http://apprising.org/2011/01/16/seattle-seahawks-have-more-than-a-prayer-on-sunday/
Seahawks have more than a prayer on Sunday
Two churches in the Seattle region are hosting tailgate parties to celebrate God — and the Seahawks.
By Sonia Krishnan
Seattle Times staff reporter
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Ryan Meeks wants to explore a question: Why shouldn't Christians be considered world-class partyers?
The 32-year-old will be talking about this on Sunday at Eastlake Community Church in Bothell.
Where he is the pastor.
Where 4,000 congregants will be tailgating during his sermon.
Where, as the Seahawks try to fight their way through another round of the NFL playoffs, there will be no mention of sin or guilt or immorality for indulging in that ultimate American pastime — rooting for one's hometown team.
Trust that it will all be done with plenty of pulled pork, beer, big-screen TVs and trucks, Meeks said. He's even bringing in his old Volkswagen bus. Kids are also welcome to run free in the church's big warehouse space.
"The church is the last place in the world where you'd expect to find people happy or excited or partying," Meeks said. "But why do we have to be so separate from what's happening in our culture? You should celebrate when cool things happen in your community."
And Meeks' church just happens to be where quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and a few other Seahawks attend Sunday services.
For North Sound Church in Edmonds, tailgating also seemed the perfect solution to bring God and his football followers together.
Kickoff is at 10 a.m. That posed a conflict.
So earlier this week, Pastor Barry Crane and the church's worship pastor started kicking around ideas about what to do.
Their solution? Have one service at 8:30 a.m. instead of three throughout the morning, and throw a party/sermon/killer breakfast at the conference center across the street. Prepare enough food for 300 people. Open it to everyone. And voilà: A tailgate church service was born.
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Attendees, by the way, are urged to wear Seahawks colors.
So do Meeks and Crane think God will have a hand in the game's outcome?
"I would love to see the Bears get thrashed," Meeks said, laughing. "But to thank God if we beat another team? That might be a stretch of theology."
Crane got straight to the point.
"I don't think this is something God is too concerned about," he said.
Then he added quickly: "We're pulling for the Seahawks, of course."
Sonia Krishnan: 206-515-5546 or skrishnan@seattletimes.com
