Living Faith Presbyterian Church, formerly First Presbyterian Church of Renton, welcomed back current and former members, staff and pastors for the closing of the church that’s been in Renton for almost 127 years.

The Presbytery of Seattle held the official closing worship service Sunday afternoon at the church, located just off Benson Road south.

Before the closing service began, members and attendees mingled in the fellowship hall, catching up and talking about what lies ahead.

Ken Finley, a retired pastor, who once served the church, said he felt mixed about the closing.

“I’m a little mixed about it, but you know the church is more than just a location and a building,” he said. “So in that light, it just kind of opens up doors for new adventures for people, who are part of this congregation.”

Rev. Amy Delaney, of Edmonds Presbyterian Church, also attended the event. She served at Living Faith from 1998 to the late 2000s. At that time the church was in transition, members having to make critical decisions about staffing because of funding. The church was not shutting down at that point, but going from staffing a pastor part time to full time.

At one time the church was one of the largest Presbyterian congregations in the greater Seattle area. About 25 years ago, a split in ideology over the inclusion of women and gays in the ministry caused the congregation to fracture. About 400 of the 450 members left and started another church down the road.

“I think it’s sad that it’s closing, but I think it’s also very healthy,” said Delaney. Churches are like almost any other organism and there comes a time when you say,’Well, maybe its purpose i done.’ And it’s time for something new to spring up in its place. And that’s really what I see happening here.”

The striking of a church bell from one of Living Faith’s previous locations, signaled the start of the final service.

“Today in June it’s a little bittersweet, but filled with possibility,” Barry Zirko said in his welcome to the congregation. “I choose to see this as a day of graduation.”

The church went about their service, even conducting a final communion together. Members approached the pulpit, some tearful, and received their bread and wine for the ceremony from church staff.

The church has been involved in many activities over the years in Renton, and will leave a legacy with one of the congregation’s more recent mission efforts. The members set a goal last year of raising $15,000 for an orphanage in Tanzania and raised about $16,500 thanks to the help of church and community members, reported Sue Zirko, a member.

The building for the orphanage is nearly complete and people will start moving in, in the next couple of months. Members are still in process of raising funds for scholarships and there is talk of moving support for the mission to new congregations.

Rev. Kevin Nollette, of the Presbytery of Seattle, gave the final sermon. He recognized that there were probably questions among the audience members about what lies ahead for them. Nollette asked those in attendance to look forward and have the power of vision to look for the possibilities.

Finally the congregation sang the hymn that’s been sung since the early days of the church and at all of the anniversaries: “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.”

The churchgoers then filed out of the church, some looking over their shoulders at the sanctuary, and formed a circle outside of the main entry. A final prayer was spoken and people embraced one another.

A young boy circulated the crowd, offering tissues to those who were weeping.

“(It’s) very sad, but it’s a beautiful day” said Helen Willoughby, church elder. “There’s a bright tomorrow. It’s still not real. Next Sunday is when it will hit that it is real.”