After months of organization and planning, and four preview services, Reach Church is set to launch weekly services at the Performing Arts Center at Lake Washington High School beginning at 9 a.m. Jan. 13.

“This day is something my wife and I have been dreaming and praying about for years,” said pastor Brian McCormack of the program’s launch. “For it to be coming to pass with such quality people in a city we love is an overwhelming feeling.”

What was originally scheduled as a 10 a.m. service has been altered slightly, thanks to recent events in Seattle sports. As most of the Seattle area now knows, the Seattle Seahawks won their first road playoff game since 1983 last Sunday against the Washington Redskins, a feat that brought great excitement to the region.

With the win, the Seahawks advanced to face the Atlanta Falcons, with kickoff scheduled for 10 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 13, the exact same time as Reach has been promoting its launch of weekly services. With the city alive in Seahawks fever, the leadership at Reach Church faced an interesting challenge.

For McCormack, the decision was simple: call an audible. “It’s truly incredible how sports can bring a very diverse city together,” he said. “We have been given yet another significant opportunity to invite people into our new community. I feel great about this.”

The first weekly gathering of Reach Church will commence at 9 a.m. in the Performing Arts Center at Lake Washington High School. At 10 a.m., a 30-foot HD screen, courtesy of Lake Washington High School, will drop down from the ceiling and Reach Church will host a Seahawks Viewing party, also at Lake Washington High School, with a two-fold purpose: to celebrate a monumental day for the church, and to enjoy the game with family, friends, neighbors, and visitors.

“Jan. 13 has been the big day we have been preparing for since last summer,” said McCormack. “When it became clear that the most anticipated sporting event in recent memory for Seattlites would be on the same day and time, we knew we could not ignore what was happening. We decided to treat it as a great opportunity to build new relationships with our community, which it is. We are big Seahawk fans, so it was not a tough sell.”

McCormack is also quick to praise the support and generosity of Lake Washington High School, which is no stranger to providing a home for churches on the Eastside.

“Being at Lake Washington High School is a dream scenario for us,” said McCormack, when asked about the church’s new home. “There is a long tradition of local churches meeting there, which we are humbled to continue.  The staff and administration has been so gracious and helpful. We hope to be the most reliable volunteers (and biggest Kang fans) the school has, rather than just renting space on Sundays and being invisible the other six days of the week.”

For more information about Reach Church and Launch Sunday, go to www.ReachChurch.cc.