St. John's Mankato: Becoming More Visible in Local Public Spaces

Parishioners at St John the Evangelist in Mankato are taking seriously their leadership team's charge to become more visible in local public spaces. So, in addition to hosting a Night to Unite Picnic after Mankato State University students return in the Fall (which we have done for a number of years), we look for ways to be involved in our community. Ideas are raised during Sunday Worship so anyone who is interested can sign up to volunteer. 

Two recent events have been the No Kings Rally in late June and Southern MN Pride in September. The challenge of talking to people we don't yet know, and who may not come to worship with us in our (traditional) Sunday Service has proven life giving and energizing. Our goals are to show up together, to have conversations with the people around us, and to be present in our neighborhood. We have found letting our neighbors know they are invited, welcome, and belong - all in a handshake, wave, smile or a greeting -  are the place we find God present among us ... Witness and Prayer can look like this! Jesus is calling us to recognize our common humanity. Our common thread of love, worry, anguish, joy... The good news is that God’s kingdom is right here, right now, today. Built on coffee and casseroles, built on bringing something to the social even when you have nothing to give. It is in every act of compassion, breaking down of the walls, building relationships.