Visiting Us and FAQs

Glad you asked! We’re a reconciling congregation of the United Methodist Church - that means we celebrate participation and leadership by all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, in our church. We’re Methodists, which means we trace our heritage back to John Wesley, a priest in the Church of England in the 1700s. God’s grace - mercy, love, and forgiveness - is at the center of our theology. We use scripture, experience, reason, and tradition to figure out what God desires for and from us today.

We consider ourselves to be on the more progressive end of the Methodist spectrum. We don’t all believe one way about anything, but in general we believe:

• God loves, cares for, and desires goodness and wholeness for all people

• God calls us into care for one another and the world

• humans have often failed to live up to that call, and often need to be reminded of what God wants from and for us

• God loves humankind so deeply that God came to live amongst us in the person of Jesus, who showed us that no force or power, earthly or otherwise, can overcome love

• we are God’s hands and feet on earth, the bodies through whom God gives hope, healing, comfort, freedom, compassion, kindness, and love - so we have a responsibility to care for all creation and its inhabitants.

While our theology tends to be more progressive, our weekly worship service is fairly traditional in style. Our hymns are accompanied by organ and/or piano, and we use the United Methodist Hymnal and additions. We say some prayers in unison and some prayers are said by the Pastor or a lay leader. There is always a time for the children, and each week there is at least one scripture read, usually from the Revised Common Lectionary. Pastor Jamie preaches on most Sundays, but depending on when you visit, you may hear a student, lay speaker, visiting clergy, or one of our community partners speak. We almost always have a time when the congregation may share prayer requests of joy and concern.

Nope! (though we do ask that you wear clothing of some kind!)

You are welcome just as you are. You’ll find that some in our church dress “up” (think: dresses and button-down shirts), and others dress “down” (think: jeans and t-shirts). We know it’s hard enough to get yourself to church in the morning - we don’t want you to stress about what you’re wearing!

Yes! We typically celebrate the Eucharist (communion) on the first Sunday of the month.

We practice an open table in the United Methodist Church. That means that you don’t have to be a member of our church - or any church - to participate. It’s God’s table, it doesn’t belong to us. This meal is God’s gift of grace, and God invites you.

We usually take communion by intinction. This means someone will hand you a piece of bread, you dip it in the cup of juice, and then you eat it. If you’re not feeling ready to take communion, no pressure! It’s ok to remain seated.

Whenever possible, we use bread that is gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, egg-free, and nut-free. We always use non-alcoholic grape juice, so that no one is left out.

You’re in the right place! You don’t have to be certain about your beliefs to join us. Come visit us - we’ll walk that journey together.

On first and third Sundays, our Sunday School meets. After the children’s message, kids are welcome to head downstairs with a trained, background-checked adult for a time of learning and fun. They come back upstairs at the end of service when we are celebrating communion; otherwise we will join them downstairs after worship.

In 2025 a community of unhoused folks began taking shelter on our portico. With a roof overhead and a gate surrounding, it was one of the safest places folks could find to sleep. We gathered with the growing community to hear about their needs. We established some boundaries and rules, and talked about how we could share space together.

When it seemed their needs outpaced our capacity, we leaned on the staff of many of our partners in the city who work full-time on housing and homelessness. We asked for best practices, and for advice on getting folks into shelters and warming centers for the cold weather months. They shocked us when they said that even when all the shelters and warming centers are at capacity, there would still be 450 people without a bed indoors. We knew then that displacing folks from the porch would mean they would be heading for other less safe, colder, outdoor spaces.

So we began an experiment to see if we could create a mutually accountable community, a safe(r!) place where folks could have some stability and security while they wait for housing, navigate roadblocks, or just get some rest from the relentless challenges of homelessness. We meet weekly to discuss community standards and values, negotiate conflict, and build community together.

Most of the folks on the portico at any given time are known to us. The community is very respectful, particularly on Sundays. You are very welcome to walk up the front steps and past the community into worship. However, if you feel uncomfortable, you may always approach the College Street entrance and ring the doorbell.