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Through my preparation for this event with our guest speakers, author Teresa Stewart and Pastor Donna Simon (Director of Evangelical Mission and Bishop-elect of Central States Synod), I knew that we were in for something special. Teresa’s book, The Small Church Advantage, is so simple and straightforward in concept, and yet applying the ideas takes intentionality and focus.
The book itself is great, but I knew folks would be more likely to apply it if they heard from her directly. Because Teresa is Methodist, she made sure that she gave Pastor Donna time to contextualize these concepts for a Lutheran audience. Teresa and Pastor Donna working together is dynamic. I thought this synod event had the potential to be transformational. For many, it was.
Here are some comments from the event evaluations (shared with permission):
- It gave me hope for being in a small congregation. (Janet Haas, Christ Stockton)
- Great event to get congregations thinking about the what and the why of worship and acting on faith. (Diane Burns, First Rockford)
- Very well planned. Time went by fast. Our interest was kept. Great to be able to meet and share with others. (Shirley Anderson, Capron Capron)
- One of the best synod events I’ve been to. (Anonymous)
Teresa was very intentional about how she organized this event – she didn’t just teach us; she showed us how to create an environment of participation. As people walked in – sometimes even before they picked up their name tag – a participant asked them to choose a task to do during the event. Some had serious jobs, like serving as scribe up front and passing out handouts. Others had silly jobs, like making a table mascot out of play dough. Everyone had a way to contribute.
This spirit of participation started long before the event, though. During planning meetings, Teresa noted my creative skills and assigned me tasks to create reflection stations. I love collaborative art projects, so I took her suggestion to create two of them. She encouraged me to create something that could stay with the synod, so the wreath of prayers using our synod fabric can come to other synod events for people to reflect, pray, and admire.
There was so much for people to experience at this Scrappy Congregations event! During our worship services, we practiced what we were learning. We had worship arts supplies – people had a clipboard with plain printer paper and a cup of crayons or markers. While reflecting on the lessons and the sermon, they drew and colored. Then, during the offering, they placed their art on the communion rail. Pastor Donna practiced “All Preach” where we had a conversation about the lessons instead of one person preaching. All of this collaboration helped me to feel the Spirit moving in a way that I hadn’t felt in a long time.
Here are some items that people are taking away with them:
- God always provides us with the ability and opportunity to change and learn different ways to serve God and each other. (Jon Keppen, Trinity Lanark)
- Small congregations are not miniaturized big ones. I learned that God is continuing to do amazing things in these congregations. (Nathaniel Knutson, Grace Knoxville)
- Do things to get the name of your Church out into the Community. Find new ways to revitalize the worship experience, a deeper involvement with everyone in worship. (Doug Wood, Immanuel Amboy)
- Small is not inferior! We have a lot of gifts to share; we just need to curate them. (Pastor Kris Zierke, Our Savior’s Seneca and Immanuel Marseilles)
- It is okay to experiment and fail. – Debbie Goebel, Christ Stockton
- The Word and sacraments is most important. Bring our gifts to the altar. – Shirley Anderson, Capron Capron
Teresa offered quite a lot of ideas for how congregations can create more participation in worship. Not every congregation needs to try every idea, and not every idea needs to be a permanent feature. Whatever small things we try can bring energy and life to worship.
God never left our small, scrappy congregations. But when we get stuck in a passive rut, we sometimes struggle to sense God’s presence. When we create more ways to participate in worship, we are open to sensing the movement of the Spirit. I certainly felt God’s presence during this synod event in a way that I hadn’t in a long time. From what I have heard, others felt the same way.
