Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study
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  Friday, December 28, 2007    
  Gold Divider Rule
  Olympia Presbytery
Washington
 
             
 

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.

 
             
  Gold Divider Rule
  Let us pray for  
 

Elder Joanne V. Fassett, member, GAC

Presbytery Staff
Lynn Longfield, general presbyter
Susie Zych, administrative assistant/office manager
Steve Klump, treasurer
Joyce Carr, stated clerk
David Clark, camp director
Tony Cook, communications and facilities manager
Sue Clark, administrative assistant for camp

PC(USA) General Assembly Staff
Janetta Young-Simmons
Marina E. Zaldivar

 
             
  Gold Divider Rule
  Scripture      
  See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me (Isa. 49:16).  
             
  Gold Divider Rule
  Lectionary      
  Ps. 2, 110, 111, 148
Isa. 49:13–23
Isa. 54:1–13; Matt. 18:1–14
 
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