Consolidated Vision Session Notes
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TIM CLARK’S SESSIONS
MAY CLARK’S AND TOM BLODGETT’S SESSIONS
MAY'S GROUP, SESSION ONE
1. How would you describe our church?
-- loving and friendly
-- open and affirming
-- supportive spiritually
-- open to each other
-- teaching, respectfully
-- a sense of community within the church, a resource for the community
outside the church
-- a Christian church, seeking to follow Jesus' gospel of love
-- all seekers
-- looking for a leader (loving the current one!)
-- family-oriented, diverse
-- children participate, are nurtured and loved (very important)
-- community of outreach (to whole world)
-- remarkable choir and music program that is a unifying presence
-- great fellowship, coffee hour, weekly connection
-- lots of volunteering
-- raising prayers for others during worship
2. Why do you come to church?
-- singing
-- checking in with people
-- reminders of "how to behave"
-- opportunity to serve
-- hearing new ways of interpreting Scripture
-- community (current pastor secondary)
-- preaching
-- we come to worship and give thanks
-- children benefit from extended church family supporting parents
-- pastor's involvement with children
-- "something missing" if we don't come
-- well-planned, nicely-timed worship service
-- uplifting, thought-provoking experience
-- input welcome from all
3. What is the church?
-- a group of Christians who get together to carry out God's wishes and
Jesus' teachings
-- place of nurture for faith
-- history, legacy of us as a church
-- "enforcer" of moral values
-- The building
-- continuum of tradition
-- a place where you go when you have no other place: "safe house"
-- a place of acceptance
4. How do you share gifts God has given you with the church?
-- willingly
-- with joy
-- with encouragement of others
-- organizational talents through committees
-- being part of church life (rummage sale, etc.)
-- people contribute willingly as they are able -- no guilt trips
-- personal responsibility (community sharing instead of institutional)
-- listening
-- learning how to share gifts universally (transcends this church)
-- organization of church allows us to share
5. How does the church help you on your individual journey of
self-discovery?
-- preaching
-- scripture/music/prayers
-- community of worshippers
-- reaffirming faith
-- Communion service
-- Adult education
-- Church school, children's time
-- witnessing Sundays/ personal testimonies
-- safety
-- place to step away from "dailiness"
-- encouragement for growth and to take faith into community
-- safe place to question, be a doubter
-- discovery of powers and talents of other people
TOM'S SESSION (Session 2)
Focus point: How can we best care for members of our community and church
from womb to tomb?
1. What do you like about the church now?
-- sense of community
-- spirit
-- sense of family
-- acceptance
-- ritual
-- music
-- sermons
What should we stop doing/keep doing/start doing?
Stop: birthday song
passing the Peace
ignoring visitors
Keep: rummage sales
Lenten Lunch
Start: getting "green"
P.R. campaign for more visibility
being more welcoming
more activities like dinners, softball, alternative "folk" services
finding more parking
2. How do we welcome and attract more people?
-- greeters make people feel welcome, give information about the church
-- create a hospitality committee
-- approach people (bring bread to newcomers): but some people don't like
to be approached.
3. What do we want to look like in 5 years?
-- have a meditation garden with benches
-- have a part-time youth minister
-- have more faith in action
-- increase local outreach
-- find an appropriate use for the parsonage
-- more speakers
4. What would Jesus want us to look like in 5 years?
-- more outreach
-- more inspirational adult ed. speakers
-- retreats for religious, inspirational, social purposes, diff. age
groups.
WHAT'S NEXT? Revise mission statement, set strategic and tactical plans.
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TIM CLARK’S SESSIONS
