Katie Dolac
Published: May 10, 2008

Pastor of Iglesia de Dios Canaán Charles Ramos believes the biennial worship service at Hylton Memorial Chapel May 18 will be, in every sense, a "Taste of Heaven."

"[We will] experience what heaven is like, when all the nations are before the throne of the Lord," Ramos said. "[People will] meet brothers and sisters they didn't know."

Eastern Prince William Ministerial Association, an organization of pastors and ministers, organizes a large-scale, non-denominational worship service called "Taste of Heaven," every two years since its original meeting in 1996.

More than 50 churches countywide are expected to attend the service, which has attracted more than 2,000 participants in the past.

Senior Pastor of Bethel United Methodist Church Frederick Parish was in attendance at the inau-gural event more than 10 years ago.

"It was the most emotional and spiritual experience of my life," he said, retelling the story of a pastor who showed a large wooden cross and told the congregation, "This is the family tree that I brought."

"We didn't know anyone would show up at all," Parish said. "And we filled the place. We celebrated our faith in a beautiful way."

Members of the EPWMA said the visual effect of having churchgoers of all ages, creeds, ethnici-ties and income-levels worshiping together under one roof in Woodbridge would enforce the idea of family and unification, that there is no division in heaven.

"It's what we'll experience when we go to heaven," one EPWMA mem-ber said.

They said the event bears special significance given the county's ongoing illegal immigra-tion debate.

"Both sides are screaming at each other," Parish said. "We're trying to be different."

"You're my brother, I don't care what language you speak," said Rob Hrabak, EPWMA secretary.

The event usually occurs Sunday at the 11 a.m. hour, for the symbolic reason of unifying what the EPWMA said was the "nation's most segregated time," because of all the differing worship services that usually happen at that time.

However, this year the service is scheduled for 4 p.m., to accommodate the later crowds and smaller churches that might not be able to shut down an 11 a.m. service for financial reasons.

Also, there will be a Spanish-language interpreter and the nursery will be closed during the ser-vice, to reinforce the spirit of unity.

Katie Dolac can be reached at 703-878-8075 or .

WANT TO GO?

What's up: Taste of Heaven 2008, a non-denominational worship service

When: May 18, 4 to 6 p.m., doors open at 3 p.m.

Where: Hylton Memorial Chapel, 14640 Potomac Mills Circle, Woodbridge

Call: 703-590-0076