at the Front Porch, 310 South Avenue
see photo slideshow

Now Every Sunday Morning at 10:30 am
with Brunch at 10:00

This is a time for Christ-followers and Christ-admirers to come together to drink deeply of his presence, and exercise the fellowship of his love. We strive for worship that is creative, authentic and pan-artistic, teaching that is dialogical, narrative and biblical, prayer that is passionate and persistent, and fellowship that is radically hospitable and full of grace.

What should I expect? A typical Merge Gathering includes brunch at 10:00 am (food is provided), contemplative musical worship at 10:30, followed by grouping up with those around you for prayer, and a conversational message that lasts around 30 minutes. The Merge Gathering, above all, is very relational, and very accomodating to people of different interest levels in approaching the worship experience. There are rows of chairs up near the stage for those who like to stay close to the action. There are cafe tables behind that for a more casual, relational experience. And behind that you'll find couches and more tables if you want to simply observe and enjoy the atmosphere. To learn more about our discussions, here is a recent blog post that you may find helpful.

What should I wear? Just be yourself. If you have a tie or dress collection that you never get to use, go for it. If you're more of a shorts-and-t-shirt kind of person, then what's what you should wear. Or you can don anything in between... we just want to know the real you.

What about my kids? The Front Porch has a small but well-stocked Kids' Room for children under age 5. Leaders and parents who come to Merge take turns watching the youngsters during the prayer and discussion time (which usually starts around 11.) We encourage children 5 and older to stay with their parents. But if they need a book or a box of crayons to stay occupied, we're good for that. Regardless, parents are welcome to hang on to their kids of all ages throughout the gathering, while showing respect for those around them.

What should I bring? If you come to Brunch, you will find that food and coffee have been provided, so you don't have to worry about that. You may find it helpful to bring your Bible, but it's not really necessary (we even have some handy if you like.) If your kids are with you, you may want to bring a favorite toy, book or other supplies.