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Dear Central Vineyard,

One year on, I wanted to share a quick update on the new groups we launched last fall—Central Communities.

First, a huge thank you to everyone who has participated this past year. At launch we had six Communities, with over 80% of our church involved. That’s a great mark for groups like this. Many kept meeting through the summer, and I’ve been so encouraged by the stories: people asking brave questions, growing in community, noticing God’s work in their lives, and finding fresh ways to overcome barriers to growth and connection.

From the start, Central Vineyard has been something of a “test kitchen.” We’re trying on a rhythm, learning as we go, and staying open to God’s leading. A few reflections stand out. Communities are moving toward a somewhat “porous” shape. We want long-term trust and familiarity, but we also need room for new people to join and for folks to make a change if life circumstances call for it. A healthy community balances consistency with flexibility. So in the 2025/26 cycle, we’ll create three points for groups to regroup, reshuffle, and welcome new folks: Fall, New Year, and Summer. We’ll also keep one or two nights a week free of groups to make space for classes and gatherings that won’t compete with Communities so everyone can participate more easily.

This almost certainly will not be the last time we tweak the model. My top concern is paying attention to what’s happening in people’s lives and what the invitation of God is to our congregation as we think about our commitment to community.

Lastly, Jared and I have been working on a Congregational Way of Life for Central Vineyard. We’ve been hinting at it in different ways over the past year, and it’s something we’ll soon begin exploring together and inviting your feedback. Our Communities will be the main place where we’ll try this on—continuing in the same simple, free-flowing conversations that help us notice what God is doing, how we’re responding, and how we can support one another. As we go, we’ll gradually begin to weave in some shared practices and commitments that can help us continue to become a community of prayer that engages suffering.

As always, I want to hear from you about what’s working, what’s not, what feels life-giving, and so on. You can share feedback any time at this link, or better yet, let’s hang out and talk.

I’m so grateful to be doing this work together.

Much love,

-Parker