The Groves Church is not like other churches…read more
Good for:
Those who want a small, close knit group of urban friendly people that don't feel churchy and think deeply about issues, God, and life.
Bad for:
Rigid fundamentalists, haters, meanies, large church programs.
1) It's super casual. Jeans, tattoos, no problem with refreshments in the service or smartphones looking stuff up during the sermon. No one looks at you funny if you come late either. They're just glad you're there. Meets at a hotel.
2) It's a true mix of both liberal and conservative people. Most places pander to one or the other, but here it is different. It's more focused on Jesus and obeying him than hashing out politics. It does dwell on justice issues more than most churches though.
3) It avoids general churchiness, typical cliches, intellectual suicide, etc. Some city churches really are just a lot of suburbanites that drive in every week. The groves is truly urban in feel, thought, and demographic.
5) Worship music is modern in style, but old songs are not absent, and some are original pieces. It has the flavor of a band that might play at a coffee shop and eventually moves toward being contemplative. Here, feeling God during a song is more important than singing it and being done.
4) It excels at everything it does, from home roasted coffee, album quality music, bike tours that raise funds for human trafficking, etc. There is seriously a lot of artists, chiefs, and various talents among the group. There aren't many structured programs though. It's more organic in feel where its interests come from the bottom up, not the top down.
5) Its pastors know and use Biblical languages to prepare for their sermons, and Paul has a Masters from George Fox. Both men and women speak, and both are good. You can tell they really care about interpreting what the text is trying to say rather pontificating how it might be taken. Sermons are both humorous and thoughtful, and heckling from the crowd is a fun dynamic that adds to the close knit community feel. They also tend to preach through one book of the Bible at a time, rather than skipping around week to week.
6) The community is very close, especially in times of need. Everyone is well connected via Facebook, community groups, etc. There are lots of informal get togethers, trips, game nights, food contests, groups that meet for prayer, etc.
7) The majority of the people are younger, college students, young professionals. There are some kids and some from an older generation, but not many teenagers.
8) Rather than taking 30 seconds to greet people around you, in the middle of service they take like a 20 minute break to go get food and talk. You really get to know people this way and most are pretty friendly.
9) They don't pass around a plate to ask for donations, nor do they pressure anyone to come forward to the front at the end of the service. There is a donation box in the back, and a table with some bread and crackers for those that want to take communion at will as the service winds down.
My 2 cents:
My wife and I starting going here regularly two years ago, and it has probably saved our marriage. Come check it out.
