Brewing up church community

Back in the day Episcopal Church congregations used to organize themselves into Foyers groups (small dinner groups) to find ways to get to know each other, and maybe to invite someone new into the congregation. These days congregations are looking for new ways to connect. In Hamilton-Wenham Mass. two priests are leveraging their interest in home brewing into a way to build community:

"[The priests] both began the Home Brew Ministry around the premise that a Reverend should build their ministry around what they enjoy, in this case the hobby of home brewing. D’Angelo has been an avid home brewer since his college years.

About 25 people gathered at Christ Church in Hamilton on Saturday, Jan. 29 to learn the fine art of home brewing. And it wasn’t all men either – there were women in attendance that enjoyed participating in the process of how to cook the beer and then sampled different brews.

‘My wife Naomi was one of the women in attendance,’ Gray said. ‘We had a great time. It was almost like a date afternoon.’

[...]Gray hopes it offers an entry point into the church.

‘Coffee hours at church’s are really important, but you only get to know someone on a certain level,’ Gray said. ‘I think whether it is a church softball team, or a dart team which we are looking at starting up as well, you get to know people on a deeper level.’"

Full article here.

What do y'all think?

Posted by Nicholas Knisely on February 5, 2011 7:33 PM | |
Comments (3)

Good on them! I have been teaching bread baking and introducing REAL bread for the Real Presence for 35 years. Bakers and Brewers were one guild "in the day."

Now all we need are clergy who home make nachos and Velveeta and we are set for Sunday.

Posted by Michael Russell [TypeKey Profile Page] | February 5, 2011 9:19 PM

Good on them.

I have been teaching bread baking for 35 years and bringing REAL bread to communion for REAL presence. Bakers and brewers were originally one guild...

Now all we need are some clergy who make nachos and Velveeta and we are ready for tomorrow!

Posted by Michael Russell [TypeKey Profile Page] | February 5, 2011 9:29 PM

I think this fun article makes a serious point. What once worked may not work now. We need to be researching what works today and not be shackled to the past. Membership in the Episcopal Church will continue to decline unless we are willing to look at new ways of doing things, which does not mean turning our backs on what it means to be an Episcopalian.

Posted by John D. Andrews [TypeKey Profile Page] | February 6, 2011 5:24 PM

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