When the Doors Close - A Final Service and the End of an Era at Yakima Vineyard Church

One of many stained glass windows in Yakima Vineyard ChurchPhoto byPhoto by author

Our teardrops combine with those from long ago as we grieve the closure of our long-standing church building.

Two weeks ago I drove to church, as I always do. Hubby, our church’s official “opener” left hours ago to open windows and doors allowing the trapped heat to escape.

When I arrived, his face looked weary. Brushing it off, I took my place, alongside him and Cooper, our service (in-training) dog. The congregation hushed while our beloved Pastor, Dusty Arenson, took his place in front of the pews and began —

“We have some devastating news.”

Our final service at our 116-year-old majestic building will be on the 25th of this month, after which the doors will close. He explained we’d received a letter from the insurance company stating they could no longer insure our old church.

The lawyers have been called, the pleas to the insurance company rejected, the numbers crunched along with our hope of finding a way to continue at this location. The cold fact is, even if we take out a million-dollar loan to fix electrical and plumbing issues, it will not be enough to appease the insurance company.

Worse yet, we are not the only church facing the insurance company’s grim reaper.

According to an Associated Press article published in the Seattle Times on July 23, 2024, this is happening across the country.

How a perfect storm sent church insurance rates skyrocketing The church insurance market, like the insurance industry overall, has been hit with a perfect storm in recent years…www.seattletimes.com

The church market, like the entire insurance industry, has faced significant challenges in recent years.

Shortages of construction materials in the supply chain, which began during the pandemic, have led to higher costs for rebuilding after a disaster. As the cost of rebuilding increases, so does the size of insurance claims. This has led insurance companies to raise their rates to account for the increased claims.

A series of natural disasters, including hurricanes, wildfires, and severe convective storms (thunderstorms with extreme rain and wind), had a significant impact on the industry. These events caused billions of dollars in damage last year, according to the Insurance Journal. Claims from these disasters have put pressure on the reserves that insurance companies use to pay claims.

In the article, Brad Hedberg, Executive Vice President of The Rockwood Co., a Chicago-based agency, mentions that church insurers are under pressure from reinsurers, such as Lloyd’s of London, which provide insurance to insurance companies to prevent overwhelming catastrophic claims. These companies want to reduce their exposure to certain types of claims, limiting the coverage that church insurers can provide compared to the past.

Churches everywhere, especially those housed in antique buildings, are at risk of closing their doors. The days of immersing in the Spirit, among the souls of generations past, may soon become a rare experience.

What does it mean?

Remember the children’s rhyme? “Here’s the church, here’s the steeple, open the doors, and see all the people.”

It remains a good reminder of what the church is meant to be — people gathering to worship our Lord. It is not the glorious stained glass windows, majestic mahogany sliding doors, or the 99 rooms that served generations.

That’s true, of course. We have every hope of finding a new church to house our growing family—one that suits the needs of our diverse crew whose common ground, in many cases, is simply a love for Jesus.

Even so, it’s a time of grief—

I believe with all my heart God’s got this. Still, it hurts saying goodbye.

It’s no different than any home that has held your love and soul for decades. Hubby and I have witnessed three generations of children being born, raised in kids' church and youth group, graduating, getting married, having children themselves, and reaping the fruit of God’s grace.

It breaks my heart to know that some, including a young adult of my own, have walked away from their faith. I always believed we’d be sitting in these pews when they return.

It is just a building.

However, it so happens to be the place where I met Jesus.

It holds a cornucopia of memories for me.

Spiritual and physical healings —

Potlucks —

Revelations —

Hellos to new friends —

Goodbyes to old friends —

Sweet and powerful worship —

Celebrations —

Memorial services —

Although some members have gone to heaven, they are here every Sunday. For example, whenever Billie Jean’s favorite verse, Joshua 1:9, is spoken, I hear it loud and clear in her voice.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go — Joshua 1:9, NIV

It’s certainly the perfect verse for this season. Thanks, Billie Jean.

Likewise, whenever there’s food involved, JoAnn Yates is always at our table. Who could forget her unloading pan after pan of delicious food she’d prepared in her tiny home kitchen? She so loved potlucks.

As for me, I assumed this church would host my memorial service. I jokingly told my family that I needed to die before the end of the month so they could have the service here before the doors closed. Don’t worry, they’re used to my humor.

My son suggested I have the service now but skip the dying part. It’s a great idea, we can call it a fauxfuneral. But dang it, I can’t make it, I have other obligations.

Joking aside, we are losing way more than a building. Grieving is appropriate. We can’t forget the tears of joy or grief, both are deserving of our gratitude.

Our final service, August 25th, will be a celebration like no other before the doors officially close on the 31st.

We hope to sell the building, find a suitable home, and carry on loving the community God has gifted us to serve. We will all have big bags of memories to move into our new home.

Moving on

As the years have passed, the expenses for maintaining the building’s safety and functionality have increased. Currently, more than half of the church’s funds go for the upkeep of this building. As is, we feed and aid thousands of individuals in need.

Can you imagine the blessing we could be if we were not burdened with plumbing, roofing, and electrical bills? What about the money we’ve been shelling out every winter to provide heat? What will it feel like to no longer dread high heating bills in the winter and sticky pews in the summer?

In our hearts and souls, we know God is with us. He has a plan. A good one. There’s much to celebrate in our future. First and foremost, the church still lives and breathes no matter what comes of our beloved church building. The church is people, not a building; it’s alive and well. Moreover, we can trust where we land, God will be there too.

My hope and prayer are for whoever purchases our church to welcome the Holy Spirit to dwell there as well.

And, if you might like to purchase a beautiful church, please call Chris Sentz at Almon Realty at 509–966–3800.

Deb Palmer is the co-author of “In Spite of Us- A Love Story about Second Chances.” She resides in Yakima, Washington with her husband/co-author, Sandy. Deb has published various fiction and nonfiction articles in numerous print magazines and online journals. In addition, she writes stories with humor and purpose for Medium.