Mission Yearbook: Leaders of new worshiping communities are learning in Apprenticeship Program

The 1001 New Worshiping Communities movement is now hosting leaders for its Apprenticeship Program, a nine-month, part-time initiative designed to equip and sustain those called to start new expressions of faith outside the walls of traditional congregations. 

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1001 Apprentice Program

The program, administered through the office of 1001 New Worshiping Communities within Presbyterian Life & Witness, is built around three core pillars: one-on-one coaching, a weekly cohort, and hands-on guidance for launching or growing a new worshiping community. The goal is not simply to train church planters in isolation but to surround them with ongoing relationships and accountability throughout the journey. 

“The trainings, resources, connections, and, most importantly, the community, were very empowering,” said the Rev. Rola Al Ashkar, who leads Iama Embodied Ministries, a conscious community rooted in embodied spirituality, trauma-informed practices and integrative theology in North Central California Presbytery “It was a weekly reminder that I don't have to do it alone, and I miss it every day.” 

Each apprentice is matched with a coach drawn from one of the largest and most diverse networks of trained coaches. Coaches meet regularly with participants to help them navigate roadblocks and identify the next steps tailored to their specific ministry context. 

Every Thursday from September until May, cohort members gather via Zoom, rotating through spiritual direction, conversations with established new worshiping community leaders and dialogical training. For many participants, that weekly rhythm becomes a lifeline. 

“Talking with other new worshiping community leaders who are doing this work brings an immense sense of relief and encouragement because they understand how challenging it is,” said Julie Gvillo, a Reiki master and commissioned pastor through the Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy who leads A Place of Grace. She added that the financial support the apprenticeship program provides — including a stipend and coverage of coaching costs — has also offered meaningful relief to leaders who often work without the resources of an established congregation behind them. 

Beyond the weekly video gatherings, the program also brings participants together for in-person retreats, which many describe as transformative. 

“The retreats have been the best part for me, getting to connect with the others in person,” said the Rev. Alicia Vela Anderson from Chicago. “The connection to others has really broadened my imagination for what my ministry could become.” 

The diversity of the cohort itself is frequently cited as one of the program's most formative features. Participants come from a wide range of ministry contexts — from yoga studios to music communities to neighborhood gatherings — reflecting the breadth of what 1001 NWC envisions as the church. 

“To see the wide variety of people involved has been very uplifting — to see the future kingdom of heaven reflected in the hearts and faces of my fellow cohort,” said Steve Zeoli, a filmmaker and founder of Rainmakers Community. “All these caring, thoughtful, wonderful people? An utter joy.” Zeoli’s new worshiping community is one of 32 new worshiping communities supported by the New Church Development Commission of the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta. 

The program is led by the Rev. Sara Hayden, director of apprenticeships and leadership cohorts for 1001 NWC and host of the movement’s podcast, “New Way.” Hayden brings firsthand experience to the work of guiding emerging leaders through the complexities of church planting. More than 200 new worshiping community leaders across the country have turned to the program and its cohort network for mutual support and continued training.

Whether a leader is just beginning to discern a call or already gathering a community, the program meets participants where they are — helping them establish vision, develop gathering strategies and set achievable goals. 

For those navigating a ministry that doesn’t fit neatly into conventional church structures, the apprenticeship offers something especially rare: the sense that they are not alone. 

“The reflective work we are encouraged to do is meaningful and inspiring,” Gvillo said. 

Beth Waltemath, Communications Strategist, Presbyterian Life & Witness (Click here to read original PNS Story)

Let us join in prayer for:

Melody Smith, Manager, Story Ministry, Interpretation & Communications, Presbyterian Life & Witness
Layton Williams Berkes, Communications Strategist, Presbyterian Life & Witness

Let us pray:

Loving God, you who gave us eternal life, you who shares the power of your love through others, you who amaze us when we expect the worse, help us love as you love us. Amen.

Mission Yearbook: Program helps NWCs build strong foundations

“It’s gatherings like this, where you get together with the people who think like you, who understand ministry like you do, who know that there's a lot of people out there who need to hear about Jesus, but in a very different way, and it’s good to be together,” said Mindy Heimer, co-founder of A Stoked Life, a new worshiping community in Denver Presbytery.

Heimer and Nathan, her partner in life and ministry, were among 150 new worshiping leaders who attended the 1001 New Worshiping Communities national gathering in October 2025. The gathering was an opportunity for the staff of the 1001 New Worshiping Communities movement to offer support on a national scale to leaders the innovative evangelists, faithful nonprofit incubators and church planters.

Video URL: https://player.vimeo.com/video/1150359405

Throughout the year, 1001 New Worshiping Communities supports leaders within its movement in a myriad of other ways.

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Hikers at Kin-dom Camp, a new worshiping community, take a path less traveled (Photo by Rich Copley).

One of these ways is the Pathways to Flourishing program designed for mid councils. The program is a comprehensive initiative designed to equip, support and resource New Worshiping Communities leaders with essential skills for starting, sustaining and growing new worshiping communities. Over the past three years, five cohorts comprising leaders from nearly 20 presbyteries have launched under the guidance of 1001 NWC regional associates the Rev. Shawn Kang and the Rev. Dr. Gad Mpoyo.

The program addresses a critical gap many church planters face, supporting them with skills development, community of peers, and ongoing coaching through a system of 1001 cohorts and trained coaches. The first wave of the program launched cohorts within partner presbyteries, fostering a culture of innovation and support inside mid councils as they face widespread changes and look for new ways to evangelize and launch faith communities.

“The Pathways program is meant for presbyteries, mid councils, and supporters to create ecosystems of innovation that allow NWCs to find their footing and thrive,” said Mpoyo.

“Many leaders are called to start new worshiping communities but lack training in the practical aspects of growing an organization in partnership with mid councils,” said Kang. “Pathways to Flourishing provides the tools they need to build communities that don’t just survive but truly thrive.”

The program offers both online courses and in-person learning experiences covering crucial topics including financial management, legal structures, fundraising strategies, team building and organizational development. Participants learn to navigate the complexities of establishing nonprofits, managing budgets, building effective teams and creating sustainable funding models.

Unlike traditional seminary education, which focuses primarily on theological formation and pastoral care, Pathways to Flourishing concentrates on the entrepreneurial and administrative competencies essential for launching new ministries in contemporary contexts.

In October 2025, 1001 New Worshiping Communities held a national gathering for their leaders. The gathering was centered around restoration through rest and community. The Rev. Pepa Paniagua, founder of Kin-dom Camp, an LGBTQIA+-friendly new worshiping community in Texas and current staff member of Grace Presbytery directing the Innovation for New Ministry initiative, appreciated the time away with other new worshiping leaders. “I joke that I spend a lot of energy pushing the door open so that others can go through it,” Paniagua said about the way her work has evolved since founding a new worshiping community and transitioning to help mid councils support others in the work of tent-making. For over a year, Paniagua has been a part of a Pathways to Flourishing cohort that has included leaders from the Presbyteries of South Louisiana, Western North Carolina and Giddings-Lovejoy as well as her own Grace Presbytery.

Pathways to Flourishing represents 1001 New Worshiping Communities’ continued commitment to supporting innovative expressions of church across the PC(USA). Since its inception, the 1001 movement has helped launch hundreds of diverse worshiping communities, from urban café churches to rural community gardens, and from recovery ministries to online faith gatherings.

By equipping leaders with practical organizing acumen alongside their theological training, the program aims to increase the success rate and longevity of new worshiping communities, ensuring they have solid foundations for long-term ministry impact.

More details about Pathways to Flourishing are available through 1001 New Worshiping Communities’ website and by contacting Kang and Mpoyo. and by contacting Kang and Mpoyo. 

Beth Waltemath, Communications Strategist, Presbyterian Life & Witness (Click here to read original PNS Story)

Let us join in prayer for:

Clare Balsan, Associate, United Nations Advocacy, Presbyterian Ministry at the UN, Presbyterian Life & Witness
Rebecca Barnes, Lead, Presbyterian Hunger Program, Global Ecumenical Partnerships, Presbyterian Life & Witness

Let us pray:

Lord, let us see you in those we serve and in those who serve others. Amen.

Mission Yearbook: NWC leaders learn strategies for sustainable fundraising

For new worshiping communities across the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), securing sustainable funding while staying true to their mission presents unique challenges. Traditional fundraising models often don't fit the realities of small, emerging communities led by bi-vocational leaders serving diverse populations. 

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The Rev. Nikki Collins (second from left) at the Lake Institute workshop for 1001 New Worshiping Communities leaders (Photos by Shawn Kang).

The Lake Institute on Faith & Giving recently partnered with the 1001 New Worshiping Communities movement to address these challenges, offering specialized training to 21 leaders and three staff members. The workshop, held at a discounted rate for the network, provided tools for integrating financial stewardship with theological vision. 

“We are grateful to the Lake Institute for offering this training to our network at a significant discount,” said the Rev. Nikki Collins, manager of the 1001 New Worshiping Communities movement. “Beyond that, in the planning for this event, the Lake Institute staff worked with Jeya So, associate for training, 1001 NWC, to tailor some of their materials for the unique context of starting new worshiping communities and for working across cultural contexts.” 

Collins emphasized the quality of the program, noting that facilitators brought both expert knowledge and deep personal experience in congregational giving while creating space for participants to explore their own relationship to money. 

Looking ahead, Collins said 1001 NWC will continue listening to the needs of new worshiping community leaders and their supporting presbyteries to identify additional training that will lead to sustainability and flourishing. 

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The Rev. Jeya So, associate for training for 1001 New Worshiping Communities, presents at the Lake Institute workshop.

The training offered a crucial shift in perspective: viewing stewardship not merely as fundraising but as spiritual formation. This reframing resonated deeply with Peter Okyere, a Ph.D. candidate and digital ministry strategist who leads A Light to the Nations, a new worshiping community that began in Worthington, Ohio, in 2023. 

As coordinator for immigrants and refugees in Scioto Valley Presbytery, Okyere launched the Matthew 25 initiative with connections to Delaware, Ohio, and ministry partnerships in Ghana and Nigeria. The multicultural, justice-oriented community aims to embody hospitality and provide a spiritual home for people seeking authentic connection across cultures. 

Okyere said he hoped to gain practical tools for aligning fundraising and resource development with the mission of multicultural ministry while ensuring sustainability and remaining faithful to core values. The training delivered on that hope, emphasizing entrepreneurial thinking and adaptive leadership for communities building from the ground up. 

"The training reminded me that generosity grows when people see how their gifts advance God's mission," Okyere said. "I plan to integrate narrative storytelling into our ministry — sharing testimonies of transformation that inspire giving and deepen engagement. This will help our community connect financial practices with discipleship and justice." 

Learning to communicate mission and invite others into generosity while building sustainability without losing the heart of ministry drove one leader's participation in the training. Katia Regina DaCunha, founder and executive director of Latinx In Action, leads its emerging new worshiping community serving immigrant families on Cape Cod in the Presbytery of Southern New England. 

The community began informally in 2017 in Hyannis, Massachusetts, responding to spiritual hunger among newly arrived immigrant families experiencing trauma and isolation. Prayer gatherings and pastoral care naturally grew into a worshiping community rooted in dignity, hope and hospitality, creating space where people encounter God's presence in their own language, culture and story. 

An elder currently pursuing ordination through Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, DaCunha said she hoped to gain tools for sustainable leadership, fundraising with integrity and the building of generous cultures that fit multicultural and immigrant contexts. The training offered practical and accessible frameworks that spoke directly to the realities of small, emerging and often under-resourced communities. 

During a practical exercise, DaCunha shared the community's Emergency Safe Planning Program for immigrant families who may face encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The feedback she received proved invaluable. 

“Their insights helped me see even more clearly how essential this program is for the safety, stability and dignity of our families,” DaCunha said. “I left with concrete ideas on how to communicate its impact and invite partners to support it.” She identified strengthening and funding this program as a priority moving forward. 

Beth Waltemath, Communications Strategist, Presbyterian Life & Witness (Click here to read original PNS Story)

Let us join in prayer for:

Atticus Gore, Summer Fellow, Office of Public Witness – Washington, Presbyterian Life & Witness
Austin Lane, Summer Fellow, Office of Public Witness – Washington, Presbyterian Life & Witness    

Let us pray:

Creator God, we give thanks for the gift of compassion. We pray for comfort for all. Amen.

Mission Yearbook: Voices in many languages join to bring renewal at 1001 NWC gathering

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Pastor Marlucia Damacena Crispim (Photo by Zulema Garcia)

At the 1001 New Worshiping Communities National Gathering held in Estes Park, Colorado, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) celebrated a rich tapestry of multicultural and multilingual worship. With over 150 attendees, including 20 who primarily spoke Spanish and many others who were multilingual, the gathering embodied the denomination’s commitment to inclusivity and innovation in spiritual leadership.

One evening’s worship was a powerful moment of connection and vulnerability, led by pastor Marlucia Damaceno Crispim, a commissioned lay pastor serving Iglesia El Buen Pastor, an immigrant congregation in Atlanta. Preaching on Matthew 11 and Psalm 46, Crispim spoke passionately about the exhaustion felt by pastors and community leaders, especially within immigrant churches. Her sermon emphasized the deep need for rest among those who serve tirelessly and resonated deeply with people at all levels of translation.

The Rev. Sara Hayden, associate for apprenticeships for 1001 NWC, said Crispim’s sermon asked important questions of discernment for leaders of new worshiping communities who often balance many jobs alongside their ministries. After the service, Hayden, who speaks both English and Spanish, recalled an important line from Crispim’s sermon: “The Lord, the Creator of heaven and Earth, invites us to come and rest for a little while ... the question for us is, how much is ‘a little’ and is the ‘little’ you've been resting enough?”

The Rev. Laura Beth Buchleiter from Indianapolis reflected, “It was incredibly powerful to watch a majority community be the receivers of the translation. Meaning didn’t quite matter, as much as we like to think it does sometimes.”

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Stephanie Vasquez (center) stands with Latina leaders of new worshiping communities (Contributed photo).

To ensure accessibility, simultaneous translation services were provided by Stephanie Vasquez, manager of the PC(USA)’s Global Language Resources. Vasquez distributed more than 70 headsets, allowing worshipers to hear Crispim’s message in English. Vasquez’s work is foundational to many national PC(USA) events, where she often coordinates with local interpreters to provide real-time translation. Her presence and dedication made it possible for attendees to experience worship across linguistic boundaries.

Reflecting on the experience, the Rev. Nikki Collins, manager of 1001 New Worshiping Communities, noted the subversive power of shifting voice and authority. “It was just the shift of voice and power and the experience of watching people who are always so comfortable in all of our spaces have to figure out something new.” This reversal of roles — where English speakers became the ones receiving translation — created a moment of humility and shared humanity.

The next morning’s worship continued the theme of embodied grace and spiritual renewal. Led by pastors who had immigrated from Ethiopia, Uganda, Nigeria, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the service was both a multicultural celebration and a call to understand rest in many contexts.

The Rev. Gilo Agwa, who leads a new worshiping community in Stillwater, Minnesota, preached on Mark 6:31 and Luke 6:12–13. He spoke candidly about the relentless pace of life in immigrant communities, where rest is often elusive. “In my church, 75% of members cannot attend worship on the same Sunday. … People sleep in the church during worship service. It’s not because the worship service is boring, but it’s because there is no rest. They are tired.” His sermon was a heartfelt plea for Sabbath as resistance — a spiritual act of reclaiming dignity and wholeness.

Translation also occurred in the process of hearing the good news, not just through words but also through the body. The multicultural forms of music that morning made the embodiment of worship palpable. Gina Brown from The Faith Studio in Atlanta said, “I wasn’t able to stand and sit like everyone else. … I just closed my eyes and decided to worship that way and connected with the Spirit.”

The Rev. Rola Al Ashkar, leader of Їama Embodied Ministries in Sacramento, California, added, “I feel at home, feeling welcomed and accepted in a place that doesn’t think I’m weird for moving my body [and] accepting feeling good in the body as a form of worship.”

Together, these moments of multilingual proclamation, embodied worship, and shared rest painted a picture of a church that is learning to listen deeply — to the Spirit, to one another and to the diverse voices that make up its body. 

Beth Waltemath, Communications Strategist, Presbyterian Life & Witness (Click here to read original PNS Story)

Let us join in prayer for:

Patricia Haines, Executive Vice President, Benefits, The Board of Pensions
Ian Hall, Interim President and CFO/COO, President’s Office, Administrative Services Group

Let us pray:

Lord God, thank you for your gift of love that transforms our lives. Thank you for giving us opportunities to share and receive that love. Continue your work in our churches. We ask all of this as your children. Amen.

Mission Yearbook: 1001 gathering attendees explore forest church in Colorado

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The Rocky Mountains and atmospheric jazz led by Ike Sturm set the stage for forest church on Oct. 14 in Colorado. (Photos by Beth Waltemath)

Morning light recently streamed through the large picture window behind the chancel of Hyde Chapel at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado, casting a golden glow on the exposed wooden beams. The light illuminated the peaks of the Rocky Mountains beyond and silhouetted a herd of elk grazing on the lawn as ethereal praise songs filled the space, led by jazz bassist and composer Ike Sturm and a team of musicians who had never played together before.

The improvisational harmonies, layered with piano, harmonium and voice, created a contemplative atmosphere that invited worshipers into a deeper spiritual space at the 1001 New Worshiping Communities national gathering — setting the stage for a morning ritual that was both elemental and innovative.

“There were so many little nuggets of wisdom in those lyrics and the poetry,” said the Rev. Michael Gehrling, the 1001 New Worshiping Communities associate for recruitment and assessment. Gehrling transitioned the service from the gathering music into the time of reflection, introducing the morning’s worship leader, the Rev. Erin Angeli.

Angeli, co-pastor of the Commonwealth of Oakland near Pittsburgh, introduced an alternative form of worship known as forest church. Drawing from ancient Celtic practices and the book “Forest Church: A Field Guide to a Spiritual Connection with Nature” by Bruce Stanley, Angeli described how her community practices this form of worship as a trauma-informed, inclusive way to encounter God through Creation — what Stanley calls “God’s first Scripture.”

“God is dwelling out there all over the place,” Angeli said. “Taking the time to read what God has written into the land brings a connection to the Spirit that I have found hard to create in a classic worship environment.”

Participants were invited to venture outside and engage with nature through three pathways: awe, study and meaning-making. Some wandered in solitude, while others gathered in small groups to reflect together.

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The Rev. Gilo Agwa tells stories to other African pastors during forest church.

A group of African pastors, many of whom had immigrated from Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, gathered around an unlit fire pit and chose to share stories communally. “We are Africans. We’re communal,” said the Rev. Princeton Abaraoha of the United African Presbyterian Church in Dallas. “In a journey, you don’t travel by yourself.”

Their reflections revealed how deeply nature informs spiritual wisdom in the lives of Africans. Pastor Edrine Ddungu of Sacramento Uganda Community Fellowship in California described taking young adult congregants to Uganda on “respite trips” to learn from its culture and nature. 

The Rev. Dr. Fred Mangeni, pastor of Jubilee International Fellowship in Wake Forest, North Carolina, shared how, during his time with the Maasai people in Kenya, he learned that it wasn’t necessary to build a church but rather to “create a space where they are,” for nature is their constant sanctuary as they migrate with the animals.

“You encounter the divine in your journey,” agreed Abaraoha, recalling how a Maasai leader once advised him to stay with the group because lions only attack those who stray from the line. The guide had urged, “Follow me. I am your way,” echoing the words of Jesus in John 14:6.

“That’s Maasai Scripture,” added Mangeni. “He didn’t have to read you the Gospel of John.”

“There is power in community,” Abaraoha continued. “You achieve more when you travel in community than when you travel by yourself.”

After 30 minutes, the musicians set up on the grass outside the chapel to call the worshipers back indoors to share their discoveries. Angeli invited those gathered to speak about what moved them.

One worshiper described feeling awe at a tree with both living and dead branches, still connected — a metaphor for resilience and spiritual sustenance. “Even when you feel like the life is sucked out, you’re still connected,” they said.

As the group reconvened in Hyde Chapel, Angeli closed the service with a prayer that captured the spirit of the morning: “Gracious God, hold up that sunlight for us just a little while. We thank you for these bright spots, for these times where you turn the kaleidoscope of life, and we can see, feel, smell and touch you in the world.”

Beth Waltemath, Communications Strategist, Presbyterian Life & Witness (Click here to read original PNS Story)

Let us join in prayer for:

Denise Govindarajan, Associate Director, Digital Strategy & Information Systems, Administrative Services Group
Joanna Graf, Administrator, Finance, IT, Strategic Initiatives, The Board of Pensions

Let us pray:

Loving God, thank you for courage, creativity and perseverance. Give us health and strength in difficult circumstances. Shine your face upon all of us so your love will light our path. Amen.

Mission Yearbook: 1001 leaders share a sacred pause at gathering

“O God, as we reflect on this divine invitation that you've afforded us to gather on this night for this experience, to worship and to selah, to pause and to breathe, to be reminded and to remember again your purpose for our lives, the call on our ministries ... we have gathered here, O Lord, to encounter you,” prayed the Rev. Dr. Winterbourne LaPucelle Harrison-Jones, his voice rising over an interlude of music composed by his wife, Dr. Jillian Harrison-Jones. “And what a joy it is to know, O Lord, that we do not come to this garden alone. We are here together in community bounded by this amazing network of leaders.”

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Dr. Jillian Harrison-Jones leads the choir at opening worship for the 1001 New Worshiping Communities national gathering. 

Recently at the YMCA of the Rockies, nestled in the mountains outside Estes Park, Colorado, the 1001 New Worshiping Communities National Gathering opened with a worship service invoking the week’s theme, “Come Away and Rest a While.” The service invited leaders of new communities from across the country to pause, reflect, and reconnect with God and one another.

Musicians Ike Sturm, founder of Finding Our Way Home, and Dr. Jillian Harrison-Jones led the community in worship through music by blending jazz, ambient sound and choral harmonies that created a contemplative atmosphere.

The Rev. Dolly Dong, campus minister and pastor of Linden Road Chinese Community Ministry in Ohio, preached on the Hebrew word “selah,” found throughout the Psalms. “Selah is the rest area of our life journey,” Dong said. “It is a time to pause and ponder upon the truth that has been said or sung.”

Drawing from her own experience of burnout and recovery, Dong shared how selah became a spiritual anchor. “Last year, as I was praying, God gave me the word selah to meditate on daily,” she said. “I skipped this word many times when reading Scripture, but now I see its deep meaning. It’s a sacred pause, a moment to reflect and rest.”

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The Rev. Dolly Dong.

Dong’s sermon was grounded in Scripture, including Psalm 46 and Mark 6, where Jesus invites his disciples to “come away and rest.” She challenged attendees to consider whether they would accept that invitation if Jesus appeared before them today. “Can you 100% say that you would immediately stop and follow his invitation?” she asked.

Rev. Dr. Harrison-Jones continued the theme of rest and reflection in his pastoral prayer, invoking the words of theologian Howard Thurman: “Oh, how good it is to center down.” He invited the gathered community to consider what they were truly seeking in the days ahead — healing, joy, clarity — and to covenant together to find it through silence, laughter, solitude and community.

The worship service concluded with a communal prayer and candlelight reflection as participants sat quietly, breathing deeply and centering themselves in God’s presence.

“The rest was evident and palpable in the crowd,” said the Rev. Sara Hayden, host of 1001’s “New Way” podcast. She called the “welcome, music, words, intentions, ambience and the rest … sublime.”

Among those moved by the experience were the Rev. Rafael Viana and his wife, the Rev. Ivette Llano, leaders of immigrant congregations serving Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking communities, El Camino and Casa Brasil. Viana, who was attending the gathering as a new worshiping leader and as a member of the Mission Development Resources Committee, which awards grants to new worshiping communities, described the constant mental activity that ministry often demands. “This reminder — that we need to rest in God — is powerful,” he said.

Llano described feeling refreshed as she left the assembly hall on the gathering’s first evening. “The worship felt like descanso and refrigerio — rest and refreshment,” she said. Viana nodded in agreement. “Ah, yes, if you put those together, it’s amazing.”

For Viana, Llano and many others, the gathering offered more than just a break from routine. It was a sacred pause — a selah — in the midst of busy lives and demanding ministries. And as the evening closed, the words of Harrison-Jones lingered in the mountain air: “Oh, how good it is to center down.”

Beth Walteman, Communications Strategist, Presbyterian Life & Witness Click here to read original PNS Story)

Let us join in prayer for:

Lindy Ebbs, Raiser's Edge Data Administration, Funds Development Operations, Administrative Services Group
Cynthia Embry, Senior Financial Reporting Accountant, Financial Reporting, Administrative Services Group       

Let us pray:

Gracious God, we give thanks for opportunities to be the good news for one another. Strengthen us as we strive to glorify you. Amen.

Mission Yearbook - 1001 New Worshiping Communities associate says, ‘Everything is breath’

When the Rev. Jeff Eddings took a first four-month sabbatical in 2014 from his thriving new worshiping community in Pittsburgh, he stopped checking his email account, opened up an alias email called “sabbaticaljeff” and read only from the book of Ecclesiastes. His only agenda was to seek more spaciousness and to be more present to the moment. In his time away, he set aside quality time with his wife and took his boys, who were teenagers, to several national parks. The drive from Pennsylvania to the Western states enhanced his sense of spaciousness and how it spoke to a deep need of the soul.

Eddings, associate for coaching and spiritual formation for the 1001 New Worshiping Communities movement, recently spoke to his colleague, the Rev. Sara Hayden, on the “New Way” podcast. Listen to their conversation here and here.

For the 12th season of “New Way,” Hayden spoke with leaders and innovators about practices that deepen what Howard Thurman described as “the sound of the genuine” in their lives.

Against the vast plains and the solid mountain ranges, Eddings considered the wisdom of Ecclesiastes that everything one constructs is meaningless, even schedules. Rather than embracing nihilism, Eddings sought spaciousness even in this realization.

“Everything’s vanity,” Eddings said of experiencing the world through reading Ecclesiastes, refraining from grind culture and refusing to get caught up in his news feed. “It could be translated as absurd.” But then Eddings stopped intellectualizing and let his body translate the eternal ephemerality of time passing by.

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The Rev. Jeff Eddings

“But I prefer breath, because that just feels like, well, everything is actually not meaningless. Everything is filled with meaning, because breath is a moment. It roots us in our bodies. It’s here, in space, in time. Be here now. It helps us to, like, be present to ourselves. Breath. Breath. Everything is breath,” pondered Eddings.

The artifice of modern life and the arbitrariness of preoccupations codified in busy schedules and obsession with productivity began to fall away as Eddings explored the meaning of Sabbath and continued to intentionally observe ways to unplug and relax.

“What I think the gift of Sabbath is for us is a complete invitation to be fully present into the space,” Eddings told Hayden as he began another sabbatical this year, taking several months away from his position with the Interim Unified Agency. According to Eddings, sabbaticals and Sabbaths require planning and intention. In 2014, he worked with mentors to shape how he thought about Sabbath and how he could succeed in breaking away. This year, he set up a Sabbath Innovation Lab with cohorts of new worshiping leaders and pastors to explore the internal and external obstacles to taking time off to abide in the Divine. These groups met twice a month on Mondays for special workshops on contemplative practices and have read two books together: “The Sabbath” by Abraham Joshua Heschel and “Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto” by Tricia Hersey. Reviving his old moniker “Sabbatical Jeff,” Eddings produced videos for the participants in the Sabbath Innovation Lab, reflecting on several practices and ideas he has incorporated into his embrace of living Sabbath.

In the groups, Eddings has given and received wisdom about what it means to embrace our identity as human beings loved by God in an economy insistent on our surrendering as “human doings.” Hayden and Eddings discussed the importance of “Sabbath snacks” and “Sabbath values” to carve out space and intention each day and week to practice simply being.

Ultimately, Eddings imagines Sabbath not only as making space in our lives to be held by the spaciousness of divine love but also as holding this space of Sabbath within us. He identified the transformative presence of “a person of peace” in the world and the feeling that they can communicate and offer Sabbath to others through their ability to be with others in the moment.

“We all know, like, that person of peace,” said Eddings. “When they come into our space, it immediately helps us to be more a person of peace. We can breathe in their presence in a different way.” They’re probably practicing Sabbath “in some form, in some shape.”

Beth Waltemath, Communications Strategist, Interim Unified Agency (Click here to read original PNS Story)

Let us join in prayer for:

Ceara Pepaj, Product Manager, Flyaway Books, Presbyterian Publishing Corporation
Derrick Perkins, Mail & Print Supervisor, Administrative Services Group (A Corp) 

Let us pray:

God, your compassion for all your children is reflected in the lives of so many people in your church. We thank you for their quiet faithfulness as they minister, each in their own way, to those around them. Amen.