During this past Advent season, the parish sponsored three different programs to appeal to people at various stages of spiritual development. Members could make a confession to a priest, attend a parishwide penance service or participate in a family service aimed toward helping children reflect on the meaning of the season. The church also operates on the cornerstone principle that all are welcome, he said. From youth programs to adult worship, members and nonmembers alike can participate. Members have handed out toilet paper and coupons for gas.
Vineyard is part of a wave of contemporary churches.
At College Hill Presbyterian, members made a conscious decision two decades ago to stay in the community instead of fleeing to the suburbs. As a result, members have reshaped their ministries, says the Rev. Pat Hartsock. In the late 1980s, the church established a nonprofit arm, Feast of Love, to provide services to the community. Under the Feast of Love umbrella, church members serve 20,000 meals a year to shut-ins and at rehabilitation centers, distribute donated furniture to needy families and collect school supplies. The church hosts a Listening for Heaven's Sake program to teach leaders how to listen actively and with empathy and how to treat others with respect.