Steele United to offer community worship
Several area churches are coming together to stand united in what is being called the first of its kind, “Steele United Worship for Jesus.”
The service will take place Sunday at Central Park in Owatonna. There will be children’s activities and food vendors from 4-6 p.m. followed by worship and prayer from 6-8 p.m. A resource tent with Bibles and other beginner religious materials will be available. Spanish-speaking assistance will be offered.
Worship will be mostly contemporary Christian music with prayers intertwined between songs, according to Naomi Jirele, one of the organizers and lay pastors at Owatonna Christian Church. The service will be based on Psalm 34, she said.
Jirele stressed that no churches will be promoted during the worship. “We are very careful not to promote church. We’re promoting Jesus,” she said.
The three main churches involved in the formation of this unique worship experience are OCC, Sound Church and Cornerstone, all in Owatonna. Other area churches are also joining in to support the event.
Kaisha Troe of OCC is leading the praise team band made up of musicians from various churches. The band will feature bass drums, keyboard and acoustic guitars. “It will be all upbeat,” Jirele said.
“We have battled in the past that people have been hurt in church,” said Jirele. “We want people to know that we are here to serve you, love you and support your growth in Christ.”
Acknowledging that many people struggle with knowing exactly who or what to trust in these troubling times, Jirele finds the answer simple. “Let’s just lift up Jesus’ name. He is the only way with no strings attached,” she said, adding that Jesus is the only one who can provide peace.
Jirele said the idea for this worship event came out of one of her small prayer groups over the past four years. “We’ve been praying about this and want to show the love of Christ together,” she said. “God has set aside time for us to show how the community can be a safe place.”
She said there have been some other prayer services in parks around Owatonna over the years but nothing to this magnitude.
“We believe God wants us to worship and pray in a public square,” said Jirele. “It will be a great atmosphere.”