When people in the
Midwest or East talk of the West Coast they generally are speaking
of the long, narrow state just south of Oregon. Well, there
are some great things happening in Washington. One great institution
in Olympia Presbytery is the Blues Vespers, founded by the Rev.
Dave Brown, now pastor of Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Tacoma.
Dave started the Vespers about seven years ago while he was
serving at Westminster Presbyterian. It soon became a popular
venue, drawing an audience not normally seen in a Presbyterian
church. In the last year the program has made a successful transition
to Immanuel, a church already known for great music and liturgy.
Immanuel previously partnered with several other Presbyterian
congregations to host an annual film festival.
What is Blues Vespers? Vespers is the traditional word for
evening worship marked by music and prayer. Blues Vespers is
a way of combining a time for reflection and prayer with blues
music. Blues and its cousin, gospel music, often express in
their words, harmony, and rhythm human joy, longing, passion,
and pain. An evening’s music is a reminder that God is
there for everyone in all of life. Blues, like many other forms
of music, can help express life’s experiences. At times
music can be prayer. At other times God speaks to people as
they listen and are entertained by the music. At times people
simply enjoy listening to good music that can nourish their
souls.
One of the more exciting church developments has been the
rebirth of the former First Baptist Church, now known officially
as Urban Grace—The Downtown Church and the only church
in downtown Tacoma. Over the last several years a planning committee
from six Protestant dominations—ELCA, PC(USA), American
Baptist, Episcopal, Disciples of Christ, and United Methodist—has
been meeting. Olympia Presbytery has officially recognized the
congregation and welcomed Dr. Darrell Reeck, a United Methodist
minister, as a presbytery member. Urban Grace is developing
a special outreach to the performing arts community, the low-income
residents of the central city, local government, and the downtown
campus of the University of Washington.
Olympia Presbytery’s 11,100 members worship in 50 churches. |
