Episcopal Church Foundation Vital Practices

May 2021

The Power of Small Churches

A Small Congregation Confronts COVID
By Gary Cox
The hardest part of the pandemic for many has been the inability to physically gather. In A Small Congregation Confronts COVID, Gary Cox describes his experience as Vicar of Santa Teresa de Avila Episcopal Church and Pastor of Calvary Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Chicago, sharing the challenges and joys of these small congregations during this difficult time.
Beyond the Numbers
By Aisha Huertas
How can small churches operate from a mindset of abundance? In Beyond the Numbers, Aisha Huertas shares examples and lists practical ways in which small churches have massive positive impact in the communities around them.
Editor's Letter June 2021
By Charis Bhagianathan
In this issue, you’ll hear stories of love, strength and a willingness to evolve – all characteristics that we must lean on as we grow together as Church.
Editor's Letter May 2021
By Charis Bhagianathan
In this issue, we bring you inspirational ideas from a group of small churches, showcasing how small can indeed be mighty.
Inspiration from a Small Congregation
By Dexter Lesieur
Being a small church, doesn’t mean only small things are possible. Quite the contrary, as Dexter Lesieur lists in Inspiration from a Small Congregation, the incredible work his church of 16 has been able to accomplish with enthusiasm, courage and the power of the Holy Spirit.
Más allá de los números
By Aisha Huertas
“La rosa no dejaría de ser rosa, tampoco dejaría de esparcir su aroma, aunque se llamara de otra manera”,me suena en la mente cuando pienso en la institución que es la Iglesia. No es porque la Iglesia es perfecta ni porque no tenemos trabajo serio que hacer en aspectos como racismo, inclusión y amar al prójimo, pero debido a que la Iglesia, independientemente de su tamaño y cuando realmente sigue el Evangelio, es la mayor fuerza que hemos conocido.
Not Filled Seats but People Served
By Ken Kroohs
In a rapidly changing worship landscape, what patterns can data on attendance and pledging reveal about what we can expect in the future? In Not Filled Seats but People Served, Ken Kroohs analyzes the numbers and examines the implications of his findings, raising questions to consider for our post-COVID future as Church.
One Body, Many Caring Hearts
By Tricia Jones
In small churches with a single clergy person, there is often a need for more caregivers to support the community. In One Body, Many Caring Hearts, Tricia Jones shares the story of St. Francis by the Lake, an Episcopal Church in Canyon Lake, Texas, and their work with Community of Hope International in building up equipped lay pastoral caregivers in their church.
Pandemic Learnings
By Audra Abt
What does it look like to prioritize relationships and community in a pandemic? In Pandemic Learnings, Audra Abt shares the experience of her congregation and its multi-racial, multi-ethnic community, their struggle and response to a stark digital divide and their focus on relationship-driven mission during COVID-19.
Showing Up at the Holy Borders
By Ellen and Kurt Huber
In this heartbreaking and poignant piece - Showing Up at the Holy Borders - Ellen and Kurt Huber narrate the story of the small community of the Cheyenne River Episcopal Mission who gathered to share in the grief of young parents, driving out their deep pain with the warmth of compassion and the living traditions of their ancestors.
Tension and Release in the Church
By Robert Leopold
COVID-19 has unforgivingly exposed a challenging vision of the future of our church. In Tension and Release in the Church, Robert Leopold uses the analogy of a “wrist rocket” from the Netflix series Stranger Things and shares how being called to “wade into the tension of our times” might be the pandemic’s hidden gift.
The Small Church as Icon
By Jen Fulton
More and bigger is not everyone’s goal, nor should it be. In The Small Church as Icon, Jen Fulton explains how small and healthy congregations occupy a vital place in our Church and world and stand as icons of ‘Godly counter-culturalism’.
Una pequeña feligresía enfrenta la COVID-19
By Gary Cox
Santa Teresa de Ávila, en la que sirvo como sacerdote, los domingos anteriores a la pandemia tenía un promedio de asistencia de unas 55 personas, una cifra algo menor que la de otras feligresías latinas en la ciudad y en la Diócesis de Chicago.