To strengthen ministries with children, eight congregations of the Diocese of Los Angeles will soon receive grants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 through the Immersed in Worship program. Congregations receiving this first round of sub-grants will be celebrated at Diocesan Convention Nov. 7-8.
The diocesan Immersed in Worship program officially began Jan. 1 with the start of funding from a $1.2 million grant the program received from Lily Endowment Inc. The program seeks to support congregations and help them to create and collaborate on vibrant ministries that engage children ages zero-12.
The program offers resources, training, and sub-grants to individual congregational projects, in addition to developing a network of connection between congregations, said Missy Morain, director of the program and diocesan missioner for Christian formation, children and youth. Morain works closely with the Rev. Canon Melissa McCarthy, diocesan canon to the ordinary, who played a key role in securing the grant.
“We are grateful to Lilly Endowment for affirming our vision and commitment to children in our diocese and the church,” McCarthy told the News. “Missy Morain’s ideas, coalesced in this grant, are inspired. She is a brilliant educator with years of experience and cutting-edge work in children’s and youth ministry at the church-wide level. This grant enables us to do something we have long dreamed of — resource congregations to engage children through grassroots, diocesan-supported efforts. It will be transformational for our diocese, and, with God’s help, the whole church.”
Despite initial setbacks due to the January wildfires, which began only six days after the official start beginning, the program is now into its first cycle, and preparing for continued growth with larger grant cycles and more connection with congregations.
“As part of the grant proposal, one of the things that I had written was that we would write tools, liturgies, and blessings for families in the Diocese of Los Angeles,” Morain said. “It never occurred to me that the first thing I would write would be a blessing for a house that’s been lost in fire.”
Morain, who was personally impacted by the fires as a long-time parishioner and former staff member St. Matthew’s, Pacific Palisades, said that despite the tragedy of the wildfires, a lot has been accomplished by the program so far.
“Eight churches in the Diocese of Los Angeles are receiving grants through this first grant period for projects that will hopefully engage in innovative ways, children in prayer and worship in those congregations,” Morain said.
Program proposals from the grantees of the current cycle include Goldy Play programs, children’s choirs, music programs, and the creation of regular intergenerational formation opportunities.
In addition to the sub-grant process, Morain has led two webinars, and has been doing congregational visits, consulting with congregations on curriculum and resources, and doing some guest preaching on Sundays, she said. Due to multiple requests, Morain organized a ‘Godly Play’ training session, attended by seven congregations in the diocese.
Morain emphasized that there is still scholarship money available for the program year, for ministry leaders to participate in workshops and other opportunities aimed at developing ministry to youth. More information here.
The beginning of the program, she said, is focused on creating connections, getting to know congregational leaders and letting people know what she is available as a resource to help them. “My job is entirely focused on supporting congregations, and if I’m not supporting congregations with everything I’m doing, then I’m not effectively doing my job,” Morain said.
Another important aspect is developing a network, so that congregations working on developing ministry to youth and young adults can collaborate, share tips and ideas, and work together.
“We know that there’s robust ministry with young people and intergenerationally happening in the diocese, but we don’t always know who’s doing it, so that we can collaborate and share with each other,” Morain said. “We don’t need to reinvent most wheels.”
Soon, the program will be launching Godly Play Cohorts, so that congregations using the Godly Play program will be connected to a network of congregations working on the same thing.
Through regular check-ins with the congregations that received grants, Morain also hopes to be able to see what works, and what doesn’t, as well as common struggles and solutions in the programming, to be able to better advise congregations down the line.
She said that the first grant cycle, was an opportunity to figure out the process and iron out wrinkles. The next grant cycle, which will be accepting applications in late spring or early summer of 2026, is budgeted to have more than three times as much money as the first cycle available for grants.
“We really want people to be thinking about how they want to explore innovative worship and prayer with children in their congregations in 2026, 2027,” said Morain, who may be contacted for more information at mmorain@ladiocese.org.