My buddy Johnny K was fond of telling anyone who would listen: “I would much rather be standing in a river talking with Jesus than sitting in a pew thinking about fishing.” After three years of fighting like hell, he passed away in the Spring of 2025 from a glioblastoma. I cannot think about fishing, or friends, or rivers without thinking about Johnny K. 

Camping together is how two neighbors in southeast Denver became trusted friends. Rachelle Miller recalls the initial connection, “My neighbor, Becca, and I met each other because I moved in two doors down, and through getting to know each other, we realized we both enjoyed camping.” Rachelle was cautiously optimistic. “We both shared what we like and the gear we have; we both had tents, we both had stoves. Together we had everything we needed, so we decided to go camping together.” The outcome was more than she had hoped. “We had a blast! We discovered we have compatible camping styles. And that’s how our friendship began.”

Fireplaces served as the primary way to warm homes during the winter before boilers, furnaces, and space heaters. For generations, there was a rhythm of preparation established by cutting wood for the winter. Wood cutting remains an embodied way to love our neighbors in our modern age. The labor of cutting, hauling, stacking, and storing firewood demands sacrifice. It is a physical and practical act of caring for our neighbors each winter.

Being freely & lightly attuned to the natural world around us reminds us of the patient pace of the Creator. This is not something to accomplish, but something to enter into, because it’s all happening anyway, and we aren’t at the center of any of it. We are invited to meet God in the wonder, enjoyment, and grief of it all.

Cycling is a practice rooted in the joy of exploration and spans across cultures and generations. The invention of the bicycle in the early 19th century revolutionized personal transportation and leisure. Bike riding has evolved from a means of transportation to a recreational activity and sport for cyclists of all ages. Cycling is emblematic of Colorado culture as it is a practice that expresses freedom, adventure, and well-being.

A labyrinth is an ancient and embodied prayer practice. It is a way for your body to help restore your focus and attention on God. Labyrinths have been created by Christians across the centuries and countless civilizations. The lessons from the practice of walking a labyrinth are essential to our time that is marked by distraction and hurry.

December 21, the darkest night of the year, falls just days before Christmas. The world feels suspended in shadow as if holding its breath for something new. These long nights are a threshold—where the silence deepens, the stars emerge, and the veil between heaven and earth feels paper-thin.

“Halloween is a boo-tiful day to get to know your neighbors.” says Kristin Schell, founder of The Turquoise Table. There is no other day of the year when more neighbors knock on each other’s door. Halloween is a unique opportunity to show hospitality to your neighbors and neighborhood.

Giving flowers is a way to show kindness to your neighbors in your building or on your block, at a nearby retirement center, elementary school, or food bank. It is a practice of sharing beauty and spreading joy.

Ice cream is an almost guaranteed way to gather people. There’s a magical connection when people come together to enjoy the endless variations of frozen cream, milk, and sugar. An ice cream social is a sweet, and simple, way to spend time with your neighbors

Sitting in the backyard as a new mom while my first daughter played, I found to be a very isolating experience. But when I took the kiddie pool or the slide to the front yard, the chance of interacting with other adults rose exponentially.

Wandering is a counter script to the often overly scheduled lives centered around efficiency and productivity. Wandering is a practice that cultivates curiosity, looking to be interrupted by the world around you. When we are willing to wander, we have the possibility of being present to what is around us.

The ECM model is “adopt-a-block.” Volunteers knock on doors ahead of work days to connect with neighbors. They ask about any external home improvement projects that could be done by volunteers.

People who live in the neighborhood who may attend different local congregations or participate in various expressions of the Church, can come together to pray in and for the neighborhood. The simple practice of praying in a park will help guide your prayers for people and ground your prayers in place.  

Caroling is a wonderful way to meet new neighbors, make memories with friends, and benefit from the all the gifts of singing songs.

The run clubs are as consistent as a Sunday church service and are inclusive of all levels of run enthusiasts from 1st timers to seasoned marathon racers.

Fallen leaves are an annual reminder of who is your neighbor. They are an invitation to care for both the people and place around you.

Showing up and saying you love to watch a kid from your neighborhood play sports, at any level, cultivates joy. It is a playful practice of showing love for your neighbors, and builds confidence and connection with their kids.

We must know our neighbors to love our neighbors. Only in doing life together do we make visible the heart of Jesus to our neighbors. Coffee Friday might be the practice for you to get to know your neighbors. Or, replace coffee with something else that might unite your neighbors. I bet on coffee.

Street Dinners is an everyday practice. It has a low entry barrier to connect with your neighbors. We’re grateful to Jocelyn for sharing this practice with us. We want to learn from your practices too. Please share them with us! We look forward to sharing them with you.