The Gathering Place

 

The Gathering Place - Where Community Connects

In 2023, we voted to name our church campus “The Gathering Place.” The idea was to think creatively about how to use our building and grounds as it stayed empty for most of the week outside of Sundays.

Our Mission for The Gathering Place is to open doors and offer the High Country a space that nurtures community connection and advances social justice. We strive to create an inclusive, accessible, and empowering environment where individuals and groups come together to learn, share, organize, and inspire collective action toward a more just and equitable world. Our intent for this campus is to provide a community space to host events where there isn’t a focus on profit. The Gathering Place offers a low cost option for families, groups, and nonprofits who need a safe space to gather.

Doors opening to our sanctuary space
Chairs set up in the sanctuary for worship and meetings
A view of the sanctuary from the back
Our musicians' space
Chairs and tables setup for community groups
A front view of the sanctuary

Our Wall Words

Blue words in different fonts line the inside of the High Country United Church of Christ sanctuary; this photo also shows a painting of a woman in the shape of a comma holding a bowl full of people

When new folks attend church with us at High Country UCC, one of the first things they notice are words stenciled along the top of the walls in our sanctuary.

The original words are the bounty of a project originally inspired by Kathleen Rowell, back when High Country UCC was still forming. One Sunday, attendees were invited to write down a word describing something they wanted our new church to value.

Seventy responses were given and stenciled on the walls at the old Foscoe location. The stenciled words became an integral part of our church identity and have been diligently migrated to the new walls from Foscoe to State Farm Road and which currently live and breathe on our sanctuary walls in Vilas.

We have since added 39 more words which now appear in the Tom Moore Pavillon.  These words reflect the beauty and growth of High Country UCC as we continue to navigate our world and bring love and light to the forefront of all we do. 

Our Kitchen & Gathering Spaces

The interior of the High Country United Church of Christ kitchen outside of Boone, NC

Kitchen

This space includes a refrigerator with freezer, two ovens with ranges, and plenty of utensils, bowls, and serving ware.

The Tom Moore Pavilion with picnic tables outside High Country United Church of Christ

Tom Moore Pavilion

We gather under the pavilion for our anniversary celebrations and outdoor worship. The four tables that sit under it are flexible to be moved across the grounds for events.

An exterior photo of the patio and lawn at High Country United Church of Christ

Our Lawn and Rock Wall

The rock wall serves as part of our memorial garden, and the lawn creates flexible gathering space.

A patio of pavers and a lawn make up the Memorial Garden at High Country United Church of Christ

Memorial Garden

Our memorial garden started as a project years ago and is still a work in progress. This space offers quiet reflection throughout the week.

Interested in using our space?

If you would like to use or space for community gatherings, meetings, or special events, please fill out our request form.

If you have additional questions, contact Sarah Parker (sarah@highcountryucc.org).