Awaken my soul, come awake
To hunger, to seek, to thirst
Awaken first love
And do as you did at first
– Fall Afresh, Jeremy Riddle
By Rachael Phelps | Ministry Intern serving at Audubon Park UMC in Spokane, WA
When I arrived in Spokane last fall, Audubon Park UMC had just begun a second worship held on Sunday evenings. From the first time I visited the service, I knew that it was something special. The service, Vespers, immediately became an important part of my job, discernment, and personal faith. Just a few weeks after it began, the peaked interest in this newest endeavor of the church began to plummet, and attendance dwindled along with it. The original vision wasn’t holding up, and a few changes in leadership took place. Our group of small but dedicated musicians continued to rehearse weekly and gather to lead just a few others in worship each Sunday.
We began to worship in a small circle, first out of necessity, then intentionally. We found that doing so created authentic and intimate community. We called it a brave act. It is brave that we look one another in the eye, and unite our voices saying “We are a bunch of people who don’t have it all figured out, and that’s why we need God, and we need each other.”
The service consists of singing, listening to a message, and exploring different types of prayer. Visitors came and went, but slowly the service began to grow. Some weeks proved to be frustratingly small, yet those in attendance continued to share how much the service meant to them, offering thanks and words of encouragement at the end of our time together each week.
When this summer began, we knew the likelihood of attendance tapering again due to the season. As conversations surrounding this fall began, around new rehearsal schedules, fresh ideas, and new ways of sharing the word of the service, the solemn truth found me that I would be leaving this wonderful thing that had been a large part of my efforts at Audubon Park, and sustained my own spiritual life throughout the tumultuous road of discernment that I walked this year. I realized how much I would miss that time on Sunday evenings. I realized how much I would miss my friends. I realized how much I would miss singing with them. And in the most humble way possible, I worried about what would become of Vespers after I left.
Just as these thoughts and feelings began to take root, 6:00pm on Sunday evening came around. Our circle was set up, all of the musicians were seated, and a few people began to trickle in. Then more. And then more. The group larger than we had seen in months joined our circle.
[quote_right]Ministry, like life, is full of ups and downs.[/quote_right]Ministry, like life, is full of ups and downs. Paul does not include worship attendance on his list of the fruits of the Spirit, but the opportunity to share the gift we have been given by drawing our circle just a little bit wider has led us all to joy. If this community only continues for another little while, that is okay. We trust that God is working. We have felt it, and we have seen it. We believe Jesus’ words that wherever two or three are gathered, he is there. One year in the life of The Church that has survived and thrived for the past two thousand is but a blink. It is an honor to be part of what God is doing. The Psalmist writes “Oh, let me sing about faithful love and justice! I want to sing my praises to you, Lord!” And so we will.
Over the past year, Vespers has been a life-giving constant. On nights when I was certain of my call, and nights when I doubted, still I sang. I was pushed outside of my comfort zone by preaching sermons to people who were only inches and feet away from me. And most of all, I was blessed with friendships in those whom I served alongside; we shared nights of laughter, encouragement, support, and lots and lots of Starbucks runs.
For a fleeting moment, I feared that this thing would not go on without me. Now, all at once my heart breaks and rejoices in the knowledge that it will. Thanks be to God.
Fall Afresh by Jeremy Riddle is one of our music team’s most beloved songs to sing at Vespers. I leave you with these words. May the Spirit of the living God fall afresh on us all.
Spirit of the living God
Come fall afresh on me
Come wake me from my sleep
Pour through the caverns of my soul
Pour in me to overflow
– Fall Afresh, Jeremy Riddle
For more information on Audubon Park UMC’s Vespers service, please visit www.audubonparkumc.org/worship
Rachael Phelps is a 24 year-old graduate of Central Washington University, where she studied Psychology and Religious Studies. She was born and raised in Seattle, Washington and has been a member of the United Methodist Church since 2006. She is passionate about the work of the church, as it seeks to further God’s kingdom on earth. She loves singing, playing the guitar, Zumba, musicals, and drinking coffee.
Support received from the Young Clergy Initiative has helped to make Rachael’s internship possible.
I like the song by Jeremy Riddle and feel it would be a great lead-in to “Spirit of the Living God” from UMH 393. It would be fun to “book end” UMH 393 with Jeremy’s song so that the congregation could join in on a familiar song while you taught them the chorus of the new song.