By Rodney Richey, Herald Bulletin Feature Writer
ANDERSON — If one wanted to worship God, one couldn’t pick a better venue than the great outdoors. And Anderson’s 183-year-old First United Methodist Church has been conducting al fresco services all summer for nearly 20 years.
For those who have never experienced the services, take heart: The pastor is a rookie, too, replacing the Rev. John Wortinger.
“I’m the new guy, so everybody’s been coming out to hear my shtick,” said Jeff Taylor, 54, Thursday at the church. His footsteps were being followed by his chocolate-brown spaniel Dizzy.
Taylor relocated with his wife, Brenda, in June from his last post in Decatur. His first sermon was on July 5, and he said the church’s summer tradition was an adjustment at first.
“I’ve done one-shot deals, where we’d go out for one Sunday and have a service in the park, but I have not done it where it was such a part of the life of the congregation, and they did it all summer,” Taylor said.
“As our new senior pastor would say, it’s a really strange setting in which to meet the congregation and preach,” said Donna Goings, associate pastor. “You’ve got people all around, so you’ve got to make sure you pivot to reach everybody.”
This Sunday’s service will feature music by Dan Miller on the trumpet. “We try to have a good variety of music,” Taylor said. “A couple of weeks ago, we had a trombone choir. A couple of weeks before that, a jazz combo.”
The unique environs of Davis Park, with its thick stands of maple trees, were the result of a gift in 1954 from Lee Davis, who owned the 84 acres of land and the farm on them. His mother reportedly had been a Methodist, though, thus explaining his bequest.
In 1960, after the previous church at 1215 Jackson St. burned down, thought was given to rebuilding it on the Davis Farm land in Edgewood. That idea was rejected, but over the following years, events of all kinds were held there, from picnics to concerts, fitness activities to book clubs.
In 1999, the church dedicated Bransford Lodge, a rustic multi-purpose building on the site. (It is named after the longest-serving pastor, Dr. Wesley Bransford.)
The building offers shelter from the storm, if you will, since it houses summer services when rain breaks out. A glass wall overlooks the grounds. (Soccer fields were constructed in 1998, and teams from YMCA, Liberty Christian School and Sporting Indiana make use of them.)
“I’m enjoying it,” Taylor said. “It definitely is a different worship vibe. People are kind of laid back, and frankly, my themes have been kind of like how the religious life so often can be oppressive and how, if we got it right, it could be joyful. And that venue out there helps communicate that.”
Goings, a Fort Wayne native who has been with the church for four years, said members of the congregation enjoy the setting.
“There’s something about being in nature that’s just a natural transition to worship,” she said. “They like being comfortable and being able to bring their lawn chairs and gather together with friends. In some respects, it reminds you of the old-fashioned camp meetings.”
Contact Rodney Richey, 640-4861, rodney.richey @heraldbulletin.com.
If you go ...
What: Sunday outdoor services by First United Methodist Church of Anderson
Where: Davis Park, 4507 Nichol Ave., near Layton Road, Edgewood
When: 9 a.m. Sundays, until Labor Day
Featuring: Dan Miller, trumpet, on Sunday
Admission: All are welcome; bring lawn chairs
For information: 643-6977, 622-0420, www.anderson first.org
