Republic file photo
Call it Christians praising in God’s natural cathedral.
Therein lies one take on the Ecumenical Assembly of Bartholomew County Churches’ Second Annual Worship in the Park Oct. 1 all over Columbus — fittingly being held on World Communion Sunday, symbolic of togetherness. The assembly’s worship committee has once again helped plan the day.
It involves an eclectic mix of local churches joining together for worship services unfolding in the great outdoors in three public parks. Part of the idea: To tell residents that they are quite welcome to join services in a casual, relaxed atmosphere, which many people indeed did last year at places such as Pence Street Park, where as many as an estimated 40 of 150 people total gathered just from the apartment residents alone at the location.
Those in the nonprofit assembly consider it bringing church to the people rather than asking people to come to the church. Kelly Daugherty, executive director of the assembly of more than 20 area churches, explained the mission simply last year.
“Part of the basic idea is give people a nonthreatening place for folks to feel more comfortable to come — especially for those who don’t normally go to church — to worship,” he said.
Maybe the only hurdle last year was that the effort was held Aug. 21 amid one of the hottest parts of summer. Or you could say the dog days of summer, since Daugherty brought along his 12-year-old dog Wimpy to one service he attended.
“It should be great weather this time of year,” Daugherty said.
Interestingly, the outdoor setting allowed Daugherty to even use Wimpy when he presented his sermon, demonstrating how the dog readily and obediently came to him when called. He then segued into how believers should respond to God’s call to action.
“Maybe the biggest challenge for me with all this,” Daugherty said, “is getting the word out to people.”
Daniel Kane, worship pastor at First Baptist Church in Columbus and among the worship committee organizers of the day, saw last year’s gatherings as successful, especially considering that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints service attracted an estimated 250 people.
“I think last year was a really good introduction to this,” Kane said. “I think one of the biggest things about it is the opportunity for all of us to simply make more connections with others.”
This year, First Baptist is teaming with Memorial Baptist Church, New Hope Christian and one of the wards of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for a 9:30 a.m. service at the amphitheater of Mill Race Park at 50 Carl Miske Drive downtown. A potluck pitch-in will follow.
Kane mentioned that he also likes the chance “for an exchange of (ministry) ideas” from believers perhaps different from those that some people normally mix with most weekends.
Outdoor services Oct. 1
- 9:30 a.m. — Mill Race Park: First Baptist, Memorial Baptist, New Hope Christian and a ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A pitch-in meal will follow.
- 5 p.m. — Clifty Park: Sandy Hook and Petersville United Methodist and First Lutheran. Ice cream sundaes will follow.
- 1 p.m. — Donner Park: St. Paul’s Episcopal, Hope Moravian and the Thursday Night Band.
- 4 p.m. — Donner Park: St, Bartholomew Catholic Church, Columbus Free Methodist and New Heart Worship.
