(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

The siding work under way at the West Seattle Church of the Nazarene is no mere renovation project.

It’s another milestone in a project that dates back more than 6 1/2 years and has created homes for six more families.

While some West Seattle churches have sold their sites and moved or closed, this one was determined to find a way to stay and continue serving this community. To do that, they needed to fix up their century-old building, not only an eyesore from the outside, but deteriorating on the inside. With a double-digit congregation, they didn’t have deep pockets to dig into. So they came up with a plan we first wrote about in September 2013 – raise money by developing and selling six townhouses on part of church-owned open space known as “the park.”

After a complex process that included partnering with local developer Joe Paar and getting the land rezoned (before HALA MHA upzoned the area anyway), the townhouses are built – and sold – and the church renovations are under way, so we asked Church of the Nazarene pastor Shaun Mattson and associate pastor Terry Mattson to talk with us for an update.

The siding is not the first work to be done. They began with the parsonage – the small house south of the main building, where they live. “We never intended to be general contractors,” Shaun recalled, but working on the parsonage first gave them some experience, “to learn all the things we needed to know.” After new roofing, siding, windows, and interior renovations, they finished last fall, and moved on to the main church building.

Heating and electrical work was a major focus – the latter being in the elder Mattson’s wheelhouse, as he has experience working as an electrician. “It’s a new building, in terms of the electrical (system).”

A heat pump replaced the old oil-burning setup. Other work included a third-floor multipurpose room that can even be used as lodging for visitors on missions. There’s also the space they’ve been offering as a free drop-in playspace as part of their ministering to the community as a whole.

And the basement gathering space and kitchen have seen some work too.

On the exterior, the siding work started earlier this month and should take about three months total.

They were still evaluating paint colors when we spoke; an artist who has a studio at the church has been among the many people with a role in the project. And while the townhouses are built and almost all occupied – “we love our neighbors!” – there’s still some work to be done.

Much of that will include visual clarification of what remains “the park” – some lighting, some signage, a bench. And this summer, for the first time in a few years, the church plans to resume outdoor movies, another community ministry, as it were. For now, their portable screen is in the sanctuary:

Also inside, work that’s yet to be done includes the sanctuary’s windows – that will take another year or so.

But it wasn’t all talk of work – they voiced a lot of gratitude, especially to the wider community who welcomed the project and the plan to fix up the church: “This is theirs, too.”

(WSB photo)

Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church has, like many local churches, ministered to the needy in a multitude of ways. In the past, it’s sheltered homeless women and families. Starting in two weeks, it’s offering refuge in a new way – several “safe parking” spaces for people living in cars. The plan came to light in an update sent to city councilmembers by Human Services Department director Jason Johnson, as first reported earlier today by The Seattle Times. We have since obtained Johnson’s email, in which he wrote that OLG had approached the city “in late 2019” about getting involved with the Safe Parking program, pioneered by a Ballard church.

The email contained few specifics about OLG’s plan, so we contacted OLG to find out more; turns out they were having a training session tonight for volunteers. OLG’s pastoral assistant for outreach, Jennifer Ibach, provided this FAQ document that’s been circulated in the church community.

Key points:

-The church was asked to provide space for up to seven cars to park; a portable toilet and “hospitality hut” will be provided by the Urban League, the program’s official service provider. OLG is planning to provide three spots to start with.

-The people offered spaces will be “motivated adult individuals and/or couples with no place to stay but in their vehicles.” The Urban League will screen people: “Participants referred to Urban League will undergo an intake and screening process, including a credit check and a national criminal background check.” They will not allow sex offenders or “persons convicted of violent offenses, with a history of violence or with current violent offenses (including restraining orders and domestic violence).”

-There will be a “zero tolerance” policy for alcohol and other drugs.

-Participants will get case management.

-There’s no time limit but it’s expected to be short-term: “This is a road to housing, not a road to parking!”

The FAQ document above has many other details. Ibach told us they expect the program to start February 24th.

Side note: HSD director Johnson’s email also mentioned an additional, unidentified West Seattle church “has also reached out” about involvement in the Safe Parking program and is in exploratory talks.

(WSB photo)

Back in June, we published Holy Rosary Church‘s announcement of work on its bell tower and street lighting. Spotting a crew up on the tower recently, we realized it was followup time. Holy Rosary’s reply to us notes, “The new light posts have been installed along 42nd in front of the school, Parish Center, Parish office, and Church by Bridge Electric, which has greatly improved safety for all walking by.”

(Holy Rosary photo)

They also added stained-glass-window repairs to the project: “There were several stained-glass windows that were missing glass, and/or had lost their integrity and water was seeping into our church. Willet Hauser is now checking all windows and has found more to repair. With their restoration work, our stained-glass windows will be intact for years to come for all to enjoy.” Here’s the rest of the update, including the bell tower:

(You can also read it here in PDF.)

Thanks to Katie for the photo from noon today at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church in Admiral, where – as previewed here – the bell-ringing was to commemorate the 400th anniversary of a grim date in history: The day the first enslaved Africans were brought ashore in English-occupied North America. The “Healing Day” was a national action called for by Episcopal leadership. Participants said a Litany of Repentance in addition to ringing the bell for one minute.

Holy Rosary Church has two summertime projects they want you to know about – including one that has temporarily silenced the church’s bells. Here’s the notice they asked us to share with you:

The photo is from the Rev. Sarah Casey, pastor at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor), who wants you to know that despite a move in the parent denomination to discriminate against LGBTQIA people, the West Seattle church is and will remain “a place where ALL people have the opportunity to grow spiritually in Christian community.” Here’s the email she sent to the congregation earlier this week:

It is with deep sadness that I share with you that the General Conference of the United Methodist Church has voted to adopt the Traditional Plan. This means that there is no way forward for the UMC that affirms the call to discipleship and sacred worth of LGBTQ+ persons.

I struggle to find the words to express the outrage, disappointment, and grief I am feeling. I know I am not alone in this.

I do not know what will happen in the months ahead. I do not know how our denomination will move forward, if there will be a schism, or how this tragedy will continue to unfold.

This is what I do know: I know that for 110 years Tibbetts UMC has baptized babies that have bloomed into straight and LGBTQ+ disciples. I know that there is no legislation or ruling that can override or take away our baptismal covenant: that we are loved by God. I know that we have and will continue to encourage and celebrate our LGBTQ+ siblings in Christ. Their stories are part and parcel to the identity of our faith community. Without them, there is no us.

The mission of Tibbetts is “To seek to be an all-inclusive congregation that provides dynamic ministries for all ages. We are committed to discipleship through outreach, community service, and spiritual growth.”

Our mission has not changed.

The church is not God. The Book of Discipline is not Jesus. Our love for one another is bigger than the Traditional Plan, bigger than the institutional church, bigger than hate.

I hope you will make it a point to be present in worship on Sunday as we weep and mourn what has happened, and as we celebrate and affirm that God is still God, we are still Tibbetts, and we will continue to proclaim the inclusive Gospel of Christ that loves and accepts ALL people.

We will celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion, and there will be a seat for each and every one of us at God’s table.

The pastor tells WSB, “Our Tibbetts leadership team met Thursday evening and we are in full agreement that our congregation will continue to be open and affirming of LGBTQ+ persons as we believe it is a faithful reflection of the Gospel.” She adds, “Our Bishop in the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference, Elaine Stanovsky, is committed to full inclusion. What that looks like in the coming months and years is yet to be seen. Our Bishop has indicated that we are not going anywhere, implying progressive/affirming churches are not going to exit the denomination.” But what would happen if the denomination leadership decided to enforce the new policy “remains unclear.” She added in our followup exchange:

My personal hope is that progressive Methodists will see this as an opportunity for rebirth, to create a new expression of Methodism that is inclusive and affirming of all people, while remaining grounded in Wesleyan theology and practice. The two are not mutually exclusive, and the reality is that our Wesleyan (Methodist) tradition actually does lend itself to full inclusion! Our practices are rooted in the baptismal covenant, that each and every person is loved and valued by God. How can we claim all people are made in the image of God and then tell people they cannot be who God created them to be? We do not get to decide how divine presence manifests itself in our world!

She is not alone in her sentiment, according to reports like this one from the New York Times.

A local family exiting homelessness into permanent housing is doing it with help from Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor). This afternoon, church volunteers moved a house full of donated furnishings to that family’s new home.

The program is a partnership with Mary’s Place, which helps homeless families. Tibbetts has helped homeless people in other ways over the years, and this is the first time they’ve collected donations to furnish a family’s new home.

When the call went out for donations, in fact, so many came in that after today, they expected to have a start on furnishings for the next family they’ll help.

When we stopped by, the volunteers were awaiting a rental truck they planned to load up with the furnishings for a special delivery to the family’s new home in Burien. One extra-special donation … a handmade sign reading WELCOME HOME: