Participants in the pilot offering of Groundwork found the workshops so encouraging that they showed up for an extra refresher session in June. When asked what worked, they talked about the mix of clergy and lay people learning together, hearing about life in other parishes, and the good mix of learning, practice and reflection. They also liked that there was lots of laughter. So, just what is this program about?
Groundwork helps parishes prepare the ground for membership growth. Over four Saturday workshops, parish teams learn practical, hands-on strategies for inviting, greeting and orienting newcomers. This includes developing a clear sense of life-giving Anglican Christianity as it is expressed in each parish, ways to help newcomers navigate complex worship, tips for refreshing websites and social media, and more. Parish teams plan a special service over Advent or Christmas that provides the focus for implementing these strategies.
There is a $500 matching grant for participating parishes. Space is limited and teams need to apply for a place.
The workshops are taking place on September 21, October 19, November 16 and January 25th. Click here for more details or contact Tasha Carrothers, Missioner for Parish Development.