Holy Ground
The theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, the church is Christ, existing as community. Riviera’s sanctuary has been designed to reflect what our congregation seeks to be: a gathering that is creative and flexible; light-filled and artistic, energizing and peaceful, connected with creation and open to the widest expressions of community.
Originally erected in 1946 (CHECK DATE), the sanctuary was completely rebuilt from the wall studs inward after sustaining serious damage from Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma in 2005. In the renovation and restoration completed in 2009, the sanctuary floor was leveled and entrances made fully accessible, clear impact-resistant glass windows and doors added, and flexible seating installed. A new façade and chancel area was designed, fronted by a Tent of Meeting that frames our new cross and liturgically themed glass panels. Our movable stage, affectionately dubbed “the mother ship” allows worship to be configured in a traditional, in the round, or balcony-facing layout (to enjoy concerts or musical programs in worship). The floor of the sanctuary can also be cleared to receive either of our congregation’s two labyrinths, for special gatherings and services led by our spiritual director and labyrinth facilitator.
The new sanctuary space incorporates a “great room” with our narthex, opened up to allow our post-service Holy Grounds fellowship and refreshment to flow out of our worship gathering. Comfortable seating and a hospitality area on the East wall supports our fellowship; a sound room on the west wall supports our CD (and developing podcast) ministries as well as infrared devices for the hearing-impaired. A new quiet room in the East balcony gives fussy babies and weary parents a retreat with access to the service provided through our wireless speakers. All children—noisy and otherwise!— and welcomed and encouraged to participate in worship and life at Riviera; as our renovation was guided by a commitment to full participation by all God’s children in our life together.
Music, a central expression of Riviera’s faith, is supported by our magnificent Austin Organ, built in 1967, and the Nancy Ellen Titus memorial grand piano.
All of the artwork in our sanctuary was created for the glory of God and by artists in residence in the Riviera Church family, with labor, materials and imagination gifted to the church by the artists.
The Cross
Our stunning stained glass celtic cross, the heart of our sanctuary, was designed and created by glass artist Kathy Stults, an elder at Riviera. The broken, varied shapes of the pieces, rich in color, represent the rainbow character of the kindom of God. One of Riviera’s central commitments, to diversity and full inclusivity, is dramatically embodied in the mosaic style of the cross: all pieces held together in a strong resin bond, shaped into a coherent representation of Christ’s body, gathered around the red, beating heart of divine Love, and glowing with light.
The Glass Liturgical Panels
The community participated in the design of six glass panels, created by Kathy Stults. They represent the six major feast and solemn seasons of the Christian Liturgical Calendar: Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter and Pentecost. Colored light panels behind the glass tint the windows the appropriate color of each liturgical season. Upper stained glass windows along the sanctuary walls represent confessions of Reformed communions worldwide, whose legacy is the Presbyterian Church, USA.
The Baptismal Font at the entrance to the sanctuary is a light filled column, built on a sturdy Trinitarian base of mosaic glass continued from the chancel cross. The pitcher and basin, along with the glass work, is by Kathy Stults, supported by the wordworking design of Matthew Perry.
The Pulpit, originally built to fit the old sanctuary chancel by an RPC member, was redesigned and rebuilt from the original by Gene Picciano. Its streamlined shape and polished hardwood evokes a ship’s helm.
The Tent of Meeting
The cross which is the heart of our sanctuary is sheltered by a façade, the Tent of Meeting, built in three sections to honor our Trinitarian heritage. Genesis 18 tells the story of our ancestors Abraham and Sarah, who one day were met outside their tent by three strangers in need of hospitality and shelter. After feeding and refreshing their guests, Abraham and Sarah were told of the impending birth of their longed-for son. The Moorish-inflected architectural design of the sanctuary pillars and chandeliers was intentionally echoed in the frame of the Tent of Meeting; it evokes an image of hospitality and welcome in the heat of the day. The Hebrew and Christian traditions which interpret this story in Genesis believe it represents both the generous initiative of the divine in visiting humankind as well as the central character of the Triune God, which is community expressed in hospitality. Icons from the Orthodox branches of the Christian tradition use this very image of three strangers/angels being served at the table by Abraham as a metaphor for God, existing in three persons. For the Riviera community, the Tent of Meeting lifts up our core values of welcome for the stranger and hospitality to all. And the theological conundrum of whether there were three strangers or one in the story, angels, men, or God’s own self revealed to Abraham and Sarah—illustrates the importance of a post-modern, inquiring faith that sees the divine expressed through human community and in open-minded exploration of holy mystery.
The Space
The earthy and subtle palette of the sanctuary reflects our gratitude for the gift of creation and our commitment to the stewardship of the earth through sustainable, green practices.
The facility’s restoration in 2008 rebuilt to the highest standards of hurricane resistance and increased insulation throughout to improve energy conservation. The congregation’s seasonal traditional flower offerings (poinsettias, Easter lilies) were re-imagined during the rebuilding period as an opportunity to support native landscaping and rare Florida flora. After each seasonal display, the gifted plants are added to the church grounds’ emerging native landscaping and developing native prayer garden. The congregation maintains a commitment to reuse, recycle, and repurpose—much of the mosaic glass used in the new exterior walls was tumbled glass from the previous sanctuary art glass windows. Clear windows in the present sanctuary encourage the church family to look always beyond its own walls; embracing the needs, challenges and gifts of the wider community of which we are part.
The Tree(s) of Life
Riviera’s logo, a double banyan tree with a path leading through it, is repeated throughout the building entrances and in our Giving Tree, which honors memorial gifts as well as donors, members, and friends, who have supported Riviera’s renewal and restoration. The design, by Robertson Adams, has been beautifully embodied in wood by Matt Perry. Though some in our ecologically-minded community protested the use of exotic invasive tree species as representative of our church community, we would suggest that an exotic invasive is exactly what the members of our church community try to be… mysterious, persistent, fast-growing and resilient contributors to the communities of greater Miami, reflecting the path of Christ.