| What is our business? (6:35pm) |
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1. God |
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Shorter Catechism: To Glorify God, and Enjoy God for ever.
= To "glorify", involves finding, knowing, and living faithfully with God
and with People (people = others & self)
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2. Neighbors (people!) |
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See Acts 1:8 -- Looking Out
“you (pl) = y’all shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem (Spartanburg),
Judea (S.Carolina), Samaria (Up North!), and to the ends of the earth.” |
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See 1 Corinthians 14:12 -- Looking In
(you all) strive to excel in building up the church” |
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Church = Combination of Different |
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- groups (young/old; male/female; college/young adults; work; single/married; married w/ or w/out children)
- backgrounds (ethnic, economic, skills, knowledge, etc.)
- locations . . . even here in S’burg . .
= East side + West side
- levels of faith: Luke 15 – Two Prodigal sons = Younger brother (strayed far)+ Older brother (never strayed, but don’t know they’ve been loved)
- stages in Life: Normal, Crisis, Change
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BUT . . this is not easy . . . |
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1. We live at “The End of Christendom”
. . . The cultural assumptions and support structures are gone . . . (think about schools, sports on Wednesday nights, Sunday mornings, etc.)
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2. People have Multiple Priorities
For many people the church is one organization among many
(not the ‘church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth’ I Tim.3:15)
It used to be “build it”, and they WILL come
It is now, “Build it”, and they MAY come.
. . . [Note Church and Sunday School attendance . . . ] |
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SO, |
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it is imperative that we both . . .
1. Be ourselves & Sell ourselves (missionaries)
2. Respond to/Meet Perceived Needs & Respond to Biblical Mandates
= Preach/teach, care/heal, serve, fellowship
To remain still is to die slowly . . . .
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| BUT How do we expand our base? Who will come? |
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1. RELATIONSHIPS: People will come and stay when asked by a friend;
when noticed, and cared for
[WHO is the unchurched friend you will bring in 2010? ______________ ]
2. MEANING: People want to belong to an organization if they believe it is doing
something Vital for them, for their children, for the world.
[WHAT do you see in the church as absolutely critical to your life/other lives?
________________ ]
3.OWNERSHIP: developing participation, meaningful involvement
[WHERE do you have a sense of ownership or belonging?
________________ ]
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| What are we doing well? (6:45) |
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Q: How do we know?
Answer 1. Feeeeel? ( Is there a good ‘spirit’ in the place?)
Answer 2. Statistics . . . Data . . . Gathering; Assessment . . .
we’ve just begun! |
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1. 2008-09 Giving Amazing response in difficult times! |
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2. The “2005 Priority Objectives” . . . much done; some left to be done |
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3. Staffing
. . . the purpose of staffing . . . to enable the congregations to serve Jesus Christ |
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“to equip the saints (YOU! US ALL!) for the work of ministry, for , for building up the body of Christ.” Ephesians 4:12 |
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- Education, Children’s Ministry
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(Nan held the fort; now Craig; Bill . . . ) |
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(Holt & Marcia + musicians + Pastors)
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(Jeff & Carrie) |
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(Patricia) |
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(Scott) . . Local; assessing overall program |
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(Susan, Beth) deacons |
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(Scott, Rick, Patricia, Andy, Custodians, etc.) |
| Where have we grown in the last year? (6:50pm) |
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Deacon Restructure (Susan) (see organizational chart) |
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Weekday, specialized (see brochure) |
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Attendance; MorningSong; Genesis Choir
(attendance charts show we can improve greatly here, but we are showing a 5.4% increase so far over 2008) |
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A/V capability: camera, recording, DVD, etc. |
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Facility, Program Implementation, Finance, (Scott) |
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Web; Newsletter; banners |
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First Steps (Marcia) |
| Where are we struggling? |
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- Clarifying Administrative/Staff Roles
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Because of |
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- large amount of DATA keeping/management – e.g.,
- Registration (“My First Pres”)
- Caring (accurate data = loving communication; misinformation or no information is disastrous)
- Noticing People/Remembering/Involving People on the fringes . . .
- Managing Congregational Expectations
"Lack of clarity on what it takes" to do something . . even small things
(“Why aren’t you . . .? is a painful question to be asked: our staff all work hard and are committed to Christ and to the congregation’s mission)
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| What do we need to be doing that we are not/or which can be improved? (6:55) |
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Budget 2010!!! – let’s make sure we raise it! |
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Planning: New Long Range Plan (Begin a process – 2 years?) |
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Staffing: |
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Mission Pastor/Director (this Spring)
Children’s Ministry Dir. . . . (with Nan here, no immediate rush!!)
Administrative Position
Volunteer co-ordinator (see 2005 Priority Objectives) |
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*Involvement – New Member/Old Member Follow Up
(new short term sponsors; PACE, etc.) |
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Education/Discipleship: Structure/Expectations/Assessment/Attendance
(Children, Youth, Adults) |
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Recreation – assess and develop program |
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Facility
(Remember: Malls = 10yr life span . . then . . ) |
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- Assessment of Future Space Needs
- Infrastructure Renewal/update (fire safety, furnaces, windows, roof, internet, A/V, etc)
- Columbarium
- Sanctuary (sprinkling, functionality, beautification)
- Accessibility +
- Fellowship enhancing
- Other . . . .
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| How are we going to get there? (7:05p.m.) |
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Reaching Out – More members; more faithful, active members
Inviting Friends . . . calling . . . "entry doors" |
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Reaching In – Faithful Stewardship and commitment to participate |
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+++++++++++++++ |
| The National Church – Presbyterian Church (USA) |
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Overture from Foothills presbytery to decrease frequency of meetings of the General Assembly to every 6 years
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Unity in general mission
Disunity on specific social issues |
