Sacred Places
Church of the Resurrection
For the people who would never come inside.
WHERE
Washington, DC
SETTING
Neighborhood
PARTNER INSTITUTION
Church of the Resurrection
Visit
Where it is
501 E St SE, Washington, DC 20003
What happens here
The congregation gathers in the yard before and after worship services.
HOW IT CAME TO BE
The grass turns to mud.
01
The Need
The yard beside the building has a paved path running front to back and is protected on three sides by existing structures, but it offers no seating and no protection from weather. The ramp from the sidewalk up to the yard is not ADA compliant. The grass becomes muddy and unusable after rain. Nothing about it invites anyone in during the week.
02
The Vision
The church seeks a public contemplative space with sidewalk frontage in the property's eastern and western side yards, for visitors, the community, and public congregation events. The reasoning is specific: recognizing that many people have felt pushed away by churches and would not feel comfortable inside one, the congregation hopes a well-designed outdoor space can be a blessing to those in their community that the building itself cannot serve. The aim is that it welcome everyone and invite rest, reflection, prayer, healing, or creation, away from the city noise.
03
The Transformation
Come back soon. [Placeholder per 19 Aug call.]
WHO TENDS IT
Dawn Luecke
Firesoul, Church of the Resurrection
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