On New Year’s Day, I asked the question, “Where are you finding joy in congregational life, and what types of generosity are lifting your spirits?” I asked readers to add a comment, so that we could begin 2024 by sharing some of the best ideas about congregational vitality from churches across the country.
You responses were terrific. Here is a selection, offered as encouragement to you and your congregations.
Nancy Soper of Georgia: “Gathering as community in worship, giving to our wider neighborhood through gifts of time and money, connecting through small and large groups, interests, personal connections, including those not able to participate any longer through cards, calls, visits and making online services available … be creative.”
Sheri Zimmerman of Virginia: “Discovering the [early] service as a personal experience that gets your Sunday off the ground with a spiritual lift.”
Lynne Baab of Washington State: “I find joy in my congregation in worship through music, prayers, sermons, children's sermons. And in conversations with people who care about me, pray for me and the needs of the world, and who are trying to walk with Jesus. Simple kindness lifts my spirits, along with the beauty of nature. Pretty basic.”
Neal Roseberry of Virginia: “Recently moved from Presby to Episcopal worship and enjoy the increased focus on Christ the Savior, weekly communion, weekly verbal confession, outstanding music with emphasis on congregational singing, and sermons that delve into the essential mysteries of faith in less than 20 minutes.”
Ellen Woodward Potts of Alabama: First Presbyterian of Tuscaloosa “partners with our local food bank and Habitat for Humanity affiliate to stock the refrigerator, freezer, and pantry of all the new Habitat houses (about 10 a year), plus other families in need in the community. They can get about 200 lbs. of food for $35 -- meat, vegetables, breads, canned goods, fresh produce, and sometimes household goods like toilet paper, paper towels, etc. They also bring some house warming gifts, flowers for the dedication (usually from the arrangement from the previous Sunday), a note wishing God's blessing on the homeowner family in their new home, etc. It's a huge help to the recipients! Bible school children also have made the fuzzy blankets where you put together two layers of blanket material, cut 2 - 3" strips around the edges, and tie them together.”
Brad Thoreson of Florida: “I am privileged to serve as music director at First Church in Lynn Haven, FL. I don’t know where to begin to describe this beautiful congregation. They hail from such varied religious backgrounds, theological viewpoints, political ideologies, and other differences that span the spectrum, but they have a love for one another, neighbor, and God, that I would bet everything on. Few congregations can honestly put a sign in their yard declaring “All are Welcome.” I’m proud that we are a place of welcome and grace.”
Rachel Hamer Lawson of Tennesee: “My church (Waverly Road Presbyterian in Kingsport, TN) has recently become the first church in Northeast Tennesee to be a responding church on CarePortal. CarePortal is a service technology umbrellaed under the Global Orphan Project that networks churches and businesses together to respond to the needs of children in crisis in their neighborhood. It's in 25 states so far (you can visit careportal.org for more information or to see if its in your area yet). Vetted needs submitted by child serving professionals are put into the network and churches can respond to those needs in real time. Our requestor is an elementary school next door. We were able to help a set of formerly homeless grandparents raising their grandson furnish their newly acquired apartment. We were able to meet them, spend time chatting and getting to know them while we assembled bed frames and our children played together. It was truly an amazing experience being the hands and feet of God in such a one-on-one special way! Another huge plus is that its free for churches to be a part of and allows churches to work together crossing denominational, racial and economic lines.”
Linda Andrews Belger of Virginia: First Sunday Suppers have “added energy …. new small groups are getting people involved doing what they love with other people. … new stewardship campaign just after Christmas is brilliantly inspired. It continues the joy and expectation of the Christmas celebration of the arrival the Christ Child, who became our savior. And, giving is an act of love. When you love and the object of your affection is Jesus Christ, it calls forth joy and generosity.”
Connecting through small and large groups … an early Sunday service … conversations with people who are trying to walk with Jesus … sermons that delve into the essential mysteries of faith … partnerships with local food banks and Habitat for Humanity … being a place of welcome and grace … becoming a responding church on CarePortal … a stewardship campaign which continues the joy and expectation of the Christmas celebration.
Awesome examples of church vitality! Thank you all. Let’s continue the conversation as we move through the church year.