A church that serves all

Suzie Harrison

They are a church that embodies open-minded theology.

The Neighborhood Congregational Church has a very progressive

Sunday service and many unique programs according to the Rev. Kel

Henderson.

He has been with the church as the minister of congregational life

for almost three years. Tari Lennon is the minister of worship and is

well known in the community.

“She has helped move the church into open minded theology. It’s

not the same week after week; it’s a worship experience,” Henderson

said.

The programs the church offers are expansive.

“Starting this month we’re having a full-moon drumming. It’s

exactly what it says [referring to the flier in her hand], you come

and you drum.”

Though the church was built in 1943 and its sanctuary built in

1963, its ideas are very up to date. In the sanctuary there is a wall

that has been adopted as a prayer wall.

“On selected Sundays we encourage parishioners to take a rock and

put their prayer concerns into the rock or a flower or whatever

symbol they have chosen.”

The congregation is able to add to the wall with symbols and

community support prayers.

The inception of the wall began about four or five months ago when

Taize was introduced to the church, which is a meditation, music,

chanting and song-based service held once a month.

Taize was founded in 1940 in a small eastern village in France,

whose community of brothers and nuns were cohesive toward furthering

religious unity. Its popularity has become global.

The Labyrinth is another spiritual outlet at the church. It is a

walking spiritual meditation -- a sacred maze to pray or chant or do

what is needed to do in that space.

There is also a hands-on type of alternative healing using

energy-based techniques to balance and align the human energy field.

Henderson emphasized that the church is broad minded and that it

fosters that God is bigger than one religion.

The church has a book club that meets once a month and a Zen

meditation group that also meets monthly, as well as seasonal Bible

and book studies.

“We just finished the Dali Lama’s Book, ‘Ethics for the New

Millennium.’ We embrace all religions.”

She feels the church is moving in a direction that is positive for

everyone.

“Thursday there is a meditation class and a yoga class just

starting. That’s the direction the church is moving in, that’s the

way the church is leading us,” she said.

It’s community-based church that participates in services such as

helping the Friendship Shelter and other entities.

The congregation owns it and everyone gets a vote and a say in the

direction the church is going.

“We are very congregational to our approach, hence our name,”

Henderson said.

There are many upcoming events that the public is welcome to

attend. Aug. 24 will be the annual Bargain Festival in the church

parking lot. It annually raises $5,000 to $10,000.

Information: (949) 494-8061 or go online to www.lbncc.org. The

Neighborhood Congregational Church is at 340 St. Ann’s Drive.

* SUZIE HARRISON is a reporter for the Laguna Beach Coastline

Pilot. She may be reached at 494-4321.