that person at the potluck, though!) We sat at a table with Marge, who had served many years with Wycliffe, particularly in Brazil. She said the church supported her through her years of ministry, and when she retired, she was able to move into the church’s former parsonage. She’d been born a few houses away, and she’s lived in the parsonage for the last ten years. We enjoyed meeting her and the others who welcomed us to their table.