This week we are kicking off the Fall 2025 cohort of RenewalWorks churches, which will run through the first week of December.  In wrapping up our January 2025 cohort this past spring, we asked them to give one piece of advice for new churches planning on doing RenewalWorks. Despite doing RenewalWorks for many different reasons, the churches recommended reading Signs of Life with their vestry or parish prior to beginning RenewalWorks. 

The book, written by Jay Sidebotham, and published in 2023, summarizes the findings of RenewalWorks specifically around the Episcopal Church. It also gives information and examples of how churches have taken that information to re-focus themselves on creating cultures of spiritual vitality, or simply a deeper love of God and neighbor.  Sometimes RenewalWorks can seem daunting – spending 13 weeks determining a spiritual strategic plan – but Signs of Life makes the process seem relatable, hopeful and achievable. It also starts to build common language and discussion around the notion of spiritual leadership.  What does it mean to serve on the Vestry versus other non-profit boards?  What does spiritual leadership look like at church?

The Rt. Rev. Thomas James Brown, Bishop of Maine said the following in his review of Signs of Life:

“Signs of Life is written by a pastor for any person, lay or ordained, who cares about congregations. Jay’s decades of experience in parish churches, as well as his vulnerable witness that developing “more programs” is not the same as deepening faith in Jesus Christ, grounds this work and makes it both practical and beautiful. If you don’t yet know Jay Sidebotham, I’m pretty sure that after you read this book, you’ll want to have coffee with him to learn more.

This book affirms the truth that attending to tasks that hold up basic, common-sense, and faith-filled practices WILL strengthen a local church. The warmth of leaders (clergy and lay), getting people moving, embedding scripture in everything, empowering others, and caring for the entire local community are honest-to-goodness keys to the kingdom.

Jay Sidebotham inspires me every Sunday. When I visit congregations in Maine, two common questions are, “how can we grow?” and “what can we do?” My response always includes aspects of what he writes here!

A decade ago, I began working alongside Jay. At the time RenewalWorks was just starting. I was the rector of a suburban Boston parish who wanted to go deep with their faith. Jay’s wisdom gave us capacity for courage and enthusiasm, and within a few months, lay leaders were saying, “I can see now—-God is helping us put God at the center of it all.”

You can find Signs of Life wherever you buy your books – but when you purchase directly from Forward Movement, your purchase supports our ministry. This month Forward Movement is offering a 50% discount on purchases of Signs of Life. Use the coupon code SIGNS at checkout to get Signs of Life for only $11 through the end of August. If you or your church is considering RenewalWorks, or just want more information on Episcopal Church characteristics, challenges and successes, we invite you to look further at Signs of Life.