Annual Worcester Family Beach Service

Every summer the Worcester Family Church gathers on the shoreline of Rhode Island’s Scarborough State beach to hold an outdoor Sunday Service. Since this annual beach service began in 1997 with the efforts of Sam Wada and Peter Perry, the outing has grown in popularity amongst members, guests and young kids.

Although the weather loomed cloudy and rainy in the distance, this year’s service was held July 27^th to coincide with the state’s Governor’s Bay Day celebration, which allowed for free parking. Many members arrived early to help with preparations and others casually arrived with guests, sometimes driving from as far as an hour and a half away.

The Sunday worship team had setup several canopies over the worship area and stage. Service began with live worship music followed by a sermon from Rev. Peter Perry, a former Worcester pastor. As he preached about coming closer together as one family under God, the rain poured; this naturally brought people closer. Everyone felt that God had made a point even through the weather to be one family!

After the service there was fellowship, games and an adventure for the brave at heart. Newly elected Worcester pastor Rev. Dmitry Vilchitsky, also a certified SUP instructor, introduced a water sport called SUP – Stand-Up Paddleboarding. SUP originates from Hawaii and is the fastest growing water sport trend worldwide.

Several groups of young people and a few adults challenged the waves, wind and rain on paddleboards. They were learning SUP for the first time under such challenging weather conditions, but their faces were radiating with joy!

Father Moon often compared the ocean to God, and then people to the droplets of water in it. This Sunday service allowed for people to experience God’s unconditional love in an uplifting environment surrounded by blessed families and friends. The New England weather and changing water currents are like a metaphor to life; it can be rough and wild, but when we come together as blessed families we experience God’s grace and love for one another.