Trading places

By RACHEL BRANT

Staff writer

While Saturday night church services are convenient for some, the traditional Sunday morning services are the norm for many people.

Beginning March 2, Spirit Song Church will begin offering Sunday morning services. Spirit Song Church currently meets Saturday evenings in Silverdale, but recently acquired a space at Sons of Norway Oslo Lodge in Bremerton to host Sunday services.

“The wonderful people at Sons of Norway lodge have welcomed us with open arms,” said Spirit Song Church Pastor Nadine Hernandez.

Nadine and her husband, Pastor Larry Hernandez, have always wanted to have Sunday morning church services, but when they created Spirit Song Church, they only found a space to host Saturday evening services.

“We’ve been praying to do Sunday morning services,” Nadine said. “I think that people are kind of traditional in this area and Sunday morning appeals to them more than a Saturday night service.”

The husband and wife pastoral team opened Spirit Song Church eight years ago. The non-denominational Christian church places a heavy emphasis on praise and worship. With their musical backgrounds, Larry and Nadine use familiar hymns, older worship songs and contemporary music to get their fellowship involved in the services.

“I like to call it extravagant worship. You won’t go to sleep in our service,” Larry said with a smile. “In our service we just have a passion for the Lord Jesus and people are really enthusiastic.”

The assistant pastor at Spirit Song Church attended a business meeting at Sons of Norway Oslo Lodge and thought it would be a great fit for the growing Christian church. Larry and Nadine looked at the room at Sons of Norway Oslo Lodge in December and signed the contract two weeks later.

“It was just like a snowball rolling down the side of a snow-covered hill. It all just fell into place,” Larry said.

Since the California couple created Spirit Song Church, it has grown from a handful of members to about 60 people. The new space at Sons of Norway Oslo Lodge will provide more space for their continuously growing fellowship.

“We appeal to the military, baby boomers, families, couples, singles and we just want to invite everyone to come,” Larry said. “We appeal to all groups, young and old, so everyone can worship together.”

Both Larry and Nadine said Spirit Song Church could be the right fit for people who have never attended church or have yet to find that perfect place for them.

“This is a way to get to know people, make relationships, connections and stick around a while,” Nadine said. “Even if you’ve never been to a church in your whole life you can find joy in this church.”

Spirit Song Church works with various community outreach groups including The Salvation Army. Larry said with their new, larger Bremerton location they hope to perform more community services as well as work more with children and the students and staff at nearby Olympic College.

“We want to be able to reach out to the community,” Larry said.

Larry and Nadine invite people to mark their calendars and attend Spirit Song Church’s first-ever Sunday morning service at 10:30 a.m. March 2 at Sons of Norway Oslo Lodge in Bremerton.

“If you’re looking for a church home, Spirit Song Church can be your new home,” Larry said.

Spirit Song Church

Sunday, March 2

10:30 a.m.

Sons of Norway Oslo Lodge

1018 18th Street

Bremerton

Contact Spirit Song Church at (360) 598-3770 for more information or visit their Web site at www.spiritsongchurch.com.

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