Printer-friendly versionA congregation in Tennessee is helping expectant couples and families with newborns.   No task is too large for the smallest congregation in the Diocese of Tennessee, especially when it comes to reaching out to the “least of these” in the surrounding community. St. Agnes’ Episcopal Church is a century-old mission in the tiny railroad town of Cowan, Tennessee. The congregation is eleven members strong and has a unique passion for helping expectant couples and families with newborns.   “We try to provide help for women and babies in the community in difficult situations by collecting items they need and holding baby showers,” Mrs. Kathleen Black explains. “Being a mother myself and being a member of St. Agnes’, I think it’s important that we help these mothers get the things they need so that they won’t have other obstacles to overcome.” The shared vision for helping young couples and their babies began in 1999 when the congregation befriended a young expectant mother in a distressing situation. The members responded immediately by rounding up dozens of baby supplies and holding a baby shower, “complete with cakes and decorations, “ Mrs. Black added, ?in the church parish hall.”   Of course, the outreach does not stop when the babies are born. One of the most fulfilling parts of this ministry would have to be the relationships we form with the mothers, fathers, and especially the babies. The members at St. Agnes’ love to follow-up regularly, occasionally rounding up emergency supplies such as diapers and formula. The families that benefit also get invited to come to church. It thrills us to have these babies in church on Sunday, and I just know that the Lord is overcome with joy. In recent months, the members of St. Agnes’ have made the church nave more “baby friendly.” A space has been created at the back of the church with rocking chairs and soft toys, and plans are in order to create a nursery in an empty room alongside the nave.   As a follow-up, the church has added a children’s Sunday school so that the church program will give these babies something to grow into. The Mission Council members are also discussing more effective ways to deal with crisis situations and ongoing assistance for the families they are seeking to help.   For more information on the outreach ministry at St. Agnes’ Church, visit the church website at www.saintagnescowan.com or contact Jarod Pearson at jpearson@sewanee.edu.