Sharing places | Editorial

Published 10:36 am Tuesday, March 24, 2015

The measure of a community can be taken in many ways. The quality of its schools, parks and streets, its cadre of citizen volunteers, its care and concern for others and its institutions —such as those of the faith community — are markers of strong community.

Regardless of one’s faith — or lack of faith — at some point all Islanders have benefited both directly or indirectly from an Island church or a synagogue. Whether it is attending a wedding or funeral, a kids carnival or a blood drive, gathering at an Island church or synagogue is part of everyday life on the Island.

The faith community has been generous with its buildings, sharing them with outside groups or using them as a staging area for helping others. Facilities are used for arts performances and fundraisers. Some faith communities have offered parking for commuters.

There is the Stroum Jewish Community Center that serves all people with classes, activities and sports. They hosted the recent gala for Youth Theatre Northwest.    The Mercer Island Presbyterian Church holds all kinds of events open to all from musical performances, talks and the Ten Thousand Villages sale held every December. Emmanuel Episcopal Church agreed to be the temporary home of Youth Theatre Northwest. St. Monica Church prepares and distributes food for the hungry and homeless. The United Methodist Church hosts homeless women and children at its home on S.E. 24th Street. Others host Boys and Girl Scouts, classes, tutoring or day care, or community events for youth and seniors.

Perhaps the most recent sign of this generosity comes from the First Church of Christ Scientist. The church was determined to sell their church to the nearby congregation of Shevet Achim rather than a developer. And they did.

Any priest or rabbi or pastor would shrug at such praise. “It is simply what we do,” they would say, pointing to their members. “ It is our mission to serve.”