“Quirky” is a word often used to describe the West Seattle Church of the Nazarene. This small community church resides in the Morgan Junction neighborhood. The church takes worship seriously. It also takes its communal life seriously. However, members don’t take themselves too seriously. They like to have fun. They laugh a lot. Members occasionally argue. They always attempt to live and love faithfully in this neighborhood that God has placed them.
West Seattle Church of the Nazarene is not like many churches. It is a group of folks. They come from different backgrounds. They come from different walks of life. They seek to share life together around the mysteries of faith. One traditional way they live into this mystery is by gathering on Sunday mornings. They sing. They read. They pray. They reflect. They listen. They laugh. They lament. They question. They disagree. They confess.
On any given Sunday, West Seattle Church of the Nazarene is likely to have 25 to 50 folks. These range from seasoned veterans to young kids. The young kids often inject energy into gatherings with laughter and dinosaur roars. Some lovingly call the church the island of misfit toys. The different personalities and stories make for an odd mix at first glance. “Quirky” represents their best attempt to lean into these differences. They embrace the uniqueness of each one.
The West Seattle Church of the Nazarene hopes to live as good neighbors. They hope to be a blessing to those around them. They find this neighborhood a blessing to them. To that end, they give themselves to various projects. These include a community park and movies in the park. They also have a community garden and playspace.
The West Seattle Church of the Nazarene understands they come with much baggage in this cultural moment. They lament the ways the Church has not lived into its best selves. They lament when they have not lived up to their highest calling. Their highest calling is to love. Yet, they hope to find life in coming together around the Christ mystery. There is something about the mystery itself. It is alive in them. It will be experienced as a means of grace to those around them.
On Sunday mornings expect a relaxed environment at West Seattle Church of the Nazarene. It feels like family. They gather at 9:30 for breakfast. They catch up and hear each other’s stories. At 10, they have an hour for age-appropriate Sunday School. They laugh and interact around scripture. They seek to go deeper in God’s story. At 11, they meet upstairs for a time of worship.
West Seattle Church of the Nazarene is an intergenerational community. It is multi-ethnic and multi-economic. The church consists of Pilipino, Samoan, Native American, and Euro-American ancestries. About twenty percent of the small congregation comes from the streets or government-assisted housing. They have historically been a home for Share/Wheel shelters for the homeless.
For many years the West Seattle Church of the Nazarene watched its building deteriorate. As a small faith community, they have struggled with questions of what to do. They know they do not have the resources to take care of the many issues their building has. They prayerfully developed a plan. They propose to re-zone a portion of their existing churchyard. They will create six new townhomes. Proceeds from the development will renovate the church. They will build a playground on the remaining park grounds. They will maintain the churchyard as a public open space open to the community.
Pastor Shaun came on staff at West Seattle Church of the Nazarene in September 2012. He became Lead Pastor in March 2013. Shaun has a deep passion for the Church. He helps the Church come alive to God’s mission in this world.