At New Carlisle United Methodist Church, sewing has become more than a hobby—it has become a way to build community, serve neighbors, and share God’s love. Through Tangled Threads, people of different ages and backgrounds gather around a shared love of creating, discovering connection and purpose one stitch at a time. Here’s a quick look at what it is, how it works, and why it matters. What It Is Tangled Threads is a sewing-centered Fresh Expression that grew out of New Carlisle United Methodist Church. The idea actually began on the ride home from a Fresh Expressions and Messy Church training, when a few laypeople in the backseat started imagining what they could do with something they already loved. The result was a new community built around sewing, serving others, and growing in faith together. How It Works On the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month, around ten people gather from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. to sew and create items for people in need. Their projects have included wheelchair bags for a nearby retirement community, soap bags for the food pantry, baby layette kits, and other donated items. At noon, the sewing pauses for devotions and a time of sharing, making spiritual conversation a natural part of the community’s rhythm. Participants include people from both inside and outside the congregation—and range from an 86-year-old woman who learned to tie quilts to a 14-year-old who came wanting to learn to crochet. Why It Matters Tangled Threads shows that a Fresh Expression doesn’t have to begin with a complicated program or a large team. Sometimes it begins by noticing what people already love to do—and asking how that passion might become a place for relationship, purpose, service, and faith. More than 180 handmade items had already been donated when the story was published, but perhaps the more important impact is happening around the sewing tables themselves: generations learning from one another, people finding purpose, relationships forming, and faith being woven naturally into life together. This snapshot was developed through thoughtful research using publicly available sources, including websites, news articles, community updates and a brief conversation with the pioneer.