Welcome to the new Caffeinated Church membership newsletter! You’ll still get the essentials—upcoming workshops and our latest blog posts—plus a few new additions to help you stay creative, connected, and caffeinated in your work. 

The Caffeinated Church Conference is coming up in April. It’s a natural extension of everything we explore here—and one of the most affordable continuing education opportunities around. If you’re thinking about joining us, now’s a great time to register and save your seat. | | THE HOUSE BLEND: Updates From Around Caffeinated Church | | FRESH BREW: What’s New on the Commblog | |
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What the Olympics Are Teaching Me About Storytelling

by Ashley Graham-Wilcox

There are stories everywhere. And they’re not always where we think.
Yes, there are medals and podiums and slow motion replays set to swelling orchestral music. But the best stories are in the background. The 3-time Olympian on their last run, who switched to compete for their grandparents’ country. The African nations competing in the Winter Olympics for the first time. The couple competing against one another on the skeleton track. The Olympics remind me that storytelling isn’t just about the result. It’s about the context. Who among us wouldn’t love to be Mary Carillo, wandering through the host country finding the backstory?
Which is how, from my very qualified position as a couch-based Winter Olympian, I find myself offering a few church communication lessons straight from Milano Cortina...
| | | | NOW BREWING: Upcoming Workshops | | Administrators Virtual Café | | |
When The Well Feels Dry

Thursday, February 19 | 10:00 AM PT / 11:00 AM MT / 12:00 PM CT / 1:00 PM ET
There are seasons when the work feels heavier than usual. The world feels loud. Personal responsibilities press in. And even in ministry settings meant to be rooted in care and grace, interactions can sometimes feel sharp or draining. When energy is low and resilience feels thin, simply showing up can take more than we expect.
This Admin Café creates space for an honest, compassionate conversation about those moments—when exhaustion creeps in, motivation falters, and it’s hard to see where renewal might come from. Together, we’ll reflect on how we tend our inner resources, where we find steadiness when demands keep coming, and how we remain grounded in our work when our capacity feels stretched.
This is not a training or a problem-solving session. It’s a facilitated conversation shaped by shared experience—an opportunity to listen, name what’s real, and learn from one another about sustaining ourselves through demanding seasons. Come as you are, and leave with a sense that you’re not carrying this alone.
Facilitated by Mike Orr, Canon for Communications and Digital Evangelism, Episcopal Church in Colorado
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Realm User Group

*CHANGE IN DATE/TIME**

February 19 (Third Thursday of the Month, excluding July and December): 9:00 AM PT / 10:00 AM MT / 11:00 AM CT / 12:00 PM ET
Join us for a time of sharing, troubleshooting, and honing our Realm skills in support of our missions and ministries.
Hosted by Janey Griggs Salazar, Office of the Bishop in The Episcopal Church in Colorado
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Launching New Communications Initiatives

Wednesday, February 25 | 10:00 AM PT / 11:00 AM MT / 12:00 PM CT / 1:00 PM ET
Thinking about starting a new newsletter, platform, podcast, or communications effort? This workshop offers a practical framework for launching something new without overextending your time or capacity.
We will cover the essentials of a strong communications launch, including clarity around purpose, realistic timelines, launch strategy, frequency, and sustainability. We will also talk honestly about when it is time to pause, adapt, or stop an initiative and why that does not mean it failed.
Designed for church communicators and administrators who want to experiment wisely, steward energy well, and learn from every launch.
Led by Easton Davis, Canon for Communications & Digital Evangelism, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta
| | Church Collaboration Meeting | | |
"It's In the Newsletter! Been there for weeks!"

Thursday, March 19 | 10:00 AM PT / 11:00 AM MT / 12:00 PM CT / 1:00 PM ET

Change shows up in church communications all the time. A new initiative launches. A program quietly ends. Leadership makes a decision that needs explaining. Something familiar shifts, and people have feelings about it.

In this Church Collaboration, we’ll focus on the practical, relational work of communicating change in ways that build understanding and trust rather than confusion or fatigue. Together, we’ll reflect on how change is communicated in our contexts, where things tend to get stuck, and what helps people feel informed, respected, and grounded even when decisions are difficult or unpopular.

1. When change is communicated in your congregation or ministry setting, how do people tend to respond? What questions, concerns, assumptions, or patterns show up most often from congregants?

2. Think of a recent change where the reaction mattered as much as the message. What did you notice about how people processed the change, publicly or privately?

3. What do congregants seem to need most when something familiar is shifting? Clarity, reassurance, time, transparency, a chance to be heard, something else?
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CONFERENCE POUR-OVER:
Featured Highlights + What to Expect at This Year's Conference
April 20-23, 2026 in Atlanta, GA at All Saints' Episcopal Church
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Leveling Up Your Ministry Photography: Gear, Tips & Tech

Tuesday, April 21, 1:00 pm

Ready to enhance your visual storytelling? Whether you're just starting out or looking to fine-tune your setup, this hands-on workshop will guide you through today’s essential camera gear, helpful accessories, and the latest tools for capturing stunning images in your ministry context. We’ll break down common photography terms, explore real-world examples, and share budget-friendly upgrade ideas to fit churches of all sizes. 

With over a decade of experience behind the lens, Bro. Andrew Morehead, Missioner for Communications and Evangelism for the Episcopal Church in East Tennessee, returns to lead this updated workshop packed with insights, humor, and practical takeaways.
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Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, the Rt. Rev. Rob Wright
Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, the Rt. Rev. Rob Wright will join us for Opening Worship and co-lead a workshop at the Caffeinated Church Conference. A communicator in his own right, Bishop Wright’s podcast, For People, has listeners in 100 countries, over 5,000 cities, and over 300k downloads. Bishop Wright has been named among the 100 most influential Georgians by Georgia Trend magazine and among the 500 most powerful leaders in Atlanta by Atlanta magazine.
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April 20-23, 2026 
in Atlanta, Georgia 
at All Saints’ Episcopal Church
Churches with an Average Sunday Attendance of less than 100 can receive $100 off their registration fee. Request a scholarship.
| | ESPRESSO YOURSELF: A Creative Prompt | | | | |
We challenge you to translate one church-y phrase into plain language.
Examples:
• “Fellowship”
• “Formation”
• “Stewardship”
• “Discernment”
• “The Narthex”
Explain it like you’re talking to your neighbor over coffee.
| | Refill & Rest: Self-Care Corner | | | | |
If you work in church communications, you know all too well how your day can easily become one long reaction loaded with emails, texts, “quick questions,” and last-minute changes.
So before you open your inbox tomorrow....pause.
You are allowed to begin your day with intention instead of urgency.
Choose one meaningful task and give it your full attention before responding to everything else. Silence notifications for 20 minutes. Close all the extra tabs (bonus points if you can find the one that's making noise)

Our attention is not infinite — it’s something we have to steward to prevent burnout.
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