When summer arrives, Hutchinson-area churches head outdoors

With Minnesota’s short summer season, no one wants to miss a moment of warm and sunny weather.
Beginning this month, several Hutchinson-area congregations will trade wooden pews for folding lawn chairs:

< Faith Lutheran: From June 14 to Sept. 6, Faith Lutheran Church, Main St., Hutchinson, will travel a couple of blocks north to Library Square for its 10 a.m. Sunday service. The only exception is Sunday, Aug. 2, when the park is reserved by Immanuel Lutheran and Grace Lutheran churches.

< Hutchinson Evangelical Free Church: Unlike Faith Lutheran, which is moving all but one of its 10 a.m. services to Library Square, the Hutchinson Evangelical Free Church is moving only one of its summer services outdoors.
At 10 a.m. Sunday, June 7, the congregation will gather at Library Square rather than at its customary home at the Hutchinson Middle School.

< Peace Lutheran Church will move its 9:20 a.m. Sunday service outside beginning Sunday, June 7. It takes place on the church property facing Glen Street.

< The local Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod churches — Immanuel Lutheran and Grace Lutheran — will conduct a joint outdoor service at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 2, at Library Square. 

< Grace Bible Church in Silver Lake will conduct a special seaside service at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, June 14, next to the pier on the north side of Swan Lake. The service is reflective of the times when Jesus preached from a boat on the Sea of Galilee. It will include a message preached from a boat, special music, an opportunity to snack on smoked fish during the service and congregational singing.

To read the complete story, see the print edition of the Hutchinson Leader for Tuesday, June 2, 2009.

(Kay Johnson is a staff writer for the Leader. She can be reached at johnson@hutchinsonleader.com.)