by Vicki Paulus

Last summer, after relocating to Seattle, we visited Bethany and began the process of settling into a new church community. This fall, as our faces have become more familiar, a few people have politely asked us why we’ve stuck around. After all, we arrived at what might have seemed an inopportune moment, with all the upheaval that accompanies a search for a new pastor, a budget shortfall and, when we first arrived, the retrofit dislocation.

Having moved most recently from Walla Walla, part of the truth is we were spoiled from living in a small town where no place was more than 10 minutes away. In an attempt to preserve some of that small town lifestyle, we knew we wanted to worship locally, within a short drive from our home in Magnolia.

But finding a church community is more complicated than just finding a local church. What is it that draws us to return each week? As newcomers at Bethany, we wondered what we would learn about you if we looked past the immediate upheaval.

We saw, each week, members steadfastly stepping up in various ways to lead the congregation. Many and various people were called to lead worship, preach, reach out around the community and the world, creatively reach local children, manage construction, feed the homeless, play music, pray, dance, serve communion and three-minute minister to us. So many people were responding to the call of God in their lives. And this was during summertime, typically a low attendance time for churches!

Bethany clearly is a city church with an engaged congregation rooted in Christ, attentive to the Holy Spirit and blessed with gifted members, a welcoming staff and other abundant resources.

We’ve only begun to get to know some of you who make up this church. But we see that Bethany is a grace-filled community. We have received a portion of that grace through warm welcomes, hospitality, care and concern, and thoughtful suggestions of ways for us to connect.

Relocation is not an easy endeavor … especially for introverts like us! Our whole family is thankful for the grace of new friends and community. And, we’re irresistibly drawn to God’s transforming grace extending from Bethany into the community of Queen Anne, Seattle, and to the ends of the earth.