At Camp Allen, participants from 19 small churches shared what’s working and exchanged ideas for staying connected with their neighbors. With guidance from the Episcopal Diocese of Texas’ Congregational Vitality team, they explored their churches’ key vital signs, dreamed about the years ahead and began planning their next steps.
An overview of the retreat
The retreat followed the 5D Discernment Process, five steps that help a congregation move from an idea to a real ministry. The chart shows each step.
Here’s a look at what some congregations are already doing
Dinner started with 13. Now it’s 288 plates.
Three years ago, Holy Trinity opened a free community dinner on the third Sunday of the month. Thirteen people came, and half of them were serving.
Today they serve 288 plates. Leftovers go to senior residences and to nearby apartments with kids, and the dinner grew into backpack buddies with 9 schools, food drives and activities for seniors.
Pick one Sunday a month and open your doors for a free meal.
A safe place to heal
St. Clare’s noticed that some neighbors carry pain from past experiences with church. In August they relaunched a religious trauma group. Twelve people came.
The Episcopal Health Foundation helped fund it. Mosaic, local counselors in Tyler, sees anyone who needs a therapist, and people pay what they can. The group meets in the tea room, which has its own entrance. People who carry trauma from church can come in without walking through the sanctuary or facing religious images that might bring that pain back.
With thanks to the Rev. Rob Jerger.
Reach out to someone at your church you haven’t talked to yet and ask how they’re doing.
Everybody brings two friends
At St. Paul’s, Becky Rutledge and her congregation offer something for everyone: community groups, art groups and a different activity each day of the week.
Each member reached out to two or three people. They focused on getting to know them first, then helped them find a group. Today 30 to 35 people come every Sunday.
Let’s start at the beginning. This Sunday, say hello to someone at church you don’t know yet.
Some photos of the retreat
Is your church trying something new? Tell us about it and ask for resources!
