Anchor Pub hosts nontraditional church services once a month
Published 1:30 am Saturday, June 3, 2017
EVERETT — Their beliefs are traditional, but not much else.
Judson and Kristina Bartels run a church from their home in Lynnwood. It’s aimed primarily for a live-stream audience Wednesday nights.
The couple, who are in their 30s, talk often about what it means to be a church.
“Not what American culture says has to be church or Bible college says has to be church,” Judson Bartels said.
They want to bring people together for God in unexpected ways and places, he said. They’ve held services at parks and coffee shops and now, a bar.
Judson Bartels has a background in music and production. He pitched a 30-second version of “Church at the Bar” to Mike Henry, a manager at The Anchor Pub, a downtown Everett venue known for concerts.
Henry said, “Done. Every fourth Sunday is yours.”
The second service at the Anchor was May 28. About two dozen people attended, as well as the Bartels’ five young children.
The theme was “jam the message” with bits of sermon between songs, Judson Bartels said. The music included grunge, pop and metal. Attendees were welcome to order food or even a pitcher.
“We’re experimenting with different formats,” he said. “We have more ideas we’re going to try.”
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @rikkiking.
Learn more
Sound Church in Lynnwood can be contacted at www.sound.church or 425-835-2267. There’s also a mobile app, a Facebook page called “Church at the Bar,” and another website, lamechurchchallenge.com, which collects complaints about churches. There are opportunities to get involved. Volunteers are needed with experience in music shows, technical production and live-streaming, as well as those interested in spiritual outreach.
