February Meeting: Stone Soup Responses

Summary of Congregational Input

(March 2009)

The Vision Team chose to sort congregational input from last Fall’s congregation-wide “Stone Soup Stewardship Groups” into the six (6) categories listed below. Input received included both affirmations of current ministries and new possibilities. Proposed action items are in italic with the name of the team to receive the information in parenthesis ( ). The Vision Team will continue to explore possibilities and how God is guiding us toward the future through the ideas and visions of our members.

1. Children
2. Fellowship
3. Caring/Hospitality
4. Food
5. Engage Community/external
6. Worship

1. CHILDREN

Affirmations

Sunday school is fun; safe…we have good space for kids

Children’s time in worship

Intentionally welcoming of families with children

All inclusive Communion, especially the way children are involved

Youth Group makes all feel welcome

Children’s programs (Sunday school, VBC, etc.)

New Vision

1. Children’s choir and/or children’s musical (like Climbin’ Simon)-(SPRC)
2. Offer affordable, Christ-centered daycare for children

2. FELLOWSHIP

Affirmations

Family – all of the individual families, church family

Encouraged to be best that I can

Sense of community and genuine warmth

Everyone is welcomed

Coffee Hour

New Vision

1. Create a ministry ‘book” for the pews allowing people to see volunteer opportunities where they might serve – (Nominations)
2. More small group Bible study- (Adult Spiritual Life Team)
3. Increase communication about changes and clarify how to have voice in decisions about programs and ministries (SPRC – sponsor conflict training workshop [held March 14] and additional follow up)
4. Evaluate current debt and options for retiring debt (Finance)
5. Continue to focus on helping others, get people involved

3. CARING/HOSPITALITY

Affirmations

Sincerity of community – sense of caring

This church has a “can do” attitude, people always step forward

Everyone seems friendly - they love me

How we take care of each other in times of trouble

Sharing joys and concerns

How people greet each other

The dedicated staff that go above and beyond their job requirements

New Vision

1. Create prayer partnerships – (Adult Spiritual Life Team)
2. The Caring Team is a new resource. How will this team help prioritize pastoral care and visitation to ensure pastoral contact is made where needed? (SPRC)
3. Providing care for people-spiritual, emotional and physical (SPRC)
4. Especially care for people who have fallen away from fellowship, reach out to inactive members and those who we have not seen recently
5. Helping create social capital-mutual responsibility for one another in an otherwise fragmented society
6. Create a private space for people to meet together for prayer, etc.
7. Program to help us feel comfortable reaching out to newcomers, etc. Even a loving church needs to get out of its comfort zone to grow.

4. FOOD

Affirmations

Our food ministry (Meals on Wheels, Agape, Friendship, fellowship time) is a great example of Christ’s love in action.

New Vision

1. Make it easier for more and more people to come for food
2. Expand Angel Food ministry

5. ENGAGE COMMUNITY-EXTERNAL

Affirmations

Feels like a giving church – Care Team, Open Door, Agape Café

Agape Café and the way people are invited to socialize

Community of people

Challenges me to be a better person

Help the community around us

Reaching out to the community with Outreach

Being at Pumpkin Fest – good to be visible

Let’s be known by our actions, not just our words

New Vision

1. Get out of the building and into the community, especially with seniors

3. Continue outreach
4. Find new ways to be helpful to each other and the community
5. Focus on immediate neighborhood – evangelism

6. WORSHIP

The way sermons relate the Bible to modern living

All inclusive Communion, especially the way children are involved

The look of the sanctuary

Sharing joys and concerns

New Vision

1. Utilize lay speakers more-(Pastor/SPRC)
2. Explore different worship styles for all ages
3. Incorporate praise music or more modern music at 10:45 service
4. More skills for focusing on newcomers – passing the peace, invites to coffee hour, etc.