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A Ministry of Space
By Louise Fortuna
Sharing our buildings with others can tax a congregation’s resources. “A Ministry of Space” by Louise Fortuna shares how, on a shoestring budget and without a sexton, this downtown church has become a true community hub.
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Church as Village Green
By Sarah Bartenstein
How might a church in a suburban neighborhood reclaim its [the church’s] historic role as a hub of community life? Sarah Bartenstein’s “Church as Village Green” shares the story of how a borrowed idea has taken root, resulting in a dynamic year-round Farmers Market from which a variety of other community programs and ministries have grown.
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Mission Focused Buildings
By David Hefling, ObJN+
In many ways, St. John’s Episcopal Church in Canandaigua, New York is not so different from other parishes. Their 143-year old roof leaks. Their website could use some work and they are trying to hone in on the perfect mission statement. None of this has stopped this congregation from finding ways to use their buildings “mission effectively” without stretching themselves too thin. David Hefling’s “Mission Focused Buildings” tells the story of how a 28-year-old free weekday lunch program has expanded to meet a wider range of community needs…
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Parish Partnerships
By Kimberly Durnan
Some congregations are staying close to home when it comes to mission trips. In “Parish Partnerships” Kimberly Durnan shares the transformation that took place when a church invited unchurched college students to join with parishioners in service and relationship with a struggling, smaller parish in their diocese.
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Pasture to Partnerships
By Susan Kleinwechter
Some churches lean on their visioning statements to drive them toward community partnerships. In “Pasture to Partnerships” Susan Kleinwechter shares how a community partnership not only helped with maintenance of St. Martin-in-the-Fields’ 11.5-acre campus, but also showed the congregation part of a new vision.
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Peace Garden
By David Paulsen; Introduction by Nancy Davidge
In 2012, neighbors believed the church was closed. It wasn’t. Four years later, there are visible signs of life at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Indianapolis. “Peace Garden” by David Paulsen, with an introduction by Nancy Davidge, tells the story of St. Alban’s most visible ministry, one that is causing the phone to ring and people to stop in.
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Reconciliation House
By Janice Ford
For Janice Ford and Peter Kosciusko, their commitment to the full recovery and rehabilitation of men incarcerated in the local county jail was the catalyst for the transformation of the rectory at their Episcopal Church into a sober house, providing a safe and healthy next step for persons with addictions. “Reconciliation House” shares the story of a congregation committed to make this a reality.
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Sí, juntos podemos
By Jesse Velásquez y Vidal Rivas
En “Sí, juntos podemos” Jesse Velásquez y Vidal Rivas nos animan a usar todos nuestros recursos (talento, tiempo, y tesoro) para lograr crecimiento espiritual y material, como en la Iglesia Episcopal San Mateo de Maryland donde la comunidad Latina ha logrado muchas actualizaciones en un edificio de más de 50 años.
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Yes, Together We Can
By Jesse Velásquez and Vidal Rivas
In “Yes, Together We Can,” Jesse Velásquez and Vidal Rivas encourage us to use all our resources (talent, time, and treasure) to reach spiritual and material growth, as seen in San Mateo Episcopal Church in Maryland where the Latino Community has joined to accomplish many updates to an older building.
