Members of Dalewood Baptist Church and Awaken Church, along with guests, visit the food line during an event at Dalewood on Oct. 22. — Photos by April Dawson
The parking lot at Dalewood Baptist Church, Nashville, had the feel of a football-tailgating gathering on the evening of Oct. 22.
In an event that was dubbed “Fall’owship” by Dalewood’s transitional interim pastor Mike Dawson, the night featured a joint gathering of two congregations: Dalewood Baptist and Awaken Church.
The two churches have formed a connection in recent weeks after Awaken — a church plant — began holding its weekly worship services on the Dalewood campus.
The “Fall’owship” featured live worship music, cornhole, food and other activities for the members (and guests) from the two churches.
Dawson
“This event was an opportunity for our congregation and theirs to meet for the first time,” said Dawson. “Both churches had a delightful time listening to the live music, eating, getting acquainted, and tossing cornhole.”
Dawson — who served as senior pastor at Dalewood from 1972-78, and has now, 50 years later, returned to the church in the role of transitional interim pastor — said the “Fall”owship provided the opportunity for new friendships to be formed. The night also demonstrated teammwork among the two churches.
“Dalewood furnished the barbecue and Awaken brought drinks and dessert,” Dawson said.
Music was provided by a band called “Tres RAs” — a three-man group comprised of lifelong friends who named their band as a reference to the strong bond they built during their time with RAs (Royal Ambassadors) while growing up in Alabama. They performed a handful of worship songs, along with some Halloween-themed songs, including Monster Mash.
The worship team from Awaken Church also performed during the event, singing several well-known hymns.
McKenna Moore, of Dalewood Baptist Church, and Dylan Martin, of Awaken Church, play a game of cornhole at the ‘Fall’owship event on the Dalewood campus.
The night included an unexpected — but well-received — twist when a bagpipe player, who just happened to be walking past the church, stopped by and performed a song on his bagpipes for the crowd.
“Even though it was not an outreach event as such, several people in the community heard the music and stopped by the parking lot,” said Dawson. “We engaged them in conversation, and some showed a real interest in becoming involved in our ministries. We were especially thankful that the Lord turned our ‘fall’owship into an outreach event!”
Dalewood Baptist is perhaps best known in the Nashville area for hosting an annual production of the “Singing Christmas Tree” for roughy 30 years, beginning in the 1970s.
The “Fall”owship at Dalewood was just one of the hundreds of Fall festivals held throughout the state. For more on how Baptist churches handle Halloween, click HERE.
