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The Five Practices Of a Fruitful Congregation Report To Charity United Methodist Church Lay Leadership 2-9-10 Slide 2 Agenda What was the Process? Review of Each Practice What Could We Have Done Better Conclusions Slide 3 What Was The Process? Slide 4 1. Engage the Church Family in Five weeks of focus on the various topics 2. Form focus groups to study each topic 3. Enlist the help of the Sunday School classes via discussion and reflection on each topic 4. Challenge the Congregation during each week of the program with sermons, special music, and drama focused on a particular topic Slide 5 The Five Practices of a Fruitful Congregation Radical Hospitality Passionate Worship Intentional Faith Development Risk-taking Mission & Service Extravagant Generosity Slide 6 #1 Radical Hospitality Work Group Chair: Mark Parsons Slide 7 Creating a Welcome at Charity Church Slide 8 What is hospitality? When we speak of hospitality we are always addressing issues of inclusion and exclusion. Each of us makes choices about who will and who will not be included in our lives. Hospitality has an inescapable moral dimension to it. All of our talk about hospitable openness doesnt mean anything as long as some people continue to be tossed aside. But calling hospitality a moral issue does not tell us the whole truth about hospitality either. A moral issue can become bogged down in legalisms, and hospitality is no legalistic ethical issue. It is instead a spiritual practice, a way of becoming more human, a way of understanding yourself. Hospitality is both the answer to modern alienation and injustice and a path to a deeper spirituality. Slide 9 Thoughts on Hospitality from Henri Nouwen 1. Free and friendly space - creating physical, emotional, and spiritual space for the newcomer to join us. 2. Stranger becomes a guest - in that atmosphere of hospitality, the stranger is treated like a guest and potential friend. 3. Compassion - hospitality is basically a sense of compassion, a realization that we are more alike than we are different 4. Confrontation, honesty - hospitality is not being a doormat to the guest, it includes confronting one another in honesty, as well as with compassion. 5. God as the ultimate Host - hospitality reminds us that we are all guests of God who is the ultimate Host who welcomes us Slide 10 A Hospitality Primer for Charity Church Develop and Train a group of Ambassadorsnot just greeters. A team of people who are passionate about hospitality and who can assist in both welcoming, identifying and assisting those visiting by introductions, provision of guest bulletin, and gaining their name and phone number. This group would also be the first point of contact AFTER the service by phone message, inviting the visitors to join them as their guest for a Wednesday Fellowship Dinner or coffee in the coming week. Slide 11 A Hospitality Primer for Charity Church Design and Implement a visitors bulletin. A worship guide (serving as a welcome packet) that will welcome, assist and guide newcomers through the service. Should be printed on a different colored paper and should include a welcome sheet that provides them simple and basic information. It should NOT have all the regular stuff that is in the regular bulletin. This unique bulletin would assist members and regular parishioners in identifying those visiting. During the meet and greet portion of each service an Ambassador would be responsible for going, introducing those around them and gaining their contact information. Some token or remembrance (flat and useful.magnet, bookmark, calendar, etc.) should be included in this bulletin. Slide 12 A Hospitality Primer for Charity Church Coordinate a team concept of those interested in serving and promoting hospitality. This should include all age groups. NO ONE is too young to be polite and welcoming. It is our job to train ourselves and our youth and children to reach out and be hospitable. Utilize this team to constantly seek and promote new initiatives and means by which to keep hospitality at the forefront of our work at Charity. Slide 13 A Hospitality Primer for Charity Church Promote a bi-annual Progressive Dinner that includes ALL church members. Utilizing 20-25 homes, groups of 10-12 would interact and come together OUTSIDE of the church in a home setting. Simple meals and great conversation would become a hallmark. Coordination and a systemic approach would diversify the people who were groupedincluding guests and newcomers who have shown interest in Charity. This would nurture a sense of community and allow others to feel the bond of Christian love that exists or should exist between us. Slide 14 A Hospitality Primer for Charity Church Consider and Pray about a quarterly event that is geared to all those who have visited for the first time in the past three months. Staff and the Hospitality Team would welcome and provide feedback and nurturing for this group. Slide 15 A Hospitable Concept Congregations committed to breaking from the status quo are called to develop a sense of "radical hospitality." Rather than seeking out like members for mutual support, they seek people who consider themselves beyond the reach of organized religion. "Radical hospitality" has not only social, but political and economic implications; it is the act of extending community beyond the margins to those unserved by church, synagogue, or mosque. Rather than limiting their public theology to outreach or charity that maintains the unjust distribution of power and resources, congregations formed in radical hospitality exercise a commitment to justice. This model seeks to transform both the believer and society as a whole. Slide 16 A Hospitality Primer for Charity Church Priorities for 2010 Recruit and train a Hospitality Team Insure integrity Insist on consistency Include all demographics Design and Implement a Visitors Guide to Charity Keep it simple Make it engaging Monitor it closely Initiate a church-wide progressive dinner twice yearly to promote fellowship, energy and focus as a church family. Build a team to head & host Target dates to maximize a connection to key services Slide 17 #2 Passionate Worship Work Group Chairpersons: Rebecca Straseskie Crystal White Slide 18 Lets set the stage for this discussion Worship is a highly personal topic People are passionate about their ideas of and preferences for worship Charity Church has two very distinct and very vocal groups who favor two very different styles of worship Distilling the data gathered into a short and concise presentation is a difficult task that said, heres what we have Slide 19 What did we learn? 8:30 Service Likes Relaxed Feel of the service Contemporary Music Communion every Sunday Gathering in a circle to end the service Slide 20 What did we learn? 8:30 Service Dislikes Too many church words ie. Narthex Service seems rushed Service seems disconnected from one part to next Would like sermon series v. lectionary preaching Not enough time for Holy Spirit to move Not enough time for personal witnesses Greeting time breaks flow of service Slide 21 What did we learn? 11:00 Service Likes Traditional in format Choir & Organ Slide 22 What did we learn? 11:00 Service Dislikes Choir not in robes and not in loft Want more organ music People take ownership of a seat Not traditional enough Want return of Apostles Creed Slide 23 So What do we do with this information? Slide 24 8:30 is Changing Bob Williams formed a work group to facilitate change and to remake the contemporary service, with the understanding that this service is likely to be the growth engine of our church. The goal is to try and meet the attendance targets set by Lay Leadership for 2010. Changes will take place starting this week (14 th ) Slide 25 8:30 is Changing Annoucements will be moved to a video loop 15 minutes prior to the service Greeting time will be moved to Charity Cafe after the service Music will be less at the start, but more reflective right before the sermon An emphasis on including layity in the service will evolve over the coming weeks. Slide 26 8:30 is Changing Focus groups will provide feedback right after the service each week initial impressions etc. Bobs work group will meet to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of changes made and work to continue the evolution of our contemporary service into the vehicle for growth that Charity Church needs. Slide 27 What about 11:00? It would be the recommendation of this team that a work group be formed that is similar to what has been done for the 8:30 service. Within the bounds of what Charity Church sets for Traditional Worship, this team would suggest that an effort be made to determine if any change is needed and if so how to make it happen. Slide 28 In Conclusion Most folks in both services think we do worship pretty well however, There are many comments on how to do it better The 8:30 transition is underway stay tuned for the results The 11:00 service could stand to be studied. Slide 29 #3 Intentional Faith Development Work Group Chair: -Unfilled- Slide 30 Lets set the stage for this discussion Intentional Faith Development involves a personal commitment to engage in doing something that furthers ones understanding of and growth in relationship with Jesus Christ In general folks feel that Charity Church is doing a pretty good job of helping people grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ Slide 31 What did we learn? Likes Classes like Disciple Bible Study, Beth Moore, Vacation Bible School and others fill a need We have a pretty consistent group of folks who engage in these classes Its obvious that programs for the Youth have increased and as such they are finding more time to study as well. Slide 32 What did we learn? Dislikes Seems to be a lack of direction or focus from leadership in the church on this topic, such that a vision is not evident Need more communication in advance of offerings, in addition to what is already done Need to include more of the church body in this effort seems to be the same folks over and over Need more for preschool, and young kids Slide 33 Other Programs to Consider Companions in Christ Experiencing God Jesus in the Gospel Purpose Driven Life Purpose Driven Church Basic Christianity Slide 34 Suggestions for Action Develop a vision from the Lay Leadership team and communicate that vision Develop Cell Group or Small Group ministry to facilitate more people in study and fellowship Need a Methodist 101 or Christianity 101 class for new members Need mentoring program for new members that will guide them into this and all aspects of the church body Need intake assessment of new members to make sure theyre plugged into the right studies Slide 35 #4 Risk-Taking Mission & Service Work Group Chair: Ed Sievers Slide 36 Lets set the stage for this discussion At Charity Church this topic falls under the Outreach Work Group. Missions means many things to many people, and thus we have many ideas as to how to proceed Charity Church seems to have much going on but not a lot of communication back to the Church Family about it. Slide 37 What did we learn? Likes Far away mission trips Misson work close to home Those involved get a lot out of it We think we do a lot Slide 38 What did we learn? Dislikes Far away mission trips limit participation Few in the church actually get involved Our Youth are not actively engaged in much Getting outside our comfort zone Want more to do locally I did it why cant you? Slide 39 Things to Consider Find something for EVERY person in the Church Family to do for missions everyone can do a little Sewing Card Ministry Cooking for local mission teams Engage the Youth early so that a passion and comfort for doing mission work can grow Carolina Cross Connection Appalachian Service Project Slide 40 Suggestions for Action Provide clear direction and vision from the Lay Leadership to the Church Family Reinvigorate the Outreach Work Group (done) Be ready for approving an aggressive list of goals from the Outreach Work Group Support Church wide missions focus starting on Feb 21 st, with Missions Fair on Sunday 3-21-10 Support No Church Sunday coming in the Fall Slide 41 #5 Extravagant Giving Work Group Chair: Alan Peterson Slide 42 Lets set the stage for this discussion Talk about a personal decision this is about as personal as it gets for most folks! Extravagant Giving is finding the joy and excitement in giving. Giving more than youre used to and trusting in God all the while This discussion is not the strong point for most United Methodist Churches Slide 43 What did we learn? Neither good nor bad Most would like to give more but find it hard due to other priorities Folks give without regard to prayer or input from God its just what they do a habit Some feel that we dont share the financial picture of the church enough we dont communicate well on this topic Most are not excited about giving to the church again its just what they do Slide 44 What did we learn? Neither good nor bad Giving should not be considered as financial only time and talents are also part of the offering A lot of the time, we are as a Church Family more willing to write a check than to give of ourselves to get something done. Give folks a goal, or a target to obtain, and they are more focused on giving. Tell them what we need and they will respond. Slide 45 Suggestions for Action Set a vision/goal for giving and start communicating the target. Communication is key Dont be shy about informing the Church Family of our financial situation and of our financial needs Pay attention to the first four parts of the Five Practices if we get those right, then giving will be a natural and uncomplicated result of Gods work in the lives of our Church Family. Slide 46 In Conclusion: Time and again the feedback included the need for vision and direction from Church Leadership. If the vision is there, then communication needs to be improved. We have a wonderful Church Family that is willing and able to help / work / cook / build / comfort / study / worship / sing / and do just about anything asked of them we need to ask in a coordinated fashion, and expect God to handle the rest. Slide 47 Wrap Up What Could I Have Done Better?! Slide 48 Enlist the help of an assistant to facilitate the gathering of team leaders and to follow up with them. Could have done a better job of informing the Church Family about the pending effort. Communication is key. Should have been more visible to the work groups that met for support. Slide 49 The Five Practices of a Fruitful Congregation Radical Hospitality Passionate Worship Intentional Faith Development Risk-taking Mission & Service Extravagant Generosity