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The Mystery of Our History
But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. Jeremiah 29:7
As I reflect on my first months as your pastor, I have been impressed by the mystery of our congregation’s long presence on this island. There is a mysterious durability to our congregation’s century and a half story; it’s an evidence of the hand of God upon us. Our congregation has been sharing God’s love with this community since 1860. We will celebrate 150th anniversary in 2010. The Presbyterian Church has been in place as an institution on San Juan Island longer than the United States Government. Our first two pastors were not Americans but Englishmen from Victoria. Our history traces through seasons of difficulty and seasons of prosperity. Our congregation’s ministry and mission have been lived out in the ups and downs of serving Christ in challenge of each generation. At our recent Session retreat our elders had the profound sense that the years ahead will be especially good ones for our congregation.
The second mystery of our congregation’s enduring presence on our Island is its longstanding commitment to be a blessing to the whole community. It is no recent thing that the Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church has fulfilled the words of the prophet, “seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you.” From 1860 until the late 1870’s we gathered for worship in a log school building somewhere on Portland Fair Road. (We are researching the exact location). In 1882 we began worshipping in the Valley Presbyterian Church which is still located at the County Cemetery. In 1897 we moved into the old church building across Spring Street from our current facility. The sanctuary in which we now worship was constructed in 1988. The passion of our fellowship, then as now, has been to bless the people living on our island. One of the spiritual mistakes churches make occurs when congregations prioritize their own institutional success rather than focusing on blessing their community. When self-centeredness takes preeminence, a church looses its spiritual vitality and grows in on itself. It is a wonderful thing that we have such a long standing mission minded Christian heritage in our congregation. As I study our history, I read how those who have gone before us sought the welfare of this island through ministry and service to others. It is our prayer that we continue to be a blessing to our larger community as we have been for almost 150 years. God has placed the Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church on this island, not only for us to have our spiritual needs met, but also that we will be a blessing to the people of San Juan Island. We are here not just for ourselves but to live lives of active blessing and practical kindness for all the people on this beautiful Island where we get to live.
Dr. Joe Bettridge
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