For many churches June is often spent reflecting on the prior church year and planning for the next. As you think about your church’s focus for next year, we hope you will consider RenewalWorks.
RenewalWorks is a discipleship initiative to re-orient parishes around the goal of growing spiritually - growing in love of God and neighbor. The curriculum includes a guided methodology of self-reflection, sharing, best practices, and workshop discussions. It is based on nearly 15 years of Episcopal research from over 350 churches and 29,000 Episcopal parishioners. The methodology has uncovered key characteristics of flourishing congregations.
More practically, participating Rectors report that completing the RenewalWorks process helps to identify lay leaders and to encourage these individuals to become spiritual leaders. What is the difference between having a church job versus being a spiritual leader? RenewalWorks provides a framework for contemplating how lay leaders might incorporate spiritual components into their own ministry groups. The process invites them to open their thoughts to how church activities can draw us closer to each other, the broader community, and God.
Last month I had the opportunity to work on-site with Christ Church, Glendale in Ohio. In one workshop we had an interesting conversation about the Property Committee’s winter work of shoveling snow to clear walkways. Everyone agreed this was an important and necessary task but wondered how this ministry could be seen as a thank-offering to the parish and to God. As a result of the conversation, the senior warden plans to acknowledge that Committee’s thank-offering with the entire congregation. Committee members will be invited to share, through testimonials, why this work is important to them and is ultimately an expression of their faith.
In another church, the RenewalWorks Facilitator decided to begin including a simple lay-led bible reflection into the weekly Prayer Shawl/Knitting Circle group. She used Forward Movement’s Prayer app to access the daily readings. In each session a different member would prepare and lead the bible reflection. The Facilitator reported that this small change completely transformed the focus of that group.
This spring two RenewalWorks churches had small groups that included active dinner groups. To date they had not incorporated a spiritual practice into these dinners. RenewalWorks participants wondered how adding a prompt for deeper conversation might create a venue for deeper connection. For the fall, both will look to provide evangelism cards as a conversation prompt. It’s a small change, but also an opportunity to share our stories and grow in relationship to each other.
The above are examples of how RenewalWorks creates an environment for lay and clergy to jointly examine current church groups and activities. Does your church view ministries as a way to deepen relationships with each other and God?
Come join us this fall to start the discovery. We are currently taking registration for our fall 2025 cohort through the end of July.
RenewalWorks shares some ideas to help you make the most out of Sunday
Based on data RenewalWorks has collected from over 350 Episcopal churches, embedding the Bible into the life of the church is one of the five best practices in spiritually vital churches. It is also an area in which Episcopal respondents express an interest in learning more. This past week, we had a conversation about this principle with the current churches participating in the RenewalWorks program.
Previous RenewalWorks participant churches report deeper spiritual engagement when parishioners take the time to digest the upcoming Sunday readings. This practice not only fosters daily spiritual practices but also enhances understanding of the Bible and facilitates communication with God.
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105
Last week, many of the current RenewalWorks churches wondered how the Sunday service and sermon experience could be enhanced if parishioners spent time during the week studying, reflecting on, and digesting these passages.
Below are two examples of churches that created resources for parishioners to examine and contemplate the upcoming Sunday readings.
After completing RenewalWorks, Rev. Jane Schmoetzer at All Saints' Episcopal Church in Richland, WA, began providing a weekly email with a reflection on one of the upcoming Sunday readings. Fast forward a few years, and parishioners have now stepped forward to take responsibility for delivering the reflection. It is titled, the "Wednesday Word. "
On the growth of the Wednesday Word at All Saints’, Rev Jane remarks,
“I never fail to be drawn in by these brief meditations. It feels like spending a few moments in conversation with a faithful friend. Every time, the writer asks a question or offers an insight that stirs my own contemplation. Often, they see something I may have missed or offer inspiration in a way I do not expect.
It’s also a reminder of the importance not only of reading scripture but doing so in community. Reading the Bible on our own is an important practice; however, sharing the “variety of gifts” that God places in our hearts and minds is absolutely key to a fuller understanding of the Holy Spirit’s presence and leading.”
Rev. Peter Walsh, a member of the RenewalWorks advisory board and rector of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in New Canaan, CT, also sought ways to encourage reflection and understanding of the upcoming Sunday readings. The church started recording a weekly podcast called "Rev'd Up for Sunday" (available on Tuesdays) that features a clergy discussion centered on one reading. Since its introduction, its popularity and production have expanded beyond the parish of St. Mark’s. Listeners gain an intimate view of how St. Mark’s priests- Fr. Peter, Rev. Elizabeth Garnsey, and Fr. John Kennedy- prepare for Sunday through a sometimes irreverent, often witty 30-minute conversation filled with love for our Lord.
Fr. Peter had this to say on the growth of Rev’d Up for Sunday as a spiritual practice,
“…coming out of the pandemic we were asking the question of what did our people need? Jesus and the Bible, the quick answer. Instantly, the pod idea. We started the next day with no idea how to do it. Now it is a central piece of our life together. It has radically changed the preaching, as now we all spend a lot of time studying the Bible and the life of Christ. I could never have preached the Easter sermon that I did without three years of pod behind it. More and more people in the parish are engaged with it, and it so fun for us to hear from people around the U.S. and from out of the country.”
Pro tip: After listening to the pod, try viewing the Sunday sermon (available on the website) to witness the pod's impact on the sermons at St. Mark’s. In conjunction with attending one’s own church, reflecting on the Sunday passages in advance is a substantive way to delve deeply into studying scripture.
The two examples above are just a few of the resources shared during our RenewalWorks call. Is your church offering another way to prepare for Sunday or for prereading the weekly Sunday readings?
We love the opportunity to share good ideas and resources among our churches. If you have an idea or an example for us, please share it here.
