Messiah Lutheran Church has been part of the greater Vancouver community for more than 60 years. Its Hazel Dell Campus is at 905 NW 94th Street, and its second worship home, Messiah North, meets at Windy Hills Winery in Ridgefield. The congregation is known for a multigenerational worship life shaped by Holy Communion, substantial children's and music ministries, and service that reaches local schools, food banks, families, and people affected by disaster across the region.
A Faith Community on the Move
Messiah's mission statement is “We Care and Share, Serve and Celebrate through God's Love in Christ.” The church describes itself as a faith community on the move, growing and changing as the Spirit leads. Its people share a life-transforming faith and love for the Lord Jesus Christ, seek to share God's love through the work and service of the church, and try to live as examples of Christian love in homes, schools, workplaces, and the community.
That faith is created and sustained by the preaching of God's Word and the gifts of Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Messiah understands itself as a people of grace, people who love and forgive because they have been loved and forgiven. Every person is invited to serve and contribute in a spirit of loving acceptance and shared responsibility.
Messiah also calls itself an experiment, holding that even a small church has a big message: all people need grace and forgiveness, which come from God. Each Sunday's gathering centers on the good news of Jesus' story and Christ's presence in the simple meal of bread and wine. The congregation believes God's story continues to unfold and that each person's life is part of it.
Sunday Worship at Two Campuses
Messiah's worship is described as dynamic and evolving. It brings together fresh liturgies, new and traditional musical styles, reading of scripture, proclamation of God's Word, prayers, and celebration of Holy Communion in a truly multigenerational congregation. Every person is invited to share gifts as part of worship, carried out with shared responsibility and thankful gratitude. Holy Communion is celebrated at all weekend services at both campuses.
Across both worshiping communities, Messiah says everyone is treated with dignity and that the God-given worth of every identity, ability, and difference is valued. Guests are invited to take part in the church's activities, try something new, and experience worship as part of one congregation with multiple locations.
Hazel Dell: 10:30 a.m.
Weekly Sunday worship at Hazel Dell begins at 10:30 a.m. in the sanctuary at 905 NW 94th Street. The same service is livestreamed at 10:30, allowing people to join from home through Messiah's YouTube livestream. The Hazel Dell Campus is home to youth and small-group gatherings as well as Messiah Preschool. Additional worship and visit information describes the congregation's welcome and services.
Messiah North: 9:00 a.m.
Messiah North gathers at 9:00 a.m. each Sunday at Windy Hills Winery, 1346 S. 38th Ct. in Ridgefield. From late spring through summer, worship is in the winery's event tent; in fall and winter, it moves indoors to the grand hall. Pastors connect this distinctive setting to Jesus' first miracle, when he turned water into wine. Some summer mornings can be brisk, so the congregation suggests a warmer jacket, sweater, or throw blanket.
Messiah North is a multigenerational congregation and provides staffed activity and craft tables for young children in the worship space. The sounds of children in worship are welcome there, a reminder of Jesus' welcome of little ones.
Children, Families and Youth Growing in Faith
The children and family ministry is committed to helping children and families grow in faith together, build on Jesus Christ, and share God's love. Quarterly family devotionals for Advent and Lent are available in the foyer, and small-group Bible studies support parents in raising children who are “centered, well-rounded, and actively Christian.” New volunteers are welcome on Sunday mornings, Wednesday evenings, and at special events.
Godly Play is Messiah's approach to children's faith formation for three-year-olds through fifth grade. It recognizes that young children have an innate awareness of God's presence but may lack adult Christian language. Stories, play, and creation are used in a prepared environment to help children learn the church's Christian language. Godly Play serves as the Sunday school class, and two school-year groups for three-year-olds through fifth grade meet Wednesdays from 3:45 to 4:35 p.m. The main Godly Play gathering is Wednesday from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Hazel Dell.
Youth ministry serves students in grades 6 through 12 and college-age young adults. Middle and high school students can take part in fellowship, service, and Bible study, and youth may serve in worship as greeters, ushers, A/V helpers, and readers. High school meets Wednesdays from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. during the school year. Confirmation is a three-year program for students entering grades 6 through 8, typically confirmed in the fall of ninth grade. Its studies include the Lord's Prayer, Apostles' Creed, Old and New Testaments, and serving in the world. Scholarships are available when needed to offset youth event costs.
Safety measures are explicit. Adults working with children and youth undergo Washington State background checks, updated every two years, and required liability and release forms are used for Sunday school, youth activities, confirmation, and other programs. Messiah also offers Vacation Bible School and a caring early-learning community through Messiah Preschool, which shares the Hazel Dell campus.
Wednesday Evenings of Learning, Music and Food
A regular Wednesday rhythm brings much of Messiah's formation together at Hazel Dell. Pastor David leads a Bible study at 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.; the class reads the biblical texts assigned for the next Sunday and considers what the sermon should proclaim. Centering Prayer is held at 2:30 p.m. The 5:00 p.m. dinner falls between activities, giving people a chance to share a meal as part of the evening.
- School-year Godly Play groups meet from 3:45 to 4:35 p.m.
- Handbell practice begins at 4:00 p.m.
- Family dinner is served at 5:00 p.m.
- Confirmation and high school youth groups meet from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.
- The all-ages choir rehearses at 6:45 p.m.
- The praise band rehearses from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Music for Every Level of Experience
Messiah's choir is an all-ages, non-auditioned group whose only requirements are a love of music and a love of learning. It offers a supportive place to connect with others, develop musical ability, and offer biweekly anthems to the congregation. The handbell choir welcomes beginners as well as experienced ringers. Rehearsal covers music reading and bell technique, with easy-to-intermediate pieces performed throughout the year and for Christmas and Easter.
The contemporary praise band leads the 9:00 a.m. Messiah North service. Although membership is by audition, the group welcomes beginners who want to grow alongside experienced musicians. Messiah also seeks people to provide solo or special music, with an accompanist available, and to serve in audio, video, and technology roles. Training is offered in sound mixing, soundboard and camera operation, and running the livestream.
Groups That Gather Through the Week
Beyond formal classes, Messiah has long-running groups for fellowship, crafts, reading, gardening, prayer, and recovery support.
- The Monday Morning Group has met in the Fellowship Hall since the 1980s. Members support the church, fold bulletins, clean the sanctuary, share coffee and treats, pray, and join community outreach projects.
- Lutheran World Relief Quilters assembles quilts on Tuesdays from 9:15 to 10:45 a.m. at Hazel Dell.
- Material Girls gathers on Tuesdays from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. for quilting, knitting, cross-stitch, and other individual handwork projects.
- Faith and Fibers meets Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. in the Hazel Dell narthex. Knitters, crocheters, and weavers create prayer shawls and lap blankets for people who are shut in, in hospice, recovering from major illness, or grieving the loss of a loved one. The gatherings include devotions and prayer, and all skill levels and ages are welcome.
- The Tuesday Morning Zoom Book Group meets weekly from 7:00 to 8:00 a.m. and typically reads nonfiction and current-events titles. Chatter Books, another group with nearly 100 books read during its nine-year history, meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 10:00 a.m. at Hazel Dell.
- From Seed to Harvest, Messiah's vegetable gardening group, meets about once a month from January through late fall. The group grows and shares vegetables and meets at Hazel Dell or in members' homes and gardens as the season changes.
- Ladies Bunco meets on the third Monday of the month in the downstairs dining area, with play from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Recovery support is part of the weekly rhythm as well. Al-Anon has Tuesday 5-Plus and Thursday groups, Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous meets in Room 107 at Hazel Dell on Saturday mornings, and an AA men's fireside gathering takes place on Saturday evenings. Messiah also maintains a Prayer Team that meets in person or by Zoom, a larger Prayer Chain, and a practice of including requested petitions in the Prayers of the People during Sunday worship.
One Mile Mission and Community Care
One Mile Mission is the congregation's clearest expression of local service. Its vision is that every child from birth to 18 who lives in or attends school within one mile of either campus has what is needed to learn. Messiah works with local schools, including Columbia River High School, Jason Lee Middle School, Eisenhower Elementary School, and Lake Shore Elementary School.
- Providing items for the Columbia River High School Care Closet
- Serving the graduate breakfast at Columbia River High School
- Having Lunch Buddies at area schools
- Leading a monthly craft table at Club Greatness at Jason Lee Middle School
- Providing food bags to families at Lake Shore Elementary School
- Supplying tutors and volunteers to area schools
- Serving pizza and games at Early Learning Night at Eisenhower Elementary School
- Serving root beer floats at curriculum nights at Columbia River, Jason Lee, and Eisenhower schools
- Providing items to the Ridgefield Family Resource Center
- Completing work projects at Eisenhower and Lake Shore elementary schools during Messiah's Day of Service
Food is another central expression of Messiah's service. The congregation supports local food banks monthly, and its Food on the Fourth ministry has collected food since 2010. Bags can be left in a cupboard in the Hazel Dell narthex during the month, and food is placed around the altar at worship on the fourth Sunday. Volunteers sort and distribute it the following Monday at 8:30 a.m. The ministry supports both Neighbors Helping Neighbors and the Lewis River Mobile Food Bank.
Messiah's outreach reaches local and global needs. Community partners include Legacy Emmanuel Hospital, Children's Home Society, Christmas Tree Angels, Columbia River High School Care Closet, Compassion Ridgefield, Doernbecher Children's Hospital, Fruit Valley Resource Center, Habitat for Humanity, Open House Ministries, Share House, Union Gospel Mission, and other organizations. The church also supports ELCA Disaster Response, ELCA World Hunger, Lutheran World Relief, Haiti school packs and an orphanage project, and relief for people affected by apartment fires, mudslides, floods, and other disasters.
Shared Responsibility, Giving and the Life of Messiah
Service is part of participation rather than a separate program. The congregation says everyone has an opportunity to contribute, whether through worship roles, children's ministry, music and technology, Monday Morning Group projects, food sorting, school outreach, or service beyond the church. Messiah's Mutual Ministry Committee, working within Southwestern Washington Synod, creates space for conversation among ministerial staff, council, and congregational members and provides confidential support to rostered ministers.
Giving is available online. Messiah's endowment supports national and international outreach, local community outreach, ministries and missions, programs, and capital improvements that otherwise lack funding. This financial support connects the congregation's worship and daily life with its One Mile Mission, relief work, food ministry, school partnerships, and service to neighbors near and far.
The office at Hazel Dell is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to noon and can be reached at 360.574.7081 or office@messiahvancouver.org. Across Vancouver and Ridgefield, Messiah Lutheran Church remains one community joining worship, study, music, service, and shared responsibility in the life of one Lutheran congregation.