Chapel in the Pines welcomes all

The sign above the door in Camp Sherman says "Chapel in the Pines, Church Service 10:00, Everyone Welcome."

Words one might imagine would be on the little brown church in the vale. Everyone Welcome. All denominations. The epitome of the small town church in a community that has retained its charm for the past 100 years.

Occasionally, passing horses and their owners sidle up to the deck rail to listen to the sermon whose sounds are carried outside by the one modern accouterment, the speaker system. Dogs have been known to rest their heads on the stair and appear to be listening as intently as their owners.

Services begin with the announcement of birthdays - with the birthday honoree ringing the bell - followed by rowdy applause. Only in recent years has the bell sat on the roof as it does today. In the early days it sat in a frame on the ground beside the church.

The chapel has eight rotating ministers. Nervous parishioners cheer and yell out "the preacher's here" when the seldom-late minister of the day arrives. His father later announces he's glad his son showed up. He was afraid he might have to ad-lib a sermon.

Voices sing out, connecting with the soul of God. Not always on key, but hearts full of song. We can imagine our grandparents there singing hymns, many of which have been sung in those very pews for 50-plus years.

Indeed, most of the regulars are grandparents. We hear their stories early in the service as they ask for prayers for an absent husband or wife or son or daughter experiencing some trauma in their lives, physical or spiritual. Community comes together thinking of those needing help in prayer. The microphone is passed from member to member as people discuss the condition of those for whom the congregation has been praying.

A young voice speaks up asking for prayer for their new ministry in far off lands. Stories are shared about the work that has already been done there, and the service continues on.

Bruce Shaull makes the announcements and leads the early morning songs and birthday requests.

Lyle Miller greets people as they arrive, handing out nametags to the regulars. His wife, Bethanne, thought of the tags as a way to help people feel more comfortable when socializing before and after the service. Miller leads the prayer after all the prayer requests are announced. He repeats the requests, name by name, need by need. A list sometimes 10 or 20 requests long, and he never misses a beat as he prays for each one in turn.

Ed Beacham, for 17 years the only minister at Chapel in the Pines, and still one of the rotating pastors, remembers when people came in with their fishing poles and waders.

"Back in the covered wagon days, farmers from Sherman County came here to hunt. That's how it came to be named Camp Sherman," he says.

"Shevlin-Hixon Lumber Company donated the building in 1956. It was a railroad boxcar. There was no deck on the front in those days. The church was used for both Catholic and Protestant services. Later the Catholic service moved to Sisters."

Beacham, who also owns Beacham's Clock Company, recalled the day Chaplain Buck Buckingham came to his store.

"He walked into the clock shop with his hog leg and his cowboy hat, pointed his finger and asked me to take over as minister in Camp Sherman," Ed recalls.

Buckingham later traveled cross-country as chaplain on the Bicentennial Wagon Train.

"A lot of baptisms and weddings are held at the church," Beacham says. "What's special about Chapel in the Pines is that people love and take care of each other. The size of the place has a lot to do with it. Most get here early and stay late to visit. Even an hour later when you drive by there will still be people visiting on the deck."

As the sign says, "Everyone Welcome."