The OC Tabernacle has become a standard part of our week at OC for years...check into the house…read moreSaturday, visit the Tabernacle Sunday, usually before my feet have even had a chance to hit sand. Yes, the tabernacle is a Sunday morning Church service; an informal service is held at 8 AM on the beach/boards, and the regular service is at 10:30. The tabernacle brings in guest pastors weekely; to my knowledge, there is no head pastor, but rather a Board of Trustees who selects known ministers from around the country to come and preach...and yes, generally, they are very good, providing a solid Biblical message. Rarely do I walk away without a few good points to ponder. The music is a blend of hymns (2, this week) and contemporary...this past week, there were two- count 'em, two- praise bands who were likewise visiting. The music- both familiar P&W and originals- were also great, upbeat.
That's for the adults; for the kids, great programs abound. The nursery is very cool...built like an ark- and security is good, and buzzer pagers are provided if a child's parents need to leave the service. Programs for the older kids, provided through 7th grade, made my son exclaim "that was a great class" as he held up his prize, a big kit kat. Also, VBS is provided through the summer, often during the first week of July.
Coffee and pastry after the service is always welcome!
The new youth center built two or three years ago is also a youth conference center, available for churches to rent and utilize throughout the year. It apparently gets used well, at they have started using it to host movies Saturday nights at 10:30 to give kids somewhere to go.
Finally, the property is used on Wednesdays for crafts and a farmer's market.
The anchor out front is symbolic in many ways, but the way this organization dynamically anchors OC and provides for the community is impressive. Not to take anything away from other local churches who operate year round, but the tabernacle definitely fills a niche for the weekly renters...a welcoming place to come and be fed, a home while away from home.