New church baptizes members in Jetty Island waters
New Everett church baptizes members in cold waters off Jetty Island
-
Annie Mulligan / For The Herald
Grapevine Ecclesia pastor Kathy Jo Kahn wraps Lissa Rhines, 23, in a blanket after being baptized in the Puget Sound on Saturday, June 30, by Jetty Island. Despite cold winds, water and rain, Rhines was baptized as a couple with Wes Smith by pastor Sam Kahn.
-
Annie Mulligan / For The Herald
Grapevine Ecclesia's pastor Sam Kahn (left) baptizes Lissa Rhines, 23, in Port Gardner on June 30. Despite cold winds, water and rain, Rhines was baptized as a couple with Wes Smith (right) as part of the Riverside Ecclesia Festival at Jetty Island.
-
Annie Mulligan / For The Herald
Grapevine Ecclesia pastor Sam Kahn washes the feet of his wife and fellow Ecclesia pastor Kathy Jo in Port Gardner on June 30. The church held its first Riverside Ecclesia Festival on Jetty Island with a cookout, family activities and baptisms.
-
Annie Mulligan / For The Herald
Grapevine Ecclesia pastor Kathy Jo Kahn leads worship under a tent on Jetty Island on June 30.
-
Annie Mulligan / For The Herald
Members and friends of Grapevine Ecclesia navigate Jetty Island towards the Puget Sound for baptisms on Saturday, June 30. Despite cold winds, water and rain, the church held its first Riverside Ecclesia Festival with a barbecue, family activities, worship and baptisms.
The Everett congregation, which numbers around 20 people, wanted to do something important for the community, so they planned the church's first-ever faith festival on Jetty Island last week called Riverside Ecclesia Festival.
Fireside Christian Fellowship also helped organize the event.
The public was invited for an afternoon picnic, worship service with foot washing and a baptism in the cold waters of Port Gardner.
The day ended with s'mores and more worship around a campfire.
The turn out was small, perhaps because of last week's rainy weather, but lead pastor Sam Kahn hopes this year's event will be the start of a burgeoning annual tradition.
"We are there to serve whoever shows up," he said. "We are doing the best we can for God."
He and his wife, co-pastor Kathy Jo, felt called to start a church two years ago. Unlike many new churches which are "planted" by a larger religious organization, the couple started this one independently. They call Grapevine a pioneer church.
"The hurt and the lost are our mission field," Kahn said. "We're trying to give them something good."
The nondenominational church is now renting space in an old brick building at 2918 Hewitt Ave. Services are held the first and third Sundays of each month at 2 p.m., except holidays.
For more information about the church, go online to www.grapevinecc.com or call 425-923-7975.
Reporter Debra Smith: 425-339-3197 or dsmith@heraldnet.com
(
