Worship Weblog

Fall grants tour to the Pacific Northwest: Kent, Washington

Posted by CICW

Thursday, October 6th, 2011

Founded in 1889 by Scandinavian immigrant farmers in a rich agricultural region just outside Seattle, WA, Kent Lutheran Church today is home to professionals in health, education, aeronautics, and technology. In 2009 Kent Lutheran Church was making plans to renovate their sanctuary. While they recognized that a grant could not fund renovations, they applied for and received a grant to study how they might “Let Our Spaces Speak.” Through book studies, and guest speakers they explored messages that spaces communicate. A six-week project in which more than 80 people of all ages were involved created 12 stained glass panels.

On a Wednesday evening in late September, 2011, Kent Lutheran church hosted a worship renewal workshop for church leaders throughout the Seattle area and beyond. Project Director Debbie Hunt reported on their project and described ministries that are growing since their year of worship renewal. She notes that the anticipated renovations may be pursued someday but that the grant brought renewal in unexpected ways. Today the congregation is active in service to the homeless in their neighborhood and are making plans to travel to Sudan to provide water purification equipment and  build a school. Pastor Jane Prestbye observed, “The Worship Renewal Grant transformed us. We will never be the same.”

Posted by Betty Grit.

Tags: Grants, grantstour2011, Worship Renewal workshops