A Reconciling Congregation on 132nd Street SE
Cedar Cross United Methodist Church sits on 132nd Street SE in Mill Creek, Washington, just south of Everett and within easy reach of Interstate 5. The community puts into practice the United Methodist motto of Open Hearts, Open Minds, and Open Doors, and it has been recognized as a Reconciling Congregation since 2014. Pastor Janelle, who currently leads the congregation, describes Cedar Cross as "an inclusive Christian community" with "an expansive understanding of the Gospel," meaning that the goodness of grace and love reflected in the Scriptures "goes beyond our limited understanding of it."
Cedar Cross is intentionally intergenerational, drawing adults, seniors, youth, and children into the same rhythms of worship, study, and service. The congregation's mission is "to create a community that nurtures and empowers people to be disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world." First-time visitors are welcomed with what the community calls a warm and generous spirit. People love each other here, and newcomers are invited to feel that spirit.
Two Sunday Services, Two Musical Styles
Sunday worship at Cedar Cross follows a two-service pattern that lets visitors choose the style that suits them. The 8:45 am service is contemporary, anchored by the Praise Band with acoustic guitar, bass, drums, and keyboard. At 11:00 am the sanctuary fills for a traditional service led by the Chancel Choir with hymns and choral music. Most Sundays include the Sacrament of Communion.
From 10:00 to 10:45 am, the Sunday School hour meets in between, with classes available for every age from preschool through adult. This hour is also when Adult Formation classes gather to read and discuss a book together. Past studies have included Living the Questions by Felten and Procter-Murphy, On God's Side by Jim Wallis, The Heart of Christianity by Marcus Borg, and Falling Upward by Richard Rohr.
During the summer months the schedule condenses to one combined service at 10:00 am. Worship services are also available on Zoom. Email office@cedarcross.net or call (425) 338-7845 to receive connection details. Child care is available during both services and during the Sunday School hour. A sermon archive stretching back many years is available on YouTube for those who want to revisit past messages from home.
An Inclusive and Progressive Reading of the Gospel
Cedar Cross stands among the openly affirming congregations of the United Methodist Church. In 2014 the congregation voted by a large majority to join the Reconciling Ministries Network, an organization within the United Methodist Church that promotes the inclusion of LGBTQ people in all aspects of the Church's life and ministry. Cedar Cross affirms that each person is loved by God and is of sacred worth. The community welcomes all persons without regard to race, ethnic or cultural background, social status, gender, sexual orientation, age, theological perspective, political affiliation, or other means used to categorize and discriminate against others.
The theological tone at Cedar Cross is progressive and questioning rather than dogmatic. As Pastor Janelle puts it, "We believe in taking the Bible seriously, not literally and encourage people to be curious and ask questions." The congregation rejects the use of Christ to secure power over others and instead emphasizes liberation and life for all. This commitment extends to creation itself: members understand themselves "as stewards of the earth tasked with its care and keeping." Cedar Cross treats the promise of God's way coming on earth as it is in heaven as a present responsibility, and members aim to live that hope out through worship, service, study, small groups, and fellowship.
Growing Together: Children and Youth
Children and teenagers are at the center of Cedar Cross's life together. The Children's Ministry, organized by Katie Rugg, offers Sunday School for ages three through high school during the 10:00 am Sunday School hour. Children gather for Bible stories, music, crafts, and games, and a long-standing tradition has every third grader receive his or her own Bible signed by the pastor. The Children's Ministries Facebook page keeps families current with upcoming activities.
Vacation Bible School in summer is a highlight for the parish. Past themes have included "Camp Firelight - A Summer Camp Adventure With God," a five-station program for preschool through sixth grade built around Psalm 56:3: "Whenever I'm afraid, I put my trust in you." The annual Children's Christmas Program brings preschoolers through high school students together on stage, and the congregation delights in the tradition because, in the words of its organizers, "every year they outdo themselves and put on the best Christmas program ever." Family Game Nights, Movie Nights, outings to Everett Aqua Sox ball games, campfires, and church picnics fill out the calendar.
Youth Ministry gathers most Sunday evenings from 4:00 to 5:30 pm for grades six through twelve. Evenings include games, fellowship, and faith exploration in a setting that aims to be a safe environment for all. Traditionally the youth also meet between services for a forty-five-minute Bible study where they work through a topic, devotion, or current event and discuss how it connects to Christian faith. Three retreats anchor the youth calendar: SUMYT in March at Camp Indianola, a Fall Retreat at Camp Indianola in November, and Youth Convocation (CONVO) over Memorial Day weekend at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma. The congregation offers scholarships to help families afford these retreats. Recent mission projects have included a winter gift drive benefiting Esther's Place and Cocoon House, two local organizations that support homeless women, children, and teens.
Music Ministry: Praise Band, Chancel Choir, and Handbells
Cedar Cross calls its music program "a special feature that enhances our awareness of God's presence and grace and the invitation to follow and grow in Christ." Music Director Nissa Ludwig oversees two of the ensembles, and the Praise Band, led by Mark Wilder, brings the contemporary energy to the early service.
The Chancel Choir rehearses on Wednesdays from 7:30 to 9:00 pm in the Centrum and sings at the 11:00 am service. New singers are always welcome, and the choir takes a break in the summer. Bell Canto rehearses on Wednesdays from 6:30 to 7:30 pm in the Choir room and rings through three octaves of handbells. The Praise Band rehearses as schedules permit. Throughout the year guest vocalists and instrumentalists add special music that deepens the congregation's connection with God and with one another.
Digging Deeper: Adult Education and Circles
For adults who want to read the Bible with more context, the Wednesday Bible Study meets in person at 9:30 am with the option to join via Zoom. The approach is academic and conversational: participants look at the social, historical, and economic background of a passage alongside its literary structure, word choices, and editorial seams, using every available tool to better understand the text. Adult Sunday School between services is similarly discussion-based, with participants reading a common book and reflecting on it together.
United Women in Faith at Cedar Cross has two monthly meetings: the second Tuesday at 9:30 am and the second Thursday at 7:00 pm, with a recess in July and August. The local unit supports UWF missionaries, sells Fair Trade items to support women in other countries, and makes quilts for local distribution. Members raise money to buy fresh fruit for the Everett Women's Gospel Mission and assemble handmade valentines sold for local charities and a youth shelter.
The Cedar Cross Men's Group meets the first Saturday of each month at 9:00 am for breakfast and fellowship. All men are welcome.
Filling the Carts: Local Outreach
Outreach at Cedar Cross takes root in two grocery carts in the church hallway. Members fill the top of a Safeway cart with non-perishable food items that are taken to the Volunteers of America Food Bank, and monetary donations are directed to the Snohomish County Food Bank Coalition. The bottom shelf collects toiletries for the Everett Gospel Mission Shelter, with toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, baby toiletries, and small sample-size bottles especially welcome.
The Homeless Teen Feed Program takes volunteers into Seattle on the second Monday of every month. Members and friends of Cedar Cross carpool to University Lutheran Church, prepare a hot dinner for homeless teenagers, and return by 8:30 pm or later. Drivers and donations are always welcome.
A Sister Church in Meru, Kenya
Cedar Cross maintains a long-standing partnership with N Koune Methodist Church in Meru, Kenya, which the congregation calls its sister church. Cedar Cross has sent funds from its annual auction toward the construction of a new church building to replace a small, unlighted wooden structure. A nine-person mission team from Cedar Cross traveled to Meru in June 1999 to help pour cement for the pillars and altar floor of the new church, and the partnership has continued in the years since. Special donation drives are organized when disasters strike elsewhere in the world, with the congregation gathering food, clothing, blankets, or money for affected communities.
The Cedar Cross Co-op Preschool
Sharing the Cedar Cross campus is the Cedar Cross Co-op Preschool, a long-running early-childhood program that parents run in cooperation with the church. The preschool operates as a separately organized program under the church's umbrella and gives the youngest members of the community a hands-on introduction to a faith-based learning environment. Online registration opens each spring for the following school year.
Planning a Visit
Cedar Cross United Methodist Church is at 1210 132nd Street SE in Mill Creek. The church office is reachable at (425) 338-7845 and office@cedarcross.net. Sunday worship is at 8:45 and 11:00 am during the school year, with one combined service at 10:00 am during the summer. Sunday School and Adult Formation meet between the two morning services at 10:00 am. Giving is available online, and a sermon archive, music samples, and videos are accessible through the church's resources. The Cedar Crossings newsletter keeps the wider congregation informed of monthly events, and an online member directory helps members and friends stay connected throughout the week.