About our facility

An Award Winning Design

The Willow Avenue Mennonite Church campus is anchored by an award winning sanctuary designed by Paul Halajian Architects. The 2016 Award of Merit for Civic Design was granted by the San Joaquin chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) to the Halajian firm for its creative design of the church.

A Church and a Park

Six acres of vacant land at the corner of Willow and San Gabriel in Clovis were purchased by the church in 1963 as its permanent home. In 1973, after initial development, the church sold about three acres to the City of Clovis with the understanding that the city would use this acreage for a park. San Gabriel Park was developed, and the two now exist in a mutual supportive relationship. The church parking lot serves both the church and park, and park users and neighbors are welcomed to participate in activities of the church.

Road signs and lines direct travelers to their chosen destinations. At Willow Avenue Mennonite Church, signs are embedded in the floor of the sanctuary as inscriptions that illuminate similarly embedded lines.

Three themes influenced the first inception of WAMC in 1963.  Three themes energized the campus reconstruction project in 2014.  Three themes continue to motivate us today. 

Architectural Symbolism

Worship and Fellowship.  Old stories and New stories.  San Gabriel Park and the World. These three themes were grasped by the architect in the design process and became the basis for the inherent symbolism of the construction project, embedded in the floor of the new building.  The intent is that the inscribed floor is foundational, something we see and which reminds us of the three themes each time we join together in worship and service on this campus.  The focal point of these three themes is seen in the circular narthex. Upon entering the narthex, after attending to the ordinary tasks of picking up a bulletin, seeing the children safely to the nursery, or getting one last drink in the lobby, the expectant worshiper is invited to pause and reflect upon the reason for entering the worship space.  Surrounding the circle in the center are the words from Psalm 122, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord!”  Here is the intersection of the three themes represented by six bold lines.  Where these themes intersect, the worshiper is call to praise God. 

Worship and Fellowship

The southeast line directs our attention to the central courtyard, the place of fellowship and conversation. To the northwest, the line leads us from the circular narthex into the sanctuary with a shape somewhat reminiscent of a boat, complete with a ribbed ceiling and oval walls culminating in points, front and rear. The design suggests a boat, an ancient symbol of the church. As a boat carries its passengers through seas both calm and rough, so the church supports its members through times both ordinary and challenging. This shape gives a sense of life and movement to the theme of Worship – Fellowship because Jesus, the one who was known to teach and travel in a boat, is the center of our faith and the community is the center of our lives.  

The worship line leads us into the sanctuary, the place where in the presence of light from east and west through large windows and from above through a skylight we gather each week to worship and praise the God who created, redeems and sustains us.  The worship line culminates in another circle, this one inscribed with the words, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow.”  This is a favorite song of the congregation sung for many years under the round dome of the original sanctuary, now the Fellowship Hall.  These words also express our worship and praise to God as we regularly gather around the communion table located inside the circle. 

San Gabriel Park and the World

From the narthex, the line to the east calls us to remember our neighborhood symbolized by San Gabriel Park.  To the west, we remember the world beyond Willow Avenue stretching to every continent on earth.  This is the theme of San Gabriel Park and the World. 

It was the strong desire of the congregation in the act of reconstructing this campus to make it more accessible to the surrounding community, to bring a sense of transparency to the building on the corner of Willow and San Gabriel.  To that end, the wall along Willow Avenue was removed, wrought iron fences originally designed at six and seven feet tall were lowered to four feet, and the sanctuary walls were constructed significantly of glass.  Not only can we now see out, those outside the building can see in.  In addition, the parking lot was redesigned and lighted to make local access and use of San Gabriel Park more convenient for all. 

The congregation has a strong and long tradition of supporting international ministries of all kinds, particularly those of Mennonite Brethren Mission and Mennonite Central Committee.  Many attenders have served in international settings for significant periods of time and international guests and speakers are commonly present in the life of the church.  In all these activities, the goal of the congregation is to embody our belief that our central task in the world is reconciliation. 

Old Stories and New Stories

The southwest line points to the original sanctuary.  Our 500-year history and tradition as Anabaptist Mennonites and our existence over 50+ years as this local congregation give expression to that history.  The round design which emphasizes the importance of community, the central skylight emphasizing the presence of the Holy Spirit, and the prominence of the baptistry reminding us of the call to discipleship, remain important themes in the life of the congregation. 

To the northeast, we are directed to the Memorial Garden, the place we remember those who have gone before us and now are part of the great cloud of witnesses spoken of in Hebrews 11.  It is a value of this congregation to keep the memories of such people alive in an ongoing quest to emphasize the importance of the personal embodiment of the faith we claim verbally. Together, these illustrate the theme of Old Stories and New Stories. 

Windows and Light

Whereas lines and signs provide direction, windows provide insights into the stories of lives both past and present.  The east facing windows of the sanctuary look out over the Memorial Garden.  Under the windows the floor is inscribed with the words of Jesus, “I am the resurrection and the life.”  These words affirm our Hope that life is more than what we experience now.  The floor near the west facing windows is inscribed with the words, “You will be my witnesses to the ends of the earth.”  This draws our attention beyond Willow Avenue, reminding us of our world-wide mission.  We remember that many of our members have lived and worked in more than 40 countries around the world over the course of these past 50 years. 

Windows east and west along with skylights above also illuminate those who have gathered within in worship, praise, and learning.  As an ancient symbol, light is a reminder of the congregant’s continual need for enlightenment as to how to live the Jesus way in this world. 

The Courtyard

As the narthex sets the tone for worship going in, the courtyard reminds us going out that wherever we go we are in the presence of God.  This is a good reminder each time we enter or leave; to thank and praise God for neighbors near and fellow believers far, to thank and praise God for those from whom we have inherited our faith as well as those who have embodied the way of following Jesus, and to give thanks and praise for the community of fellowship and worship of which we are a part right now. 

A Learning Church

Classrooms for all ages and an excellent children’s library complement the worship and fellowship spaces of the campus. Included is a space for a long-standing Sunday School program for persons with developmental disabilities and a more recently initiated program, Godly Play, that teaches children “to listen for God and to make authentic and creative responses to God’s call in their lives.”  A nursery for infants and toddlers provides space for those just beginning their life’s journey.

A Shared Campus

The campus design also includes space for a community-based HeadStart program, including a children’s playground area. HeadStart has been serving community children and their families as part of the campus since 1992 and currently hosts morning and afternoon sessions for approximately 35 children. The sanctuary and Fellowship Hall are used by school and community groups for meetings and performances of various kinds.

In previous years, the church has provided office space for Mennonite World Conference, the global entity of which it is a part, as well as the Central Valley’s Victim-Offender Reconciliation Program, now a part of Fresno Pacific University, and the Central Valley Children’s Choir. It currently provides space for two local election precincts and the Neighborhood Watch Program. Coro Solare, a daytime choir of the Fresno Community Chorus is also present for fall and spring semester rehearsals and concerts. The most recent addition to this shared use is Everence, a faith-based financial services organization. From its inception, the church has been supportive of both local and global ministries, not only financially and through its members, but also by sharing its facilities and campus.

There are other explanations of the design of this campus. Some of us remember even the foregoing in different ways. And we expect that as the campus is used and becomes home to many new people, new meanings will be discovered as the design is experienced and campus is used. We are grateful to the architect, builder, and workers for completing this place of worship, inspiration, and service and to all who have contributed and continue to contribute to its existence. May we use it wisely and to the glory of God.