About Us
We are creating a space for Arts, Culture and Community events that serves our diverse community on the campus of the Bloomfield Presbyterian Church on the Green.
Our Story
The Sanctuary on the Green Arts, Cultural & Community Alliance (SOGA) was established by a group of passionate residents from Bloomfield and neighboring towns who recognized the pressing need for additional Arts, Cultural, and Community venues within Bloomfield.
These visionary individuals acknowledged the historical significance of the Sanctuary within the Bloomfield Presbyterian Church on the Green, understanding its pivotal role as a central gathering space for spiritual and civic events spanning almost 230 years.
Through a multi-faceted approach, we strive to preserve, restore, and revitalize the Sanctuary, ensuring its longevity for future generations while respecting its continued use as a sacred space.
Our esteemed board members and dedicated volunteers boast diverse backgrounds and bring forth a wide range of expertise. Among our ranks, you will find professionals such as lawyers and paralegals, theater producers and managers, directors, artists and performers, as well as church pastors.
Our collective interests encompass the Arts, Cultural enrichment, Community outreach, historic preservation, and the exploration of local history.
Together, we are united by our unwavering commitment to promoting the Sanctuary as a thriving civic space, fostering a vibrant Arts and Cultural scene, and engaging with our Community in meaningful and impactful ways.
Join us as we embark on this transformative journey, creating a lasting legacy that enriches the lives of all who call Bloomfield home.
Our Officers:
-Vacant-
Secretary
Dianna Fuller
Danny Leo
Our Board Members:
Carolee Boger
Rev. Ruth L. Boling
Carlos Monteagudo
Donna Murray
Our Mission Statement:
The Sanctuary on the Green Arts, Cultural & Community Alliance (SOGA) is dedicated to serving the greater Bloomfield community by working alongside the Bloomfield Presbyterian Church on the Green to preserve, restore and renew the Sanctuary on the Green for use as a center of Arts, Culture and Community.
Our Vision:
SOGA is creating a space for Arts, Culture and Community events that serves our diverse community on the campus of the Bloomfield Presbyterian Church on the Green.
Fulfilling a Pastor’s Prophetic Vision:
Former pastor of the Bloomfield Presbyterian Church on the Green, the Rev. Paul O. Boger, was interviewed for an article published on 21 March 1971 on the eve of his leaving his parish in Otisville, NY for Bloomfield. In the article, Rev. Boger shared his thoughts on the church and the direction it might take in the future. We acknowledge the prophetic nature of his vision as we strive to create the community center he envisioned more than fifty years ago.
“[Rev. Boger] regards the church as a living human being, passing away and experiencing resurrection in a new form and body. The church as we know it may be radically different by the end of the century.
He discussed the concept of flexible facilities which would be utilized for church sanctuaries, for activities of organizations such as scouts, senior citizens, for dissemination of drug information and help. He sees the church building of the future as a community center in which the church plays a supportive role. He foresees the necessity for churches to merge in mind and spirit in cooperation on a local level.”
Source: Joan Mitchel,” Church changing, alive, pastor says”, Sunday Record, 21 March 1971, pg. 15.
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