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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Thunderstorm wreaks havoc across Rogue Valley ... Medford attempted-murder trial hinges on IDs and DNA ... Inn at the Commons faces 'killer' parking crunch ... Thunderstorm wreaks havoc across Rogue Valley ... Medford attempted-murder trial hinges on IDs and DNA ... Inn at the Commons faces 'killer' parking crunch ... A New Song Historic Medford churches must adapt to changing times Comment By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Posted Nov. 30, 2014 at 2:00 AM Updated Nov 30, 2014 at 4:00 PM By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Posted Nov. 30, 2014 at 2:00 AM Updated Nov 30, 2014 at 4:00 PM » Social News The Rev. Murray Richmond knows he has a problem attracting young people to the First Presbyterian Church in downtown Medford. "A traditional worship service seems so weird to them," he says. "Who listens to organ music anymore? Who listens to a guy just standing up and talking?" In an era when the church-going population is graying in America and a minority of people regularly attend church, First Presbyterian added two dozen members last year, pushing its congregation total to almost 200 people. Despite the uptick, numbers are down from historic highs of 400 people in the 1960s and 1970s, Richmond says. Four blocks away, Sacred Heart Catholic Church is having the opposite problem. The 450-seat church is bursting at the seams with 2,400 households as a growing Latino population swells its ranks. The church is essentially made up of two congregations — one that speaks English and one that speaks Spanish, says the Rev. Ken Sampson. "In the English community, the average age is higher. There's a lot of gray out there," Sampson says. "In the Hispanic community, there are young families. We do about six out of seven funerals in English. But about 19 out of 20 baptisms are in Spanish. That tells you who's having children and where the future is." Congregations that worship in historic buildings in downtown Medford are coping with changing demographics, maintenance costs for stately but aging structures and the challenges that come with being surrounded by homeless people, the mentally ill and low-income workers living paycheck-to-paycheck. Most churches are embracing the chance to serve people in need. Congregation members are energized by the opportunity to volunteer and make a difference, church leaders and members report. "I have yet to hear anyone say, 'Why are we spending time with those people?' We've chosen to stay as a downtown church," Richmond says. "We want to have an impact in this neighborhood. It's our duty as Christians to help people who need help." Every Wednesday, men, women and children line up with anticipation outside the 1927 First Presbyterian Church on the corner of Holly and Eighth streets. When the doors open, they flood in, each taking a number and waiting to push shopping carts past tables loaded with boxed and canned food, produce and bread. The weekly food pantry even has a section of cheerful flower bouquets donated by Trader Joe's grocery store. Richmond recalls one woman's reaction to the flowers. "She started tearing up," he says. "She says, 'No one's ever given me flowers before.'" Richmond says the congregation wants people to feel they are regular customers shopping at a grocery store. "It's hard for people to say they need help. If they work a minimum-wage job, they can't feed their family and also pay rent. A lot of people work but they can't live on what they're making. Most are not homeless," he says. Richmond says young people disillusioned with organized religion often don't know about the compassionate work of congregations. "Young people are staying away in droves. In mainline denominations, the church is graying. We have to find a way to offer something to young people," he says. "If you ask young people between 16 and 25 their primary impression of churches, their No. 1 answer is, 'Homophobic.'" Richmond says First Presbyterian Church is reaching out with a message of caring — and has added services to appeal to a broader cross-section of people. The church has a traditional service in its sanctuary with its organ, full choir and stained-glass windows. It also has an informal service in its fellowship hall, where people can sit and drink coffee while talking to the pastor. The church has a preschool and child care center and offers a Bible study class at the Rogue Valley Manor retirement community. It opens its buildings for a variety of uses, including weight management support groups, the Rogue Valley Symphony and English language and naturalization classes. Richmond says the church has to attract teens, young adults and families by forming real connections with them, not by using gimmicks. "Kids are smart. They pick up on the message, 'We want you here so we don't die.' They don't want to be the insurance policy," he says. While downtown Protestant congregations in historic buildings are struggling to grow, the 1928 Sacred Heart Catholic Church on the corner of Oakdale Avenue and 10th Street is adding worship services to keep up with its burgeoning population. Sampson, one of three priests at the church and the only one born in America, says Sacred Heart has eight Mass services running from Saturday night through Sunday. It will soon add a ninth. "It doesn't ever stop. We're so tightly packed we have 15 minutes to clear the parking lot before the next group comes in," he says. While many religious leaders radiate a sense of calm, Sampson has the air of a doctor triaging patients in an understaffed emergency room. As he helps a person struggling with drug addiction and a death in the family, another priest races out the door to minister to a patient at a hospital. Sacred Heart offers a homeless shelter, hot meals and groceries, school supplies, dental care, medical screening, utility bill and rent assistance and more through St. Vincent de Paul across town on Highway 99, but people still drop by the downtown church building for help. Its proximity to the Jackson County Jail, downtown social services agencies and drug treatment facilities means there's no shortage of people in crisis, Sampson says. Because of increased crime in the neighborhood, the cathedral-like church is now kept locked when not in use. People can still pray in a small 24-hour chapel. Sampson says the English-Spanish language divide in the congregation poses challenges. "We really have two faith congregations sharing the same building. We essentially have to double everything," he says. "For example, we have two teams for religious education, marriage preparation and funeral preparation." Cultural and socioeconomic differences are common. The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is significant to the Latino congregants, but not for the Anglo members, Sampson says. He has to hone different messages to relate to the different experiences of the congregants. Many of the Latino congregants are working seven days a week at two or three part-time jobs, he says. Family members of two congregants were kidnapped in Mexico, which is being ravaged by drug cartels. The kidnappers demanded $20,000 for the release of one of the family members, Sampson says. "It happens with more regularity than people from America realize," he says. Sampson says the Catholic Church historically has welcomed new immigrants, from the Irish fleeing the potato famine in the 1800s to Mexicans and others coming today. "The church is still a landing spot for immigrants. It's an important role for us to play," he says. For the first time in Sacred Heart's history, a recently completed church census shows Latinos now make up a slight majority of the congregation. Sampson sees no end in sight to Sacred Heart's growth. "It's a nice problem to have," he says. At St. Mark's Episcopal Church on the corner of Oakdale Avenue and Fifth Street, members are facing the graying of their congregation. "Our biggest concern is we're all getting older," says member Barbara Holley. But she says it might be time for the church to embrace changing demographics and do more to welcome baby boomers in their 50s. With their children grown up and retirement on the horizon, those younger boomers have more time to spend enjoying church activities. "Maybe looking for families with kids isn't where we should focus. The 50-year-olds could be our youngsters," Holley says. Built 75 years ago, the historic church is home to groups focused on books, quilting, knitting, walking, hand bell music, Bible study and more. Congregants run a weekly food pantry and help prevent child abuse and neglect through the Family Nurturing Center across the street. They also tend a neighborhood garden. "I come to the church every single day except Fridays," Holley says. "I love doing it. They're like family here. They say you can't pick your family — but you can pick your church." A lifelong Episcopalian, Holley says it's important to her to attend services in a historic church building. The congregation considered relocating to a more affluent neighborhood in east Medford, but decided against it. "I love the fact that this church is in a neighborhood that is not the best neighborhood," she says. "We feel we're situated here for a reason — to help people." Staff reporter Vickie Aldous can be reached at 541-776-4486 or [email protected].     By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Posted Nov. 30, 2014 at 2:00 AM Updated Nov 30, 2014 at 4:00 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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