Scott Rands
Faith in the Unexpected: Wellspring’s Unconventional Beginning
Wellspring on Main, Diocese of Texas “Uninvited from their congregations for being too “spiritually generous, about ‘girls and gays’,” a group of faithful Episcopalians coalesced at a live theatre where they first-hand learned that church is not a building, to value everyone who walks in the doors, and that Jesus always shows up even though […]
A Church That Speaks the Language of the People
Mother of the Savior, Diocese of Michigan “Mother of the Savior Church in Dearborn, Michigan, is the first Arabic-speaking Episcopal-Lutheran congregation in the United States, founded to serve the growing Arab American Christian community .Established to offer a spiritual home that embraces Arab Christian identity, it emphasizes bridge-building between communities and provides an Arab Christian […]
Learning, Laughing, and Growing in Faith
Espiritu Santo, Diocese of Texas “Our kids gather for catechesis at the heart of the vibrant congregation of Espiritu Santo. Every week, children arrive with bright smiles, eager to participate in catechism activities. It’s full of interesting stories about Jesus, sacraments, and church teachings. Through colorful drawings and interactive classes, kids learn in a fun […]
Ordination With a Soundtrack: Faith in a New Key
West Central Abbey, Diocese of Spokane “On September 29, the Feast of All Angels, I was ordained at the West Central Abbey. The processional hymn was “Come as you are” by Nirvana and the recessional was “Calling All Angels” by Train. Our liturgy had poetry and preaching and Eucharist and the most wild and wonderful […]
A Church Where Everyone Belongs
The Church at Crossroads, Diocese of Michigan “One of our students (7 years old) in our Good News Crew Church School was disappointed to hear we were “taking a break” for the summer and said, “I wish we didn’t take a break.” He was able to come to some of our VBS and we added a […]
Sailing Toward the Divine: Halau Wa’a’s Spiritual Journey
Halau Wa’a, Diocese of Hawaii “HWEH is a hui of wa‘a (canoes) empowering individual spiritual journeys and focused on creating disciples of Jesus, to meet/respond to human need through loving service, to transform unjust structures of society, and to sustain/renew the life of our island home. In respect of the land, HWEH worships outdoors with liturgy […]
A Story of Love, Culture, and Connection in Cincinnati
Imagine Cincinnati, Diocese of Southern Ohio “On a warm February day, we gathered outside with children in our laps and listened to a friend read a book about the ways her Mandarin Chinese family shows love. As she shared her joy, a profound peace enveloped us all. Unbeknownst to me, her family was celebrating New Year’s […]
Finding God in Language, Family, and Tradition
Purepecha Beloved Community, Diocese of Western North Carolina “We have been completely transformed by the experiences shared with the Purepecha community. As we have gathered to learn their language, traditions and understanding of God and society, Purepechas have reminded us that at the center of our lives the most important virtue is this profound love […]
Faith in Action: Serving a Community in Need
Misión Santa Maria Virgen, Diocese of Colombia “Las características desfavorables de nuestra comunidad; La inseguridad, desempleo, riñas callejeras, hurto, violencia intrafamiliar, alcoholismo, abuso sexual, discriminación a personas “LGTB+” entre otros factores. Son en realidad una oportunidad de Evangelismo para la NEC Santa María Virgen que nace, crece y evoluciona de Estación de predicación (2023) a […]
Exploring Faith Without Fear at The Well
The Well, Diocese of Washington “A recent visitor said, “The Well is a safe place.” A high praise for this is our goal. The Well gathers for Faith Conversations & Brunch twice a month. It is a chance to meet other seekers, eat good food, & talk about difficult church topics within a welcoming community. […]