STANWOOD — It looked like the beginning of a modest church garage sale: a donated bike, some artwork, a guitar, all bunched together on the floor waiting for a greater purpose.
They won’t have to wait long. The Lighthouse Christian Fellowship is gathering donated items for a New Year’s Eve auction to help them rebuild after losing the picturesque historic building they were renting to a fire in April.
Maray Tarsi and her daughter-in-law, Mandy Tarsi, worked with other congregation members Monday evening to sort through the wares.
"It’s not as bad as a garage sale because you don’t have to put prices on it," Maray Tarsi said.
The congregation does not have to raise as much as some churches might because it is willing to live with a simple 6,400-square-foot metal building found in a catalog.
For $26,000, the congregation will get a two-story church shell. Members with building experience will be the general contractors to save money. They even plan to put a fiberglass steeple on top, although nothing as elaborate as the large wooden steeple on the old church.
The auction will not be as modest as Monday’s first glance might indicate. Many services and tourist or recreational trips have been thrown in as well, Mandy Tarsi said.
Featured will be a boat trip in the San Juan Islands, a rafting trip on the Skagit or Wenatchee river, a four-person biplane ride from Mount Vernon, a cord of firewood, three months of piano lessons, paintball passes and services for wedding flowers and cake, diapers and dog grooming.
At least two local artists, Jack Dorsey and Lisbeth Johnson, have donated paintings. Dorsey, known for his watercolors, has offered a rare oil original. Johnson, a congregation member, is giving a print of her "Returning Thanks," a painting of two women.
"They’re thanking the creator for providing sustenance," Johnson said amid the bustle of preparations.
Auctioneer Vic Henry, a longtime friend of Johnson’s, talked up the event.
"I’ve got friends coming," Henry said.
"You know how people — they haven’t made up their minds what they’re going to do for New Year’s Eve?" Johnson said. "What a better way to have fun with the family, have a great time to bring in the New Year and help the good cause of this poor burned church."
The auction is meant to be a New Year’s Eve party as well. Food and snacks will be provided, but the auction will be a nonalcoholic event.
The Rev. Mike Tarsi said the congregation is hoping to apply for a land-use permit in January and would love to be able to move in sometime in 2004.
Some permit issues such as parking and mitigation fees need to be worked out with the city of Stanwood. Mike Tarsi said the church hopes it can work within its budget.
Congregation member Dewan Simonis cracked a joke about the bureaucratic permit process "going up against the Lord, so you know it’s a fair fight."
Reporter Scott Morris: 425-339-3292 or smorris@heraldnet.com.
A charity auction for the Lighthouse Christian Fellowship will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday at 7009 265th St. NW, Suites 104A and B, Stanwood.
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