Reaching In and Reaching Out for Small Congregations

stack of stones balacncing on a stump in the woods

As we've regathered post lock down, in different ways, there's been a lot of stress in our congregations. We're learning how to be together physically, again, in ways that we have forgotten some of the details of. Learning how to be together, how to have fun together, how to connect with each other really matters. We're recreating our community together and that's really important. So we have to look inside and take care of our own. At the same time though, we want to be looking outside into the world because that's what makes us relevant, and we need to relearn why we exist in the world. Both in-reach and outreach are important in our congregations, but we need to find the right balance between the two.

What do we mean by in-reach and outreach?

  • In-reach is sometimes thought of as community building and coming together to enhance our lives. It includes making friends, feeling cared for, healing after COVID times, nurturing each other and building community.
  • Outreach is when we come together to transform our community. It includes doing things together that give our lives meaning and serve the changed and changing world.

We believe that that in-reach and outreach are equally important for our congregations and we need to be intentional about both of them.

During the pandemic many congregations lost the ability to do in-reach. We forgot how to "do" coffee hour, potlucks, and other community gatherings. We need to learn again.

Watch the video of the workshop the Smaller Teams created on this topic for General Assembly 2023. You can download the slides handout as a PDF.

Transcript of Faithfully Finding Balance (TXT)

Faithfully Finding Balance: Reaching In, Reaching Out from GA 2023 by the Small Congregations Team.

Resources and Ideas for In-Reach

  • The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker
  • Gathering to share food such as potluck dinners, stone soup meals, picnics.
  • Visits to members in care facilities.
  • Low-key gathering events such as craft workshops, game night, talent shows or coffeehouses.
  • Working together on a community garden on your property or on a plot in your community.
  • Auctions, bazaars and bake sales! Many congregations had these before COVID, is it time to bring some of them back?
  • Be multigenerational in your approach, plan things that include all members of your congregation community.

Resources and Ideas for Outreach

  • Have congregational t-shirts to wear during outreach events.
  • Beach or highway clean ups or clean ups at state or local parks.
  • Offer programs about dismantling white supremacy culture.
  • Open your Our Whole Lives classes to the general community or partner with neighboring congregations - UU, UCC, Episcopal or Jewish, for example.
  • Open some of your congregational events to the general community such as a holiday bazaar or yard sale.
  • Participate as a congregation in a local Pride event or sponsor a booth.
  • Support local food banks with volunteering or collecting donations. Some might even take produce donations from your community garden.
  • The People's Supper is a program where people from different identities and communities have structured dinners together to build connection.
  • UU the Vote has programs for congregations of all sizes to help with electoral issues.
  • Find your state's advocacy network, if there is one and get involved, they provide opportunities for joint activities and action at the state level.
  • Check out the resources at Side With Love on a variety of topics including climate change and LGBTQ+ issues. Their Action Center has suggestions for actions individuals and groups can take together on these issues.

Website and Technology Resources

  • Look at your website and social media. What impression is it giving to visitors? Visitors rarely come in your door without checking online first.
  • Technology creates opportunities to connect and grow in community. How can we take advantage of that?