By Nicholas Tangen

Last week, as the temperature climbed into the 50s and the sun shone down across Northeast Minneapolis, a familiar thing happened. Neighbors up and down Pierce Street began poking their heads out their front doors, opening windows, and making their way outside to soak up the first fruits of the spring air.

My wife and I were among this collection of Nordeasters stirring from our winter hibernation and the warmth of our old home. We waved at neighbors we hadn’t seen in months, being sure to mention how beautiful the weather was. We walked our dogs along sidewalks now full of others doing the same, greeting dogs we knew and puppies born and adopted over the winter. And we talked to our neighbors about the big plans we have for the yard this year, … and how we were committed to actually getting it done this time.  

“The first taste of warmth in the air draws everyone out of their home, pouring hopeful and grateful energy into the neighborhood.”

This annual emergence is one of my favorite things about living in Minnesota. Temperate weather is at a premium in this state, and that first taste of warmth in the air draws everyone out of their home, pouring hopeful and grateful energy into the neighborhood. We have the chance to walk, to sit outside and enjoy our little patches of grass and garden, and to run into the folks we live closest too. Spring signals the start of a season where we can be more fully present in the community as neighbors.  

 

FOR THE CONGREGATIONS in the Faith Practices & Neighboring Practices learning community, spring also signals the launch of their Neighborhood Listening Projects – three months of intentional listening in the community where their congregations are rooted. Many churches will show up at community events, festivals, neighborhood association meetings, and more to participate in the life of the community and pay attention for gifts, strengths, and assets already at work in the neighborhood. Others will host block parties, house meetings, community meals, and welcome events, creating space for fellowship, conversation, and relationship building in church parking lots and courtyards.  

Every one of the Faith Practices & Neighboring Practices churches is also invited to walk around their neighborhood at least once a month. In many churches it is often true that the only time our neighbors see us is when we walk from church to car, a journey of a few feet that sends a message about how we value the community. But as the air warms, as the sun comes out, and as neighbors begin to emerge from their homes, there is an opportunity for each of us to encounter someone we don’t know and make a connection.  

“Every one of the Faith Practices & Neighboring Practices churches is also invited to walk around their neighborhood at least once a month.”

I often say that if I could get congregations to do only two things, they would be: 1) a meaningful and consistent practice of one-to-one conversations, and 2) a regular practice of walking the neighborhood. My own congregation, Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church, organizes walks during the spring and summer to connect with one another, learn about the neighborhood, and support local businesses. (We always end our walk at Parkway Pizza where we get Sebastian Joe’s ice cream.)  

These walks, and the brief organic connections we make with neighbors along the way, make a difference. Such experiences are part of what Keep Neighboring Edmonton (an initiative to build neighborhood relationships and capacities in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) call “ambient neighboring.” The small, simple, and often organic practices that create a sense of familiarity between ourselves and the neighbors close by.  

 

FOR MY WIFE AND I, we find that these first few weeks of spring are often the most fruitful time to connect with neighbors that we may not know as well. Last week, we had the chance to meet a couple of new neighbors who moved into the house across the street, connecting about our pets and a shared love of Indian food. We were excited to make a new connection, and potentially get an invite for dinner – and we wouldn’t have made that connection if we hadn’t prioritized walking in the neighborhood.  

“Jesus walked everywhere he went.”

If you and your congregation are thinking about walking your neighborhood, here are a couple of suggestions: 

  • Say a short prayer before your walk, asking that God would give you the awareness to see the Holy One at work in your community.
  • Keep the group small. No one wants to be set upon by 30 Christians out of the blue on a beautiful day. 
  • Walk different routes each time you gather. Make it a goal to see as much of the neighborhood as possible and pay attention to sites and landmarks that catch your attention. 
  • Have a couple of questions ready to ask neighbors you run into on your walk. My favorite is “How long have you lived in the neighborhood?” If they say a long time, you can ask them how they have seen the neighborhood change over the years. If they say a short time, you can ask them what brought them to live in the neighborhood. Either way, you’ll learn something interesting.  

 Spring is an amazing time for churches and individuals to get outside and get to know their neighbors. Jesus walked everywhere he went, and often encountered unexpected moments of grace, healing, and joy in and through people along the way. What might you encounter on a walk in your own community?