Sorry for the ultra-long review; but when I see that a place I love hasn't been spoken up for yet, I always feel like I have to fill in all the juicy details...so here goes.
I love this church. It's charming, it's cozy, it's casual, it's friendly, it's real. Most in the congregation show up in jeans and t-shirts; a few others enjoy dressing up a little more, but it's truly a "come as you are" kind of place.
Prism borrows their worship space from the Chapel of Roses, a beautiful vintage (if ever-so-slightly quirky) wedding chapel. As you come in the door, you can expect a genuinely friendly welcome (without any of that awkward "you're a stranger here" kind of weirdness; you know what I mean?), and usually they have coffee and treats out for everyone to enjoy. During service, you won't find a basket being passed for tithing; here, giving money to God is seen not as a "random act of guilt" under pressure, but a very personal act of worship between Christian and Creator. Hence, they just have a couple of boxes at the front and back of the church for receiving donations when the tither sees fit. Likewise, communion is also treated as a more personal activity; rather than going up systematically by rows, you can wander up to the communion table any time during the "response time" of music after the sermon (though it makes for some amusing traffic patterns sometimes, lol). I like this, because I often feel the need to just sit and pray--or pour my heart out with the music--right after Pastor Chuck's messages, and it's nice not to have to keep an eye on whether it's my row's turn to haul ourselves out of our seats.
The youngest churchgoers are cheerfully cared for in the toddler playroom; the preschool set get to play and learn Bible stories in a comfortable upstairs room; and the older kids usually get to head out to enjoy their lessons in a shady spot in the courtyard (when the weather allows). Since the congregation is small, the kids get plenty of personalized attention; and you'll often see Pastor Chuck call out the kids' names and greet them with a big bear hug as they arrive with their families.
Pastor Chuck's real heart is for those who have turned away from church life because of bad experiences, or because they never felt like they fit in. Here, you won't find any "us vs. them" or "holier-than-thou" messages in the sermons. In fact, you're much more likely to hear humble confessions of how the Christian church has sometimes failed to live up to its purposes, or even jaw-dropping tales of the pastor's own youthful misadventures (oh, my). The constant undercurrent is that we're all a work in progress, and that God doesn't let go of His love for us no matter what we do. There's a lot of laughter here, mixed with solid teachings from the scriptures and a true passion for our hope in Christ.
I almost thought about giving Prism Church four stars instead of five, because this church is still in its infancy and hasn't yet worked its way up to some of the ingredients and extras that some might expect from more established churches. For example, at this moment, they have no middle-school ministry because there are simply no middle-schoolers to be found there. That will change within the coming years. In the meantime, they do a beautiful job with the resources they have, creating a genuinely welcoming community that will leave you inspired and refreshed.
If you're looking for a big fancy place with all the bells and whistles, wait a few years; Prism's not there yet. On the other hand, if you're looking for a place where fun counts, your presence matters, and your talents and service can make a huge difference, this is your golden opportunity. If you're not so sure about this weird Christianity thing, and you're only just dabbling in the possibilities, don't worry; these people won't scare you away. If you've been bruised by churches in the past, and have stayed away for awhile, welcome home. This just might be what you've been looking for.
--Oh--final note on parking--the lot behind the Chapel is very very small, but they've partnered with the lot directly across the street, so there's plenty of free parking there. read more