MARK CANADY, a retired pastor who helped found Pacific Coast Bible Church, was one of four current or former pastors that prayed over Pacific City’s dory fleet during the Pacific City Dorymen’s Association’s Blessing of the Fleet on June 6.

Photo by Tim Hirsch

Crowd braves weather for annual Blessing
of the Fleet ceremony at Cape Kiwanda

By TIM HIRSCH

of the Sun

With singing voices echoing the chorus, prayers of blessing being lifted up high and remembrances of those lost this past year — as well as historically important dorymen of years gone by, the community of Pacific City celebrated its fishing community on June 6 during the annual Blessing of the Fleet, held on the beach at Cape Kiwanda.

More than a hundred well wishers gathered — and many dories lined the beach — for the Blessing despite threatening skies. Festivities began with Boy Scout Troop 170 raising the colors and Erin Farstead playing a medley of worship hymns on the violin.

Officiated by Pacific City Dorymen’s Association Co-Chairs Ray Monroe and Randy Haltiner, the PCDA event also featured the music of Bret Lucich, who played the National Anthem, and, later, Taps.

“Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to the 26th year of the Pacific City Blessing of the Fleet,” Monroe addressed the crowd in his opening remarks. “I really, really appreciate you all showing up today.”

He then painted the essense of dory fishing with words.

“Picture it,” he said. “The first light of dawn spilling across the water, the smell of salt in the air, the hum of engines waiting to roar to life.”

Monroe went on to describe the risk and rewards offered those fishing these waters.

“Out there, beyond the waves, lies both  promise and peril,” he said. “(There’s) fish to be caught, storms to be weathered, and the deep, unbroken horizon that is called the generations before us.”

He also pointed to the longtime tradition of fishing the waters of this nation.

“Today, we’re gathering for the Blessing of the Fleet. We do more than honor our boats and crews. We honor a tradition as old as the nation itself — 250 years of courage, hard work, and faith in the face of the unknown,” he explained. “When the United States was born in 1776, fishing fleets were already the lifeblood of the coastal communities — just like ours was and always has been. Our forebearers braved the same season we face today, though with far fewer tools and far greater risks. They fished not only to feed their families, but to feed the young nation, finding its place in the world. 

“Over the centuries, our fleets have been more than just working vessels. They have been symbols of resilience. Through wars, economic hardships, and changing tides — both literal and political — our fishing communities have endured. And, here we stand, in the 250th year of our country, still answering the call of the sea. 

“So today, we are asking for a blessing, for the safety of every captain and crew member, who will set out from this beach, for calm seas when possible, and steady hands when they are not. For bountiful catches to sustain both body and spirit. For the wisdom to fish responsibly, so that these waters may provide for generations yet to come. May the salt spray on your face remind you of the freedom we cherish. May the wind at your back carry you home swiftly, and may every voyage begin and end with gratitude, for the sea, for the work, and for one another.”

Monroe then yielded the stage to a combination of current and retired pastors.

First up was Charles Winesburgh, pastor of Cloverdale Baptist Church.

“You need God’s blessing,” he said. “You need to know that when you get out on that ocean, and you’re in trouble, you got someone to call on who’s going be right there immediately. We’ve talked a lot about the emergency people and the service people, and we like them. We need them. But we need Him, too.”

Next up was Jonathan Whittles, pastor of Blaine Community Church. His message was one of humility in the face of danger. He referenced the story of the Apostle Paul, who experienced a great shipwreck as described in the Bible, Acts 27.

“With all of our boat preparation, with all of our weather watching, with all of our experience, with all of our gear prep and safety prep, the ocean is still a dangerous, uncontrollable, and unpredictable place, and you all know that,” he said. “The first danger we talk about is the ocean, and you just being here understand there’s two humilities going on here. The first humility is recognizing that you aren’t as powerful as that ocean. And that ocean can take you under at any minute should things go wrong. The second humility is to be here at a blessing of the fleet, which calls upon someone greater than us and someone greater than that ocean to keep us safe. We gather here because we need protections from the creator of such a dangerous ocean.”

He also urged the audience to consider there is another danger — to die in our sins without the forgiveness offered by accepting Jesus’ free gift of salvation.

“The danger is bigger than you, and the solution is bigger than you,” he explained. “The message of Christ is the danger of your sins is bigger than you. And God, through his son, is also bigger than your sins.”

Founding pastor of Pacific Coast Bible Church Mark Canady then returned for the first time in many years. PCBC is currently in between pastors as his successor Dan Mason, who served the congregation for nearly 15 years, earlier this year took a position as assistant director of Village Missions.

Canady began with a walk down memory lane to just how the Blessing of the Fleet began.

“(I remember) when Paul Hanneman and Craig Renrick and Terry Learned walked into Pacific Coast Bible Church,” he said. “(Their question was) ‘What would you think about doing a blessing of the fleet?’ And I thought, what a dandy idea.”

Canady, who is now retired from Village Missions, reminded everyone that pastors don’t just pray for the fleet on this one day — but all year round.

“I hope you know that from us as pastors in the area, that we do pray for you, and we do care for you, we want you to get in there, and we want you to get out. We also know that the Lord is in charge.

“God’s word says that God is a creator; Psalm 95 says: ‘The sea is his, for it was he who made it; his hand formed the dry land. Come let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.’”

“He’s almighty; we’re not. So we trust in him,” Canady added. “(My) advice for you is don’t fear the sea — respect it. Fear God and trust in his only son, Jesus Christ, who can not only calm the sea, but also can calm the storms of our lives.”

Wrapping up the words of blessing was Ken Hood, pastor of Nestucca Valley Presbyterian Church.

“I can’t add anything to the fantastic words that these pastors have offered to you so here is this benediction:

“May the Lord bless and keep you. May the Lord’s face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. And may the Lord’s countenance be upon you and bring you peace, the peace that passes all understanding this day and all the days to come.”

The service concluded with a ringing of bells of ceremony in memory of those that passed over the last year as well as those on the PCDA Memorial Wall.

For more information about Pacific City’s dory fleet and those working hard to preserve the tradition, visit pcdorymen.com.