2nd annual Mars Hill Alki baptisms: Nothing like last year

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Last night, for the second year in a row, Mars Hill Church members gathered at Alki for a celebration including water baptisms in ever-chilly Puget Sound. But this year’s event had none of the showiness and spectacle of last year’s “Hallelujahpalooza” (WSB coverage here) — not terribly surprising, considering the church made a point, in advance, of saying this was mainly for its West Seattle branch, not a citywide bash. Indeed, instead of MH network-wide leader Mark Driscoll, the Alki event was run this time around by WS pastor Adam Sinnett – more video ahead:

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The baptisms were held in conjunction with a church barbecue at the beach. Sinnett, by the way, told our videographer he reads WSB. Another major upcoming event for MH-West Seattle: They’ve got a delegation participating in the 9/13 West Seattle Gateway cleanup.

Shirley August 27, 2008 (8:17 am)

“I’m wet for Jesus.”

JenV August 27, 2008 (9:58 am)

I’m freezing my butt off for Jesus is more like it. BRRRRR!!

JanS August 27, 2008 (11:04 am)

they didn’t even need to get in the water…just stand there in the rain…wonder if anyone got hypothermia :D

acemotel August 27, 2008 (2:41 pm)

Dunkin for dollars, ka-ching. Enriching the coffers and imperialism of MHC and MD, IMO.

bl@ster August 27, 2008 (4:25 pm)

“I now baptise you in the name of Jesus Christ. Now, that’ll be 10% of all your future earnings. Neeext!”

What a racket. Who is going to “save” us all from this bronze-age nonsense that permeates our society?

JunctionMonkey August 27, 2008 (4:46 pm)

To quote Richard Dawkins:

“Religion poisons EVERYTHING!”

arietta August 27, 2008 (7:37 pm)

Shirley, lol! Wiping the bits of sandwich off of my screen now. Thank you for that! :-D

Jiggers August 27, 2008 (10:58 pm)

That water isn’t holy, it’s a cesspool of muck.

coffee geek August 28, 2008 (9:17 am)

I like to think of Jesus as a mischievous badger.
— Cal Naughton, Jr.

Tonya August 28, 2008 (12:42 pm)

Yes well I suppose it’s a little better than the clitorectomy’s that other religions practice, but not much eh?

I am not a religious person myself but come on, I’d rather see some Christians bobbing for Jesus than perhaps something else say.. mentioned above.

Kara August 28, 2008 (3:11 pm)

I think your getting Mars Hill confused with the likes of Tammy Faye and Jim Bakker. I’ve attended Mars Hill going on three years now mainly at the Ballard Campus, but hope to go to the West Seattle Campus since I moved back into my old neighborhood, but what I love about Mars Hill is that the whole “give me your money Jesus wants you to” has never shown its ugly head.
And I’ve gone to many churches in my life trying to find anything that remotely reminds me of Jesus…you know the guy that hung-out with lepers instead of pompous priests.
I think even those that don’t believe in God would be surprised that the reason why Mars Hill is so popular and growing is because its focus is Jesus. Many churches barely mention his name on Sundays….if at all. They also want to be a part of the community they are in rather then cut off themselves from the outside world.

JunctionMonkey August 28, 2008 (4:21 pm)

Everywhere Kara wrote “Jesus” substitute the word “Zardoz” and see how that sounds.

Mary T August 28, 2008 (4:29 pm)

We had the misfortune of deciding to stroll Alki as this was taking place. Seriously — MUST you worship your god with thumping techno music in a public park? How annoying, and could be heard far down the beach.

Also, Kara, Mars Hill is just women-hating fundamentalism dressed up in “edgy” black clothing.

http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2006/09/13/righteous/

acemotel August 28, 2008 (4:39 pm)

Imagine no religion

(as the sign says)

Tim Winston August 28, 2008 (5:15 pm)

Whenever I imagine no religion it scares me thinking of how fast society would descend into hellish chaos.

bl@ster August 28, 2008 (6:22 pm)

Tim: Give me a break. Would that happen as quickly as an end to gay-bashing and gay-hating?

What would we do with a moral code like the 10 commandments? We’d have other gods before God. Oh no! What if we didn’t honor the sabbath? Oh no! What if we didn’t use God’s name in vein! Oh no.

If you think the Bible is THE moral authority for humans, you should reconsider. It’s ridiculous to think that without this book obsessed with bogus ideas like salvation, we’d be “lost.”

Abe Froman August 28, 2008 (6:37 pm)

Mars Hill…hmmm, seems like a cult. No formal structure in Mars Hill…hmmm….whats the point of a religion, if there is no formal structure….???? No Formal Structure = Faith, not religion. This is a place for people who dont like the formal, conservative, sacred, catholic structure. Its half-ass worship. “Real” Jews & Catholics would never stand for a for-prophet building that houses free-thinking, gay accepting, wear whatever-you-like attire, foul mouthed sermon, from a white collar convict, like Casey Treat. When I was growing up, if you arrived having tattoos, a mohawk, exposed in the house of god/worship, you weren’t welcome back.

Abe Froman August 28, 2008 (6:42 pm)

Mary T – Much Praise! Finally a citizen not afraid of speaking the truth!

bl@ster August 28, 2008 (9:47 pm)

Correct me if I’m wrong, but Mars Hill is NOT accepting of gays. Literalists like this usually read the “abomindation” scripture very closely.

Imagine that! If you’re gay, you’re literally at the mercy of scribes over a period of thousands of years who could change and edit your future treatment at will. Sweet Jesus!

acemotel August 28, 2008 (11:43 pm)

It’s a pretty sad commentary on the human race if you think religion is the only thing that keeps us civilized. Are these folks so lacking in confidence they need to learn principles of living from Mark Driscoll?

Findlay August 29, 2008 (11:31 am)

Come check at MH West Seattle campus on 9/21. Service times are 9, 11:15, and now 5 pm!

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