Facilities

St. Clare’s shares the facilities with Temple Beth Emeth (see “Genesis” for more information about our relationship).

Buildings

St. Clare’s uses three buildings on the parish grounds:

The Genesis facility, containing the Church/Temple sanctuary, as well as office space, classrooms, meeting spaces, and social hall
The St. Francis Chapel, used solely by St. Clare’s
The Wisdom House, also used solely by St. Clare’s

St Clare Front View showing Wisdom House, Sanctuary, Chapel and Social Hall
From left to right: Wisdom House, Sanctuary, St. Francis Chapel (behind tree), Social Hall

Chapel in the Spring
St. Francis Chapel

Wisdom House
Wisdom House

The land on which St. Clare’s exists, and both the Chapel and Wisdom House, were gifts of Inez Wisdom, an Ann Arbor physician. The Chapel, which seats 20, is used primarily for Morning Prayer, for the Thursday morning Eucharist and for small weddings and funerals. Wisdom House is an historic Greek Revival house which is listed in the Historic American Buildings Survey as the Anderson House. Downstairs, it is used for classes, meetings, and a Food Pantry which provides food for the hungry in Ann Arbor. Upstairs, it houses a nonprofit agency that assists low income clients in finding affordable housing.

Sanctuary

Our sanctuary space is as unique as the Genesis relationship itself. Behind the altar, which is used by both congregations, a beautiful wooden structure serves to convert the sanctuary from a Christian to a Jewish worship space.

Sanctuary as a Church
Sanctuary as Church

With the doors of the structure folded in one pattern, a simple brass cross graces the front of the structure, with credence spaces on either side of the cross. Folded another way, the cross disappears and the Temple’s Ark is revealed. The altar area can become a neutral space, with neither cross nor ark visible.

Sanctuary as a Temple
Sanctuary as Temple

Because of our unique relationship with Temple Beth Emeth, as well as our commitment to outreach, the Genesis facility is also available for community use. There are currently about 30 additional organizations that use the Genesis facilities on a regular or occasional basis, including groups such as Kindermusik, the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill and the Washtenaw County Literacy Council.

The Social Hall is available to rent for catered or other large events. On occasion, the sanctuary is used for events such as the community-wide Messiah sing in December.

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