In lieu of a personal gift following his 1997 election as Presiding Bishop, the Most Rev. Frank T. Griswold, Jr. asked the Diocese of Chicago to establish an endowment for use in planting churches.

Four years, 20,000 mailings, 5,000 person-to-person contacts and $600,000 later, Bread of Life, the diocese's first new congregation in more than 20 years, held its inaugural service Sept. 23 at Century School in Orland Park.

"The light of God lives," said Bread of Life's missioner, the Rev. Robyn Hoffman, during her sermon. "God's hope for the world is here right now. Let's share it."

Over the course of the past year and a half, Ms. Hoffman has been sharing God's love with many of the 47,000 residents of Orland Park, located about 30 miles southwest of downtown Chicago. She estimates that in that time she has visited about 5,000 homes and sent out 20,000 pieces of mail. Residents also have been hearing about the new church arrival in a series of innovative, paid advertisements that run as previews in the local movie theater.

"Boot camp was nothing compared to the creation," Ms. Hoffman said at the conclusion of the opening service.

The "boot camp" to which she referred is an intensive church planting seminar offered by Church Multiplication Resources, one of several firms in a relatively new branch of the Christian mission field.

Although specific details may differ between congregational development consultants, most agree on a number of broad guidelines. Perhaps the most important is to find a good field for planting. The diocese studied the demographics of the Orland Park area and concluded that it contained a number of unchurched people who might be receptive to the Episcopal Church.

With available property sites succumbing to development, the diocese decided to purchase a five-acre parcel now that could be used later as the site for a new church building. Most church growth consultants recommend waiting to build until a congregation is well established.

Early on in the development process, the diocese agreed to fund the salary of a church planter as well as some promotional expenses for the first three years, so that the congregation could develop without having to devote all its attention to remaining financially solvent.

"We felt very called to support this mission," said Colin R. Silvester, a diocesan trustee and member of Church of the Holy Spirit in Lake Forest, who chaired the effort to create the Griswold endowment fund. "We just weren't sure what form that would take at first."

Starting a congregation from scratch requires a priest with a unique blend of pastoral and entrepreneurial skills. Initially, Ms. Hoffman said, the diocese was not sure that she was the right person. She eventually won them over with enthusiasm and persistence.

"One thing you'll learn about me is that I'm not shy," she said.

Persistence and enthusiasm would be two qualities Ms. Hoffman would need in abundance as she began introducing herself and telling residents about the new church that would soon be in the area. She drew on skills she had developed forming youth groups in the dioceses of East Tennessee and Western Louisiana.

"Many of those churches had only a few kids in them when we started," she explained, "so it was sort of like starting a new church."

Both young people and newcomers to church feel more at ease when they don't "stand out," according to congregational development experts. In order to help supplement the local turnout, the diocese encouraged members of existing Episcopal churches in the area to support Bread of Life. They also made attendance relatively easy by scheduling services on Sunday evening.

The liturgy was largely taken from Rite II of the Book of Common Prayer. One notable exception was that much of it was projected onto a screen set up in front near the altar. The music was somewhat different as well in that all of the selections were of an easy-to-sing, contemporary, folk style and accompanied by a full band.

"I really liked the music. It's more inspiring and you don't need to be a 'musical god' in order to sing it," said Jeff Allen, a member of St. Benedict's in nearby Bolingbrook.

The inclusion of the announcements and the passing of the Peace at the end of the service comprised the other significant departure from tradition.

For the opening service, Bread of Life — the name was chosen by Ms. Hoffman both for its association with nurturing and the Eucharist — drew 157 worshipers. Thirty-one of those signed a guest register expressing interest in learning more about becoming members.