The Well at Springfield

06/01/2026

Happy June, Happy Summer Break & Happy Pride! 💕🌈

Because we move around a bit, the best way to keep up with all that's happening through The Well is to subscribe to our weekly updates & check our website's upcoming events (link in comments). During the summer months, our regular Sunday gatherings will happen inside 120 E. 8th Street, and our Church in the Wild locations vary, but tend to happen near water.

We look forward to seeing you whenever & however you connect with us.

05/16/2026

We will be gathering INSIDE 120 E. 8th Street tomorrow (home of The Sanctuary on 8th Street). We begin coming together over coffee & conversation at 10 a.m. - as always, feel free to bring something breakfast-y to share. We'll move into our time of listening, exploring scripture (alongside other wisdom) & sharing communion at 10:30 a.m.

05/10/2026

Mother's day, like human-ing, is complicated. We know.

We're holding space for the complexities as we continue our "consider the birds" series this morning. As it turns out, chickens have something to teach us about how to be human - Jesus even likened himself to one.

Due to the weather, we're gathering INSIDE 120 E. 8th Street (home to Sanctuary on 8th Street). We'll begin gathering at 10 a.m. for coffee + conversation and begin our time of scripture, prayer, practices & words for the journey at 10:30 a.m.

Photo: Doretha Rost via Unsplash

05/01/2026

Birds have a prominent place in the Judeo-Christian founding narratives, as well as the founding narratives of almost every culture and religion... Birds are in the legends of gods, the iconography of the church, and the lexicon of tattoo artists.

People identify with birds. We watch them, research them, tell stories about them, and in the process, we explore our humanity and inhumanity – mystery and manners. They're funny and dirty, noble and shifty – much like us.

—Debbie Blue, from Consider the Birds: A Provacative Guide to the Birds of the Bible

Beginning this Sunday, we'll be considering the birds together, starting with the sparrow. We begin coming together over coffee & conversation at 10 a.m., then move into our time of conversation, scripture, prayer & reflection at 10:30 a.m. As always, feel free to bring something breakfast-y to share.

Weather permitting, we will gather outdoors on Overalls Farm Three (125 E. 7th Street). Restrooms, parking & weather backup space are available at 120 E. 8th Street (home of Sanctuary on 8th Street).

🔗 Learn more & find our playlist for this season via the link in the comments.

04/28/2026

We are two weeks away from our next book club gathering, so there is still time to pick up a copy of The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali and make plans to join us. We are gathering at Juice Wine Bar at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 12th. Come if you read or meant to and just want to hear what this book stirred up in others.

04/22/2026

The miraculous and mundane
are one in the same.

Gaze in awe
at the galaxies overhead.

Praise the little earthworm
tilling under foot.

Appreciate the scavenger
doing his dirty work.

Welcome the stranger
knocking at your core.

Listen to the earth,
and cry for what we’ve done to her.

Stroke the trees,
and smell the rain.

Hear the joy,
and hold the hurt.

Notice your tone,
and notice your bones.

Place your hand upon your heart,
and feel the miracle thump of being.

- Alice Smith, "Take Notice"

Happy Earth Day! 🦋🌱🌍🌻

Each month (usually the 4th Sunday), we intentionally set aside time to listen, wonder, learn from, and commune with nature.

Sometimes we're on trails, in parks or on beaches. Other times, we clean up or host a garden work day. These Church in the Wild gatherings have been reminding us of our place in the great big scheme of things - we are part of creation, not the whole - creatures, not just consumers.

During most Church in the Wild gatherings, we begin with some kind of centering wisdom, then are sent into nature to pay attention, returning to share our super brief "sermons from the wild" (what did you hear/see/notice? what was nature inviting you to know/be/do?).

Our next Church in the Wild is coming up this Sunday - you can learn more about where you find us here:

https://www.thewellatspringfield.org/upcoming-events/church-in-the-wild-april23-hckfd-helsl-7g3g7-w4emw-sgw57-wr7jm-za2fm-57lxa-ezlga

You can also now find us on the Wild Church Network map(!) here: https://www.wildchurchnetwork.com/

04/20/2026

Here's a simple & super fun way to connect with our friends at The Sanctuary on 8th Street.

Sign up to be a "birthday buddy" here:

https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=Iejd7fxr8EmBs62vCm9Ch_sfPe7nCZFBgrDis-CzxIRURTMyN0kzMlgxTzRON1FQVDlSNVBRQVA2Ty4u&route=shorturl

Calling for all kind givers to help us fulfill Aprils last birthday buddy spot and the rest of the May birthdays! 🚨🎁 Whether you’d want to help create childhood joy and stop by in person, or send it in the mail, the love is most definitely felt within each happy surprise. Thank you for helping us create birthday magic for our at-hope youth!

How it works:
-Visit the link in our bio
-Click the Birthday Buddy Campaign to fill out a form
-Purchase gifts between $30-$50 for your matched child
-Visit the Sanctuary to deliver it in person or mail it to us!

04/19/2026

The glory of God is a human being fully alive!

—St. Irenaeus of Lyon (c. 125–c. 202 AD)

What does it mean to be "fully alive" amid overwhelm, anxiety, collapse and constant noise/news/information? What is ours to be and do in this moment?

Last Sunday, we reflected on these images of "aliveness" and today we are leaning into our core value of creativity by *creating our own expressions of aliveness.

Gather with us INSIDE 120 E. 8th Street (home to Sanctuary on 8th Street) today. We begin coming together over coffee & conversation at 10 a.m., then move into our time of listening, prayer & creating together at 10:30 a.m. As always, feel free to bring something breakfast-y to share.

*absolutely no artistic skills needed, art supplies will be provided, but feel free to bring your own watercolors, pencils, etc. if you prefer

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Images of “aliveness” clockwise from top left: Alysa Liu skating in the Winter Olympics; Earthset by NASA; “The Incredulity of Saint Thomas” by Caravaggio, c. 1601–1602; Tree of Life, Olympic National Park.

04/17/2026

Join us for a Spring + Earth Day Celebration with our friends at The Sanctuary on 8th Street tonight!

We'll begin with a celebration of the new outdoor instruments at 5:15 p.m. then shift into a joint **Greens & Beans dinner on the farm & other activities - one of which is a clothing swap station.

You can bring a few gently used items of clothing (any age, size, etc.) and return home with something new to you. There will also be fruit tree planting, bracelet making and other activities.

If you're able, bring a dish to share and join us!

**Greens & Beans happens every 3rd Friday on Overalls Farm Three (125 E 7th Street). This lively community gathering centers around a farm-fresh, chef-prepared meal of greens & beans with a dash of culinary education. Preparation will begin at 6, dinner by 6:30 p.m.

04/08/2026

It became evident there was no room for the message of love and inclusion that God was so graciously placing on my heart. So, I began to seek out other communities of believers - ones who were not afraid to say they loved my friend exactly as he is.

—Amanda

We are celebrating The Well’s 15th birthday by inviting people to share stories of how they have been shaped by their time with our community. Read more about what brought Amanda and her family to The Well and a little about her experience so far in our latest "This Is Us" story.

We are celebrating The Well’s 15th birthday by inviting people to share stories of how they have been shaped by their time with our community. Next up is Amanda Holder. She and her family have been participating in The Well for the last several years. This is how Amanda describes her journey: The