A Year of Living Spiritually

Epworth United Methodist Church Congregational Renewal Project

Submitted by Clark Kellogg, Judith Kriege, Katherine Whitney

As pastor of a congregation seeking to be relevant to our current reality, I am grateful for church leaders who have committed so much time and energy to developing their ability to think theologically and to apply new learning to our context. A year or so from now, we’ll be able to celebrate as renewal takes shape and the congregation grows in its sense of mission and impact.

— Pastor Debbie Weatherspoon

Our Journey

We have had the great good fortune to participate in the Pacific School of Religion’s (PSR) Inaugural 2025-2026 Congregational Renewal Cohort (CRC). In the introductory zoom meeting last summer to recruit people for the CRC, we were told the purpose was to renew our congregations. No one mentioned that we would all experience our own spiritual renewals along the way.

It didn’t matter that we were told it would require “10 to 12 hours a month” when it turned out to be more like 10 hours a week.The hours flew by, as did the weeks and months. We didn’t know what we didn’t know, but now we do. If asked, each of us would tell a story of a journey through nine classes, nine professors, 36 zoom sessions, and 64 assignments. The words may be different, but the story is the same.

Our final assignment is this, our CRC Renewal Project, inspired by our journey and designed specifically for Epworth United Methodist Church.

The Epworth Context

Epworth’s vision is to be a fully inclusive church as we live and act out God’s love both within the church community and every place we go.

Our mission is to grow in our Christian faith and build a more just world by coming together to worship, to study, and to act on our convictions. We are a community, living in the grace and mercy of God, trusting in the healing and liberating example of Jesus, and strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Epworth is a progressive congregation. We are a community that cares about doing the right thing. Justice and compassion are major themes in our worship service, and we walk the talk by being actively involved in a number of social action projects. But given the controversial history of the Church, many of us are reticent to openly identify as Christian. However, while we may lack the passion and religious fervor of some Christian contexts, we long for meaning and are ready to explore what our faith has to offer in a time driven by fear and anger.

Getting to Work

The CRC process inspired us to ask: How might we boldly claim to be followers of Jesus, the one who sides with those on the margins and calls us all to live a life of freedom from hypocrisy, hatred and isolation? How might we tap into the power of a deep relationship with God and how might that relationship impact and sustain us through these troubling times?

Our Design Thinking for Social Change class invited us to listen deeply to congregation members through 14 empathic interviews. In the design thinking context, an empathic interview is a one-on-one, qualitative research method used to understand a person’s lived experiences, emotions, and unacknowledged needs. Working from a prepared set of open-ended questions, interviewers approach this conversation with curiosity and care, and the intention to understand. They give their full presence to the person being interviewed. The interviewee has the opportunity to speak deeply about their own spirituality in a safe context to someone who is intently listening to them. It is primarily a talking experience for one person and a listening experience for the other. We conducted 14 of these one-on-one empathic interviews with members of our Epworth community. We analyzed the transcripts or these recorded interviews, which provided the raw data for our CRC project.

We then iterated and crafted “How Might We?” questions to guide us as we designed our final project.

These design principles have and will guide our work:

● Design thinking is our mindset and framework.

● We start by listening to the congregation.

● We enlist the congregation in the design process.

● We learn by doing.

● Curiosity is better than judgment.

● Trust the process and do the work.

Our Findings

Interpreting Interview Data

From our 14 empathic interviews with congregation members, we gained the following insights:

1. Belonging comes before belief.

2. The Church functions as a place for life repair.

3. Music is the most reliable gateway to transcendence.

4. People long for spiritual depth but resist dogma.

5. Many are yearning for spiritual practices yet don’t have them or never developed them.

6. Small, safe groups are where spiritual growth and depth happens at Epworth.

7. Social justice Is important — but alone, does not satisfy spiritual needs .

8. Beauty and awe are core spiritual pathways.

9. Young people are seeking meaning but reject religious certainty.

10. The community is stronger than its spiritual infrastructure.

Crafting “How Might We?” Questions

“How might we satisfy the yearning in our congregation for a deepening spirituality that anchors our worship and inspires our work in the world?”

This was the anchor question for our CRC cohort as we began the design process based on input from our empathic interviews. We believe that if our spiritual needs are met, we as a congregation will have the strength and passion to continue to boldly live out the values of justice so explicitly described in scripture and the life and teachings of Jesus.

As we sifted through the data from our interviews, we noticed themes and desires across different conversations. In answer to the issues people raised, we came up with the following “How Might We?” questions to guide our ultimate project.

1. HMW teach spiritual practices in ways that feel accessible rather than intimidating?

2. HMW design worship moments that create an embodied transition from ordinary life into sacred space?

3. HMW use music more intentionally as a pathway to spiritual depth?

4. HMW create small, trusted spaces where people can explore spiritual questions together?

5. HMW connect justice work more explicitly with spiritual formation?

6. HMW reintroduce scripture as a shared exploration rather than a fixed authority?

7. HMW design church experiences that help people navigate difficult seasons of life?

8. HMW bring more beauty, art, and sensory experience into worship and church life?

9. HMW create spaces where young people can explore spirituality without pressure to believe certain things?

10. HMW preserve and amplify the church’s culture of kindness as the foundation for spiritual growth?

For each of these questions we brainstormed and ranked and iterated ideas. To see our ideation around these 10 How Might We questions, see this link to our Mural Board.

“How Might We” Questions Leads to Three Ideas

Our CRC process revealed a strong desire on the part of the Epworth congregation to deepen their spiritual connection with God and one another. In response, we propose to co-create a series of experiments, informed by design principles, that will guide new programs, projects, and practices. These will be “feet on the ground” iterative actions that will express – and evolve – our congregation’s purpose and vision.

We propose three initiatives (which we call experiments). We believe these three experiments will enrich our congregation’s spiritual experience. We chose them because they are relevant, timely and doable.

They are:

1. 5th Sunday Worship Lab

2. Empathic Interview Praxis

3. Epworth Arts Gallery

In the process of designing our CRC project we came up with many potential responses to the needs we discovered in the congregation. We have chosen to initially experiment with these three. And we will hold the others in mind as we learn our way forward, keeping an eye on our congregation's evolving context, and waiting patiently to see if and when the time is right to experiment with them.

Experiment #1 : 5th Sunday Worship Lab

We discovered: There is a desire for a deeper spiritual experience in worship.

Quotes from our interviews:

“I think what I am expressing is a kind of longing for a deepening.”

“There is immense power in people sitting quietly.”

“I enjoy praying in the context of the congregation. I really enjoy that communal experience.”

Guiding “How Might We” Question(s):

● How might we design worship moments that create an embodied transition from ordinary life into sacred space?

● How might we reintroduce scripture as a shared exploration rather than a fixed authority?

Epworth is a community that, like many Protestant congregations, is more comfortable operating from our heads than from our bodies and hearts. We wondered, how might we challenge our members to incorporate our bodies and emotions into worship? How might we allow ourselves to feel the love and presence of God down to our very bones?

Every calendar year, there are four or five months that contain five Sundays. We propose to use the fifth Sunday of those months to experiment with worship, radically redesigning the service to include a rich array of elements focused on contemplation, prayer and scripture. To more fully embody our faith, we will include elements that highlight the senses. Throughout the service participants will be invited to engage in silent meditation, movement, chanting, listening and speaking. Our environment will be enhanced with mood lighting, visuals, sound, smells and tactile experiences.

Here is an example of what a 5th Sunday newly designed service might look like:

Silent Contemplation

Our services have traditionally begun with a musical prelude while people gather, greeting each other and chatting until the choir sings the introit. On these fifth Sundays, ushers will greet people in the narthex asking them to enter in silence. Before entering we may have candles available to light or small objects from nature, like stones or shells, that worshipers can take with them into the sanctuary to help center them.

Call to Worship

Instead of our traditional choir performance, we will begin the service with a cantor and/or a call and response in music. We may draw from Taize, Gregorian chants or other musical traditions.

Holy Reading

Scripture will be read using the practice of Lectio Divina. In this tradition a scripture passage is read slowly, and listeners remain in silence reflecting on the passage for several minutes before the passage is read again.

Responding to the Word

Microphones will be available and worshipers will be invited to speak as they are so moved about their reflections and responses to the scripture passage.

Musical Reflection

A hymn is sung with simple movements as in the Shaker tradition. Here we may choose to use a musical piece that is done each week, making it a ritual that is well known and contributes to the practice of reverence.

Open Prayer

Worshipers will be invited to raise a prayer, open mic style, sharing with each other what is on their hearts and minds.

Lord’s Prayer

We will close the time of prayer with the congregation reciting the Lord’s Prayer.

Blessing and Sending Forth

Worshipers will be invited to receive a blessing with the sign of the cross made on their foreheads with sacred oil. Scented and unscented oils will be available. The Chapel/Gallery will be made available for those who want to continue in prayer after the service.

In this example there is no sermon. The emphasis is on listening to the voice of God, i.e. the still point within. The message comes organically from the congregation as they feel moved to share what they are hearing.

In conclusion, our Fifth Sunday redesign project has the potential to directly address the expressed spiritual needs of our congregation by:

● Breaking the mold and enlivening our worship experience as a community

● Fostering reflection and inspiring rich spiritual communication

● Increasing our exposure and renewing our relationship to the sacred texts of our faith

● Embodying worship by engaging all of our senses

Experiment #2: Empathic Interviewing Praxis

We discovered: The empathic interview process was deeply moving for both interviewers and interviewees.

Quotes from our interviews:

“When you go deep, talking about things that matter, being seen for who you are… those kinds of things are pretty crucial.”

“This has been amazing. These questions allowed me to put words around things I didn’t know were stirring in me.”

Guiding “How Might We” Question(s):

● How might we preserve and amplify the church’s culture of kindness as the foundation for spiritual growth?

● How might we create small, trusted spaces where people can explore spiritual questions together?

A surprising and unanticipated outcome of the interviewing process was how profoundly moving it was for everyone involved. We, the interviewers, were moved by how deeply connected we felt, listening to people speak about their spiritual lives. And our subjects were moved by the experience of speaking to broad, open-ended questions about spirituality and the experience of being listened to without interruption. We wondered if this process might be adapted in our congregation as a spiritual practice.

Imagine providing people with the opportunity and tools to enter into deep spiritual conversation with each other. We know there is a need, in our community and in our larger society, for deeper personal connection and empathic listening. Sociologists and people who report on our polarized society tell us that if we could see the individual behind the stereotype or the mask, we would be better able to bridge our differences and find common ground.

This practice might touch on an important insight from our CRC courses: before we can address the spirituality of others or of our society, before we can help others, we must truly know ourselves, including our histories, our social location, our biases etc. These conversations might provide participants with opportunities for personal insight and knowledge.

We intend to work with members of the congregation to design a spiritual experience in which participants will have the opportunity to speak from their hearts and listen to others deeply. Our intention is to make empathic listening an ongoing spiritual practice for the congregation.

Experiment #3: Epworth Arts Gallery

We discovered: There is a desire for more art and music at Epworth, in addition to gatherings outside of worship.

Quotes from our interviews:

“The Arts sustain me during difficult times.”

“I think of beauty as being connected to God. Beauty being paintings, music, all the arts.”

“The goal is not performance, but shared encounter.”

Guiding “How Might We” Question:

● How might we bring more beauty, art, and sensory experience into worship and church life?

Imagine an intimate space with quiet reverence for smaller gatherings of prayer, meditation, and ritual. Imagine this space transformed and filled with holy sound-spoken word, instrumental music, singing and discussion. Imagine a visually compelling space reflecting our values and hopes for a just and compassionate world.

Though we might wish for such a space, the reality is that we already have it. Epworth’s chapel is an under-utilized asset and treasure. The CRC group has been meeting and dreaming for a few months, and a vision has taken shape for an improved chapel space that could accommodate and welcome these multi-purposes.

We envision a space to support and amplify the creative arts and voices of many local artists emphasizing artists from traditionally underserved communities. In its full expression, the Epworth Gallery will be a place of compelling beauty and spiritual sensibility.

The Epworth Gallery will be a wonderful venue for music, an intimate space to experience solo, or small ensemble groups up close for special occasions such as Advent or Lent. The Gallery also creates wonderful opportunities for hosting literary arts events. These might include poetry, fiction, and dramatic readings and small music or cross-genre events (e.g., music and poetry).

In Conclusion

What a year it’s been! The three of us are deeply grateful for the investment of our teachers, the program administrators, and the grace of God. We are launched into a new journey of discovery and look forward to sharing what we and our congregation learn going forward.

We aren’t saying goodbye but we are saying thank you.

Appendix A:

Epworth Gallery Early Development Activities

This is a simplified floor plan of the Gallery:

Project Scope

Equip the Epworth Chapel for additional uses as art gallery, performance space (music and spoken word), and spiritual retreat space. In addition, the renovate space will be available for rental by outside groups.

Space Description

Usable space is approximately 15’ x 35’ totaling 535 square feet with 80 lineal feet of wall space suitable for hanging art.

Preliminary Budget

Revenue Generating Activities

Room rental

Gallery sales commissions

Performance contributions

Responses to the guiding questions specified in the “Final Project Description” from the syllabus:

Addressing Injustice:

The Gallery programming will include creative work from traditionally underserved communities. (Cite research about non-white or women artists in museums?)

Spiritual Grounding:

Creativity and the arts are foundational to the spiritual formation of our community. Our Artist-in-Residency, Epworth art studio, Sanctuary installations, Community Concerts, community co-creation projects, Epworth Choir, Sanctuary music, poetry, music, and art camps for children and adults testify to our knowledge that creation moves us closer to the Divine.

Supporting Systems:

Gallery renovation will be funded by the Epworth congregation and Friends of the Gallery. In an initial quiet campaign among congregants, over $7,500 was pledged. The Gallery concept is supported by SPRC, Church Council, Arts ministries, and Ashby Village.

Barriers and Strategies:

Fund raising: 1) activate a public fund-raising effort among our congregation, community groups who currently use the Epworth building, related organizations like Ashby Village, people who attend Epworth Community Concerts, potential users of the Gallery, etc. 2) create a Gallery donations tab on the Epworth website, 3) personal conversations with potential donors.

Construction: complete detailed design and construction specifications. Hire construction contractor, schedule project, communicate broadly with all stakeholders.

Operations: formally charter a standing group to build an operations/use plan to address revenue, programming, marketing, and outreach.

Outcomes & Assessment:

Measure the number of gallery uses and events

Measure attendance

Track financials

Survey users

Next Steps:

Formalize funding campaign

Develop details of physical upgrade for estimates

Activate governance/operations team for the Gallery

Appendix B:

The Workshop Wall of Wonder

We experimented with engaging the whole congregation in a diverge/converge project to gain insight into Pastor Debbie’s new appointment from the Bishop as our half-time pastor and a half-time district superintendent. We assembled five HMW questions on boards in Fellowship hall during coffee hour and created an online survey with the same HMWs. We called this experiment the Workshop Wall of Wonder (WWoW).

You can view this work on our digital workspace via this Link to our Mural board.

Here are some photos of the congregation in action. The value of the WWoW was two-fold; people wrote lots of post-it notes and also had engaging conversations.