How has the God Is Still Speaking campaign inspired a local church?
Hadwen Park Congregational Church in Worcester tells all
 Submitted by Anne Nickerson
When the God is Still Speaking campaign was introduced to the Massachusetts UCC churches, the members of Hadwen Park Congregational Church decided they would participate in the innovative welcoming program. They contributed money, attended the training sessions, and used the materials.
Then, under the guidance of pastor Judith Hanlon, they started implementing the hospitality suggestions.
According to Anne Nickerson, former administrative assistant at and member of Hadwen: "Within a week we deliver homemade bread to every visitor who walks through our door. We read a very inclusive welcome statement before each worship service which we are using with permission from Hope Church in Roslindale. We conduct 'greeting' training sessions for members because we realize we only have 30 seconds to make a lasting impression on visitors. Some of us park far away to leave the closest parking spaces for the latecomers and visitors. We listen in on New Member classes to find out if our bulletin is user friendly and to hear if folks truly felt welcomed at our door. And we watch during worship to see if visitors need a hymn book or to find the nursery." In addition, Hadwen improved their website and electronic communications.
"I am not going to tell you that we had immediate success with our efforts or that flocks of visitors came to our doors on Sunday mornings," explained Nickerson. "But I will say that as a result of the program, a new sense of hospitality spread throughout the whole congregation -- a breath of fresh air or wind as the Holy Spirit has engulfed our church."
"The whole congregation was genuinely committed to growing the church through the God is Still Speaking campaign," she said.
During this time of renewed spirit, while implementing the God Is Still Speaking ideas, this medium-size congregation with 285 active members managed to complete a $1.4 million-renovation project to improve church accessibility, acoustics and seating. The members voted to become Open and Affirming and support the gay community. The Missions program expanded to include an Interfaith hospitality network; sent work missionaries to Florida, New Orleans and Chile; maintained a food pantry for the neighborhood; and significantly increased their contribution to the UCC's Our Church's Wider Mission Basic Support.
"I don't believe that what we have accomplished over the past couple years is necessarily directly related to the campaign, but I do feel that all of who we are at Hadwen Park can be attributed to the Spirit that blows through this place. A spirit of welcoming and love, enthusiasm and grace grew from all we implemented of the God Is Still Speaking campaign and the training workshops we attended," said Nickerson.
"Hadwen Park Church has been filled with this Spirit, which has enabled us to adapt to change, to boldly welcome all that come to our doors, and to look to the future with confidence that the church on the corner of Knox and Clover Streets will be here for generations to come."
Share Your Still Speaking Story
 Tell us how God is speaking in and through your church. Have you reached out to the community in unique ways? Initiated a new mission project? Found a new way to minister to those within the congregation? Share your story and help us to spread the good news! Contact Marlene Gasdia-Cochrane, Editor, at cochranem@macucc.org.
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"Source: Massachusetts Conference, United Church of Christ, www.macucc.org/spotlight"
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