Imagine walking along a road, or sidewalk, or path in the middle of your harried day.  You come upon an area of lush and growing plants and trees, offering cool shade, the sounds of a gentle stream, deep hues, and an inviting bench that beckons you to come and refresh yourself for awhile.  It's a soothing image that evokes feelings of rest and renewal, rejuvination and serenity.

Human beings have long experienced a sense of sacred presence in such wayside places.  As a community of faith we find the image of a SACRED GROVE seems to capture our sense of ministry and gifts.  We seek to be a community of faith that:

• Offers common ground of belief and values, with deep roots of tradition., that also offers a space of rejuvenation and reflection, where one can find grounding and renewed identity as a Child of God in the midst of life’s journey.  We think of ourselves as offering a homestead in the midst of life's many transitions.  Many friends and members think of our church as a place to "come home to" after many years.  For new residents in the community, we offer a sacred space, companionship and faith traditions that can help to create a sense of "home" in this new place.

• Seeks to make a place - like a city or national park,  for all people to find a place, and a sense of belonging. No matter the differences in gender, orientation, economic status, talents and abilities, race or ethnicity, we try our best to help you to feel like you have a place with us, if you want it.  We have ministries of care and compassion that can be resources for you to the community and to connect with others in order to find companions of faith.  Having fun and fellowship together is part of our essential self-care.  As a "Sacred Grove" community, we may just be able to offer a sense of belonging for a short time, a respite for those passing through.  Whatever your situation in life may be, we welcome you for however long or short you can be with us.  We nurture belonging moments as well as longer-term membership.

• Offers an oasis of becoming through learning and growth. In our Southwest desert environment, we don't have as many groves with lush trees and thick foliage.  We do have oases and washes were moisture collects and feeding the growth of shade trees.  An oasis is where gifts and purposes can be discerned and life can be refreshed and renewed.  We are able to have the landscape of our life changed from a desert wilderness to a land that offers sustenance for plants and animals. Through a community of learning and growth, we can become more nearly the people God calls us to be.

• Works together in service in order to bear fruit in our neighborhoods and in our world.  The history of the southern part of the Phoenix area is primarily agricultural.  In decades gone by, our neighborhoods were covered with old orange groves and flower gardens.  The shade of South Mountain and the water of the Salt River offered fertile soil for ranching and farming.  Now - the orchards, groves and gardens are largely gone, but we maintain a spirit of working and serving together to bear fruit in our diverse neighborhoods.  We have multiple covenant partners of faith sharing our building, and seek to build bridges of service and understanding in our community.

This is how we define our "Sacred Grove" - a homestead, a park, an oasis, and an orchard - it is a concept that continues to be under development, growing slowly and steadily in our midst.