Poulsbo First takes it to the streets

 

More than 100 friends and neighbors of First Lutheran Church of Poulsbo turned up for a first-ever block party Sept. 8 hosted by First that was aimed at strengthening relations with its neighborhood.

The Rev. Kent Shane of First explained that a crime in the neighborhood was the genesis of the idea for the block party. A year earlier, law-enforcement authorities identified a family staying in a First emergency shelter as having robbed other local homes.

"The neighbors were nervous, scared, angry, you name it. So we met as a neighborhood after having gone door to door with invitations to the parsonage. We spent a couple of hours together and the neighbors were very much relieved," Pastor Shane said.

"In the conversation after that, one of the neighbors and I came up with the idea of doing a block party, just for fun."

Pulled-pork sandwiches were provided by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

Besides strengthening communications between the historic church and its neighbors since the robberies, church members also have developed stronger ties to Poulsbo's elected officials. Shane said the church and city now are exploring ways the church might be of help to the greater community.

The congregation's next community event will be a festival with its choirs and local school choirs Dec. 9 at the church.

"We are going with a tagline around here lately of 'Poulsbo First Lutheran Church,' where we move out of our four walls first into Poulsbo and then into the world," Shane said.

— Rachel Pritchett