Father Robert Vickers, the rector of Seattle's Grace Parish has returned from his honeymoon. Now he is dreaming about an early retirement, encouraged by the skills of the woman who substituted in his absence.

His dreams are dashed by two murders in the nearby homeless jungle. Lester, his formerly homeless employee, may be a suspect. On top of that, his plan to develop part of the church's property is caught in a crossfire of environmental, low income housing, and gentrification advocates. Can he hang on long enough to get through the crisis and insure that the church and community are standing on sacred ground?