Becoming a Porous Church
Council and Pastor František's vision for 2026 is to transition from a model of institutional maintenance to one of intentional discipleship, where we become a "porous church".
Discerning this vision is like tending a community garden rather than maintaining a museum. While a museum curator works to keep things exactly as they were, a gardener must be attentive to the current soil and the changing seasons.
Throughout this year, we will be using Diana Butler Bass’s book, The Practicing Congregation, as our guide to help us learn a new, porous harmony that includes more voices from our community. Pre-owned copies of the book can go for as little as a few dollars.
Discerning this vision is like tending a community garden rather than maintaining a museum. While a museum curator works to keep things exactly as they were, a gardener must be attentive to the current soil and the changing seasons.
Throughout this year, we will be using Diana Butler Bass’s book, The Practicing Congregation, as our guide to help us learn a new, porous harmony that includes more voices from our community. Pre-owned copies of the book can go for as little as a few dollars.
March Study: Just the Way It Is—Responding to Change
For the month of March, we focus on understanding that we live in a "detraditioned" world where people no longer attend church out of family destiny. We ought to move away from treating our activities as institutional "survival" (maintenance) and toward a mission of "giving self away" to the Concord community. Because people now choose to be here, they must take "spiritual, moral, and ethical responsibility for themselves," which ultimately creates a community of more deeply committed churchgoers.
For the month of March, we focus on understanding that we live in a "detraditioned" world where people no longer attend church out of family destiny. We ought to move away from treating our activities as institutional "survival" (maintenance) and toward a mission of "giving self away" to the Concord community. Because people now choose to be here, they must take "spiritual, moral, and ethical responsibility for themselves," which ultimately creates a community of more deeply committed churchgoers.
- Suggested Reading: Chapter 2 (pp. 21–34).
- Monthly Reflection Question: In a world where churchgoing isn't 'automatic,' why do you choose Calvary in 2026 rather than just attending out of habit?
February Study: The New Old Church
For the month of February, we focus on understanding that congregational vitality comes from "innovative engagement with traditional Christian practices" rather than simply adding more programs. We ought to move from being a "religious shopping mall" where people come to have their needs met and toward being a community that weaves together story and action.
• Suggested Reading: Introduction (pp. 3–6) and Chapter 1 (pp. 7–20).
• Monthly Reflection Question: Which tradition at Calvary currently feels like a "program" we attend, and which feels like a "practice" that truly transforms us?
Please tap here or tap the button below to share your reflections for February.
A summary of reflections will be published next month.
Let us work together to clear the debris from our historic well so that living water may flow porously into the dry soil of our neighborhood.
For the month of February, we focus on understanding that congregational vitality comes from "innovative engagement with traditional Christian practices" rather than simply adding more programs. We ought to move from being a "religious shopping mall" where people come to have their needs met and toward being a community that weaves together story and action.
• Suggested Reading: Introduction (pp. 3–6) and Chapter 1 (pp. 7–20).
• Monthly Reflection Question: Which tradition at Calvary currently feels like a "program" we attend, and which feels like a "practice" that truly transforms us?
Please tap here or tap the button below to share your reflections for February.
A summary of reflections will be published next month.
Let us work together to clear the debris from our historic well so that living water may flow porously into the dry soil of our neighborhood.