We’re hosting a Welcome Party to celebrate the return of summer travelers, and the start of a new school year, as well as to officially welcome Kathea Bryan into her role as our Community Life Coordinator and Amanda Holder into her role as our Children's Faith & Wonder Coordinator. Join us at 120 E. 8th Street, home of Sanctuary on 8th Street, for a bring-something-to-share brunch celebration. If you have one, please also bring a school-age photo of yourself to share.

We are collecting school supplies to assist with a 1st-grade classroom at Andrew Robinson Elementary School.

Please bring new supplies from this list to our gatherings on August 9th:

clear or mesh book bags, wired headphones, dry-erase markers, white printer paper, plastic green folders with prongs/brads, wide-ruled composition notebooks, #2 pencils, 24-pack crayons, wide-ruled notebook paper, box(es) of Kleenex® brand facial tissues, canister(s) of disinfecting wipes, disinfectant spray, liquid hand soap, bottles of hand sanitizer

Story & Soul: We host a writing group for those looking for encouragement, camaraderie & space to practice writing alongside others twice a month at 10:00 a.m. at Patti’s home (1327 Walnut St.). We begin with a time of sharing food & conversation at 10, then start writing at 10:30 a.m. If you plan to join us or have questions, let our facilitator, Mae Beth Ragland (maebethragland@gmail.com), know. 

We’ll begin exploring what it means to be a people of welcome amid all our differences. We begin gathering indoors 120 E. 8th Street, home of Sanctuary on 8th Street, at 10 a.m., then move into our time of story, scripture & conversation at 10:30 a.m. As always, feel free to bring something breakfast-y to share.

We are partnering with Springfield Preservation and Revitalization (SPAR) to host a community cleanup of the SW quadrant of Springfield. Meet at Bishop Motors (aka Overalls Farm 2 - 305 E 1st St) on Saturday, July 25th, 9-11 a.m. Gloves and bags will be provided. Afterward, we are invited to enjoy brunch at Charlie & Linda’s. There will be no gathering on Sunday, July 26th.

Our Church in the Wild planning group (the ”Wild Folk”) meets monthly over lunch at various local restaurants to enjoy good food & conversation, and to plan for upcoming Church in the Wild gatherings. Our next Wild Folk lunch will happen on Thursday, July 23rd at 12:30 p.m. at Noura Cafe (1533 University Boulevard W.). Contact Cheryl Warner or Deb Westmoreland if you have questions.

Story & Soul: We host a writing group for those looking for encouragement, camaraderie & space to practice writing alongside others twice a month at 10:00 a.m. at Patti’s home (1327 Walnut St.). We begin with a time of sharing food & conversation at 10, then start writing at 10:30 a.m. If you plan to join us or have questions, let our facilitator, Mae Beth Ragland (maebethragland@gmail.com), know. 

We will be gathering indoors during the summer months (120 E. 8th Street, home of Sanctuary on 8th Street). We begin coming together over coffee & conversation at 10 a.m., then move into our time of conversation, scripture, prayer & reflection at 10:30 a.m. As always, feel free to bring something breakfast-y to share. Info about our current “Consider the Birds” theme can be found here.

Join neighbors every 3rd Friday for Greens & Beans on Overalls Farm Three (125 E 7th Street). This lively community gathering centers around a farm-fresh, chef-prepared meal of greens & beans with a dash of culinary education & a bit of community fun together. If you're able, bring a dish to share. Preparation & culinary ed begin at 6, dinner at 6:30 p.m.

Our book club meets again on Tuesday, July 14th at 6:30 p.m. This month, Susan Schremp will be hosting us in her home (1342 Windsor Harbor Drive) near the beach. In the spirit of our summer “Consider the Birds” theme, we are hosting a bird-themed book club. Choose any bird-related book (there could be a bird on the cover, in the title or have any kind of bird connection) and come prepared to share what this book sparked in you.

Some ideas to get you thinking —

• Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

• The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd

• The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

• The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer

• Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry

• The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan

If you have questions or would like to share book recommendations, reach out to Susan Schremp.

[In September, we'll be reading Good Soil by Jeff Chu.]

We will be gathering indoors during the summer months (120 E. 8th Street, home of Sanctuary on 8th Street). We begin coming together over coffee & conversation at 10 a.m., then move into our time of conversation, scripture, prayer & reflection at 10:30 a.m. As always, feel free to bring something breakfast-y to share. Info about our current “Consider the Birds” theme can be found here.

Our Well Lead Team (Patti, Cheryl, Michelle, Ben, Laurel and Susan) meets monthly. We begin with dinner at 6 p.m. and at 6:30 move into a time of planning the next steps of our life together.

Story & Soul: We host a writing group for those looking for encouragement, camaraderie & space to practice writing alongside others twice a month at 10:00 a.m. at Patti’s home (1327 Walnut St.). We begin with a time of sharing food & conversation at 10, then start writing at 10:30 a.m. If you plan to join us or have questions, let our facilitator, Mae Beth Ragland (maebethragland@gmail.com), know. 

We will be gathering indoors during the summer months (120 E. 8th Street, home of Sanctuary on 8th Street). We begin coming together over coffee & conversation at 10 a.m., then move into our time of conversation, scripture, prayer & reflection at 10:30 a.m. As always, feel free to bring something breakfast-y to share. Info about our current “Consider the Birds” theme can be found here.

Each month (usually the 4th Sundays), we intentionally set aside time to connect with God & one another through nature. We have explored trails, parks & beaches, hosted farm work days, and even kayaked together. Our June Church in the Wild will take place at Hanna Park (Pavilion 4) and will be facilitated by Elizabeth Filippelli, Conservation Director of Duval Audubon Society. She will lead us in a meditative walk, provide education about bird conservation, and lead us in a hands-on activity.

We will begin gathering at 10 a.m. and start our time together at 10:30 am. Do note that there is a $5 park entrance fee. If this creates a financial challenge for you, please let us know so we can cover that cost. Feel free to bring beach gear and stick around afterward to enjoy the park!

**If this is your first CITW gathering, welcome! During most CITW gatherings, we begin with some kind of centering readings, then are sent into nature to listen. We bring back a "sermon from the wild" (what did we hear/see/notice? what was nature inviting us to know/be/do?) and return for a time of sharing. Here is a sample gathering guide.

Join this weekly gathering for thoughtful discussion, community, and a bit of holy imagination sparked by Barbara Brown Taylor’s book, Holy Envy. Tim Kerr & Charlie Tisdale are co-coordinating this group, and they meet on Thursdays at 11 a.m. in Springfield. This Thursday, we’ll be discussing chapter 7. Come if you have read or just want to join the conversation. Contact Tim Kerr (904-553-0639) with questions.

Story & Soul: We host a writing group for those looking for encouragement, camaraderie & space to practice writing alongside others twice a month at 10:00 a.m. (note new, earlier start time!). We will be meeting at Patti’s house (1327 Walnut St.). If you plan to join us or have questions, let our facilitator, Mae Beth Ragland (maebethragland@gmail.com) know. 

We will be gathering indoors during the summer months (120 E. 8th Street, home of Sanctuary on 8th Street). We begin coming together over coffee & conversation at 10 a.m., then move into our time of conversation, scripture, prayer & reflection at 10:30 a.m. As always, feel free to bring something breakfast-y to share. Info about our current “Consider the Birds” theme can be found here.

Greens & Beans: Juneteenth Stories & Splash Night Edition is happening Friday, June 19th, 6-8 p.m. on Overalls Farm Three (125 E 7th Street). We'll have a picture-book reading of the campaign to make Juneteenth a national holiday, and then (while the kids enjoy waterslide fun), we'll have a few elders share stories from their roots in Hansontown, the historically black neighborhood originally founded as an agricultural community for freed people in the aftermath of the Civil War.

If you're able, bring a dish to share. Preparation with a dash of culinary ed will begin at 6, dinner at 6:30 p.m.

Our Church in the Wild planning group (the ”Wild Folk”) meets monthly over lunch at various local restaurants to enjoy good food & conversation, and to plan for upcoming Church in the Wild gatherings. Our next Wild Folk lunch will happen on Thursday, June 18th at 12:30 p.m. at Naked Kitchen (2336 N. Liberty St.). Contact Cheryl Warner or Deb Westmoreland if you have questions.

Join this weekly gathering for thoughtful discussion, community, and a bit of holy imagination sparked by Barbara Brown Taylor’s book, Holy Envy. Tim Kerr & Charlie Tisdale are co-coordinating this group and they meet on Thursdays at 11 a.m. in Springfield. Contact Tim Kerr (904-553-0639) with questions.

Join us for a time of connection and to learn more about one of our "loving our neighbor" partner, Amani Sasa, in Uganda. Missy Ward Angalla, founder & Co-director of Amani Sasa will be joininig us for *a dinner meetup on Tuesday, June 16th at 6:30 p.m. at Anejo Cocina in San Marco (2039 Hendricks Ave, Ste 211).

You can learn more about Amani Sasa here:
https://www.amanisasa.org/

*be prepared to cover the cost of your meal 

We will be gathering indoors during the summer months (120 E. 8th Street, home of Sanctuary on 8th Street). We begin coming together over coffee & conversation at 10 a.m., then move into our time of conversation, scripture, prayer & reflection at 10:30 a.m. This Sunday, Joni Roberts of Evolution University will be facilitating our gathering. As always, feel free to bring something breakfast-y to share. Info about our current “Consider the Birds” theme can be found here.

Location change for this Thursday: Meeting at Naked Kitchen (2336 North Liberty St.) for lunch.

Join this weekly gathering for thoughtful discussion, community, and a bit of holy imagination sparked by Barbara Brown Taylor’s book, Holy Envy. Tim Kerr & Charlie Tisdale are co-coordinating this group and they meet on Thursdays at 11 a.m. in Springfield. Contact Tim Kerr (904-553-0639) with questions.

Story & Soul: We host a writing group for those looking for encouragement, camaraderie & space to practice writing alongside others twice a month at 10:00 a.m. (note new, earlier start time!). We will be meeting at Patti’s house (1327 Walnut St.). If you plan to join us or have questions, let our facilitator, Mae Beth Ragland (maebethragland@gmail.com) know. 

We will be gathering indoors during the summer months (120 E. 8th Street, home of Sanctuary on 8th Street). We begin coming together over coffee & conversation at 10 a.m., then move into our time of conversation, scripture, prayer & reflection at 10:30 a.m. As always, feel free to bring something breakfast-y to share. Info about our current “Consider the Birds” theme can be found here.

Join this weekly gathering for thoughtful discussion, community, and a bit of holy imagination. This week, our Thursday Theologians will be participating in an Interfaith Dialogue hosted by the Sikh Society of Northeast Florida from 10-11 a.m. This open community dialogue brings together people of all faiths—and no faith—to connect, listen, and learn from one another in a spirit of mutual respect and understanding. ALL are welcome. Contact Tim Kerr (904-553-0639) with questions.