Announcement from the Communications Office
RenewalWorks begins in the fall;
50% reimbursement if you go for it!
RenewalWorks is a great place to begin for congregational development. This four-month plan is being used across The Episcopal Church to help congregations focus on spiritual growth for congregational growth. What a great time to give it a try – as we emerge from our stay at home orders and emerge back together as “church”. Renewal works may help provide structured conversation for moving forward and moving deeper in our lives in Christ. Even if you have done it before, so much has changed…it might be a good time to do it again and allow the process to go even deeper!

HOW IT WORKS
RenewalWorks begins with developing a focus group team (4-5 people) led by a lay person, to consider some simple but important questions. The leadership team convenes over four meetings to wonder together how best to engage your congregation in the results of the Spiritual Life Inventory, taken by the entire congregation. The inventory provides an opportunity for each member to reflect on their spiritual life. RenewalWorks compiles that data and provides a cohesive picture of the congregation’s spiritual life. This helps provide a fresh and objective look at how things are in the parish. RenewalWorks provides an online consultation with the leadership team to review the results of the survey.

Subsequent meetings focus on the metrics drawn from the Spiritual Life Inventory to create a plan to grow the church in the five best practices of vital and viable congregations. All materials for this conversation are provide.

In the Diocese of Western Massachusetts, we will be developing a cohort with parishes that participate. Some of the meetings will be done together on ZOOM (or in person, if parishes are close enough and if we are able to get together once again safely) with an exchange of ideas and resources.

WHEN DOES IT HAPPEN?
The Fall round begins on September 20, with the opening of the online survey. RenewalWorks advises you to register at least 4-6 weeks ahead of time in order to advertise and gather a leadership team. So, register by August 10 to give yourself plenty of time!

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
It is $500 per parish. The Diocese offers a 50% scholarship. Go to the Renewal Works website and register and then send the receipt to Pam Mott.

HOW DO I LEARN MORE?
Join in for an informational ZOOM meeting on Wednesday August 5th at 7pm OR Thursday August 6th at 3pm – contact Pam Mott ( pmott@diocesewma.org) for a ZOOM link – please specify which date you would like to attend.

For an interview with the Rev. Jay Sidebotham about the RenewalWorks program, please read this article in The Living Church: Renewal Works (If You Work It).

WHEN YOU REGISTER, EMAIL PAM AND LET HER KNOW SO WE CAN DEVELOP OUR COHORT OF CHURCHES FOR MUTUAL SUPPORT AND INSPIRATION!
Questions?

The Reverend Pamela J. Mott
Missioner for Congregational Vitality

The Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts | 413-737-4786 | diocesewma.org