A Relational Approach to Mission at St Paul's

A RElAtionAl ApproAch to Mission At St. PAUl’s

St Paul’s Episcopal Church (Carondelet) is located in the southern most part of St Louis City. Flanked on the west by Interstate Highway 55 and on the east by the Mississippi River, the building sits on a main neighborhood street. The construction of I-55 forever changed the culture of this neighborhood, the isolation led to the decline of a once-vibrant local business district, property values declined, and many of the original inhabitants moved away. A wave of new arrivals included immigrants and those looking for opportunity. St. Paul’s is strategically located, accessible to much of the neighborhood's population. They're also next to a bus stop and offer disability access within the building.

Last November, the Diocese of Missouri awarded St. Paul’s a New Ventures in Community Ministry grant for a little over $11,000 to support relational ministries they've named, Outside-In.

"We are trying to specifically widen our welcome to immigrants, those who rely on public transit, teenagers in the neighborhood, and those struggling with food insecurity," they wrote in the comprehensive abstract as part of the granting process. In Carondelet, more than 1/3 of parents are single parent households, 40% of all residents live alone. "It’s clear that we have tremendous capacity to utilize our space as a place of hospitality and community for those who are alone,

as well as those who have kids who need resources to share with them."

St. Paul's engages with other neighborhood churches to avoid redundancy and strengthen ministry effectiveness. One of those, The Connection Church (United Methodist), now hosts their Monday evening community meals in the newly finished kitchen and parish hall.

For three summers, St. Paul’s has been hosting a neighborhood BBQ that is attended by up to 100 people. It’s popularity and frequency strained the resources of our small parish and they pared back from twice monthly to once monthly community meals. But the BBQs are very popular and a way to "begin the conversation on what

we as a church can do to widen our support."

Last year, the church installed a bench at the bus stop in front of the churchyard. That was welcomed with great enthusiasm by the neighbors and transit users. In both the BBQ and meeting folks at the bus stop, it became clear to St. Paul's that their ministry is best when based on relationship. Of the four new regular attendees at worship, three began attending through the bus-stop and BBQs.

On Fridays, they’ve begun a playgroup for parents, and purchased toys and snacks to support that ministry. St. Paul's member Erin Hinkelman co-leads the group.

And they're working to open the building to the community for additional addiction support, yoga, kids clubs and play groups, and to create a welcome and accessible meeting space for the community. Their space is now filled with movable couches and comfy chairs that make small group gatherings comfortable, and create a more familiar habitat for millennials and youth. "Rather than just being a place for meal ministries, we now have the versatility to host small group meetings, classes, and create a 'coffee shop' environment rather than only a cafeteria," said St. Paul's rector, the Rev. Rebecca Ragland. Learn more about this church at their website, carondeletchurch.org.