Bay Center United Methodist Church

Bay Center UMC has a distinguished history in the Willapa Harbor area.  Early Methodist worship was established at Bay Center in the 1870's, leading to the opening of a church on the Willapa Bay Peninsula in the 1880's.  We now worship in a new sanctuary with an attached fellowship hall. 

Music is an important part of worship, with an electric organ and an upright piano to gift all with beautiful duets of familiar hymns.  Local residents and devoted supporters of the mission outreach of the church are regular attendees, and campers and visitors often join us for Sunday worship in the summer months. 

Community service includes an annual scholarship award opportunity for Bay Center students pursuing college or other post high school education. A recent donation of $5,000.00 to this fund strengthened the congregation's opportunity to provide this support to Bay Center students. 

Bay Center UMC worship interweaves prayer, scripture, and interactive homilies with music to bring the Word of God alive in today's world. We share our joys and concerns and pray together for healing, strength and wholeness for our neighbors and ourselves. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, this vibrant worship community touches the lives of many in Willapa Harbor. All are welcome!

Birth of a Scholarship Program:

The Bay Center Star Night Mission

In the early 1990's, church member Kim Barnett introduced the idea of reaching out to our young people. We began an initiative to provide homework help for Junior and High School students. When Kim moved away, Beverly Olsen ran with the idea with receptive kids, a ream of paper and a box of pencils. The Pastor at the time, Monty Smith, named this new program Star Night. Before long, all of Bay Center's kids wanted in! Times for 60+ students in K-12 were set. Rosemarie Tischauser's little stars met after school for K-6. Beverly and Jan Wilson met academic needs during evenings for 7-12. Many folks in and out of the church participated for 15 years. Classes met twice in the afternoon and twice in the evening each week.

In the beginning, the program existed on donations. Kim Barnett approached us after a few years with an opportunity to receive funding through the Adam Richter Foundation. Although we no longer meet for classes, the Foundation's support has allowed us to offer Scholarships to all Bay Center children that complete High School and continue their education. The support continues for each child throughout their education as long as they maintain a C or better average.               

GOD IS GOOD!