 |
| ROSS
MASON PHOTO |
A life sized wooden cross rests against
a boulder in New Life Park, a new Christian park where
believers can reflect individually or gather to worship
as a group. The first formal service will be held Easter
Sunday.
(Click picture to see larger image) |
|
Donors
create park for Valley believers
Easter sunrise service scheduled for Christian Park
by
Ambria Hammel
NEW RIVER - Beginning this Easter Sunday, Christians throughout
the Valley are welcome to attend the first official services
held at a new Christian park and prayer garden in New River.
New Life Park is the product of two anonymous donors from
the Desert Foothills who purchased the six acre commercial
parcel in November. Knowing the land sat in a flood plain
and wouldn't support a structure, the new property owners
decided to use its natural features and some original ideas
to create a Christian park and prayer garden, where believers
can reflect on their spiritual journey whenever they wish.
Pastor Gary George from the House of Prayer, a non denominational
Christian church in New River, continues to meet a small gathering
of believers at the park every Thursday morning at sunrise
for a short prayer session, a ritual began in November. He
said an embankment at New Life Park reminds him of the site
in Jerusalem where most Christians believe Jesus was once
entombed-a place he visited during a trip this past year.
One of the donors hopes to create a replica of Jesus' tomb
in the future. |
|
|
"It's
a beautiful area as wild as it is," said one of the donors,
who planted roses the weekend of March 18 19 to complement the palm
trees, large mesquite, cottonwoods and saguaros naturally inhabiting
the land.
"I just feel like the custodian. It's God's land," the
donor said. New Life Park is one quarter mile south of New River
Road and I 17 across from the Food Mart.
The donor plans to create a trail called "Active Steps Trail"
surrounding the park, in the belief that if Christians are not taking
active steps toward God, then they are slowly moving away.
Even without the trail, park visitors find a constant reminder to
follow Christ. A large rock at New Life Park has the painted scripture,
"Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'If anyone would come after
me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me,' "
Matthew 16:24.
Lying against the rock is a large wooden cross. "We decided
not to stand it up because of that saying in the Bible," one
of the donors explained. He borrowed the idea from Pastor George,
who has a similar setup at his church. The donor wondered why the
cross wasn't upright when he drove by the church. He finally stopped
at the House of Prayer and asked the pastor, who reminded him of
the scripture.
"Of course it's a wonderful conversation piece," Pastor
George said.
New Life Park is set up for both small and large group gatherings.
It is equipped with bleachers and a podium for services and talks.
The first official service will be an Easter sunrise service April
16 beginning at 6 a.m., to which the public is welcome. For more
information on the service or the park, call the pastor at (623)
465 0600.
Reach the reporter at ambria@thedesertadvocate.com |
|
| Back
To Community |
|
