This week is going to be remembered as a busy one by the folks over at Westside Community Church. Last Sunday they dedicated a small 'prayer garden' and this coming Weekend they will be hosting a free concert and tailgate barbecue that they are inviting the public to attend.

On Sunday October 18th Pastor Ray Spann did something a little different with his congregation - he led them outside. The main purpose of the outdoor field trip was not just to enjoy the beautiful morning sunshine, (a welcome repose after last week's heavy rainstorm), but rather to dedicate a small 'prayer garden' and honor Jan Collins, the late wife of Westside's former pastor, Brad Collins - a man still much loved by the WCC congregation.

Planted with new shrubbery and flowers, the prayer garden sits on the north side of the church under a large tree. A small fountain trickles water from the mouth of a little bird in this mini-oasis. Members of the Collins family (some of whom came in from Clovis) sat with the former pastor on the centerpiece of the garden, an old-fashioned wood and cast iron park-style bench that sports a cast brass plaque which reads "Jan Collins We Will Never Forget You".

The touching dedication included a speech from Pastor Spann, songs performed by the music ministry team, and an opportunity for members of the church to publicly reminisce and share testimonies about Jan Collins. The former pastor also spoke, thanking the congregation for what they had done and sharing a story about how he had met the future Mrs. Collins and how he won her heart so many years before.

After the dedication the congregation moved back inside and listened to a message before attending a pot-luck luncheon in honor of former Pastor Collins and his family. As an interesting side-note, though he no longer conducts weekly WCC services, pastor Collins is still active in spreading the word of God. A former serviceman from World War Two, he is now the Chaplain of a veterans organization devoted to his former unit. The pastor has, in the past, spoken before the Westside Church congregation relating stories of how his unit had given certain Nazi generals their last airplane ride as the members of the German high-command were taken to trial.

Westside Community Church activities continue this coming Sunday, October 25th as the church is inviting the public to attend a free concert and "B.Y.O. Bar-B-Que". The concert will feature a group known as "Wishes Were Fishes". The outdoor concert begins at 6PM and members of the public are welcome to attend. There will be an area to set up lawn chairs and it is expected that before the concert actually begins there will be a fair number people enjoying tailgate barbecues.

The free concert and tailgate party will be held in / near the parking lot behind the church at 614 North Mercey Springs. For more information you may call Westside Community Church at 209-826-5314.

If everyone in Los Banos would just take 1 or 2 hours a month to do something to help their neighborhood or their community we could truly make Los Banos the gem of the valley.

The above is only my personal opinion and I strongly encourage readers to seek out more information from expert sources. Copyright 2009