St. Mark Vision Quest
Next Vision Quest, "Where Do We Go From Here?", Monday March 26th from 7:00-8:30 PM.
In our Vision quest we are using the Pathway Program which can be found at this site:
http://www.congregationalresources.org/ShowOne.asp?RID=9609&TC=194
This is a chronological report on the Pathway that we have traveled
as of11/16/05. VISION IS NOT.....
A Mission to be accomplished
A Private Inspiration
Specific Objectives and deadlines
Compartmentalized and detailed, and purely factual
A prediction or a forecast
A strategy, plan and budget to achieve a desired end
VISION IS.....
An idea to be explored and appreciated
shared view, mutually agreed upon
A guiding image
Holistic, based partly on spirit and emotion
The process of inventing the future
Open - ended
VISION IS MORE THAN PLANNING:
It is tempting for congregations in a planning mode to move too quickly to goals, objectives, specific plans and strategies.
This hasty narrowing and premature focusing eliminates a broader spectrum of possibilities and may sacrifice creativity and wider participation in the interest of time
"The church is not a problem to be solved; but a mystery to be explored and appreciated."
WHAT IS VISION? (By the VQ Team)
The way a person(congregation) sees things
Mysterious experience of seeing the supernatural
Unusual perception
Intelligent foresight
HOW DOES VISION BENEFIT THE CHURCH?
Helps the congregation understand strengths & weaknesses
Appreciate and understand core values
Guides strategic and tactical decision making
Helps recruit members who share the same vision
Suggests projects or missions for the congregation to pursue.
(By the VQ Team)
Unite the congregation
Deepens our faith; helps us think in broader perspective
Helps to give purpose & direction to our church; something to focus on so we don't drift
Helps us to focus outward instead of inward
Motivates us
Inspires reflection on where we have been, where we are, and where we are going
The most important vision for our congregation
is the one we already have.
From our current vision arises our sense of what God is doing
and where God may be leading us.
Far from being a fantasy based on wishful thinking,
our vision is based firmly in our gifts, history and beliefs.
WHAT IS THE CURRENT VISION OF ST. MARK? (By the VQ Team)
None
How do we keep the status quo, maintain, continue being, survival, take care of what we have.
Getting more members
To do things, no purpose other than to be doing something.
Doing things motivated by a personal "vision".
To be good people
Change just a little if we really need to
Give us a vision where we know where to stand and what
to stand for; because unless we know where to stand,
we shall fall for anything." (Peter Marshall)
Operative Vision
What is our congregation's distinctive "angle" on the world?
What does our church do well? (By the VQ Team)
Money making projects, work well together, very giving to special needs, good stewardship, music, fellowship, care about one another, provide space for community organizations, "friendly", Care team Ministry, tolerant, persistent, pot-luck dinners, Flea Market, stability for members, struggle, dedication & loyalty to the church, Worship.
What are our church's blind spots? (By the VQ Team)
Hard to see beyond our finances, try to avoid conflict, don't see local needs; hunger, abuse, poverty. We live in a "protected environment". Looking inward makes it difficult to see needs in the community. Some people in the church don't see the need for their active participation in the church. Understanding the spiritual needs of those outside the church, potential for use of the grounds that we have.
Some express themselves with anonymous notes, we are willing to discuss and evaluate change, tolerate change, willingness to change if it is "legitimate".
What would be the News Story about our congregation? (By the VQ Team)
Best Flea market in town! Celebrating with Music, Facing a decline in membership but not giving up!, Searching for ways to face the issue! Spaghetti for rescue mission, Friendliest church on the West side!
If we recieved an Award what would it be? (By the VQ Team)
Congeniality Award: When we get together we have fun.
The Gipper Award, we are willing to work together to keep the doors open!
Open Hand Award: due to friendliness and welcome.
Most interesting sermons in town!
Theological Challenge Award
Landscaping Award
What is the current Operative Vision of our congregation? (By the VQ Team)
To Persevere, work hard,
and survive as a congregation,
remaining faithful to God's calling.
A report from 10/26 through 11/9
Matthew 22 34-40 THE GREAT COMMANDMENT
WHAT IMAGES EMERGE?
Powerful, biased group questioning Jesus,
large glowing heart full of love
probably had answer in mind when they asked
They thought they "had him", no right answer, but he came up with the perfect answer.
Courtroom, prosecuting attorney
Jesus got the upper hand, took the high road
Random acts of kindness
QUESTIONS?
Can the two commands be separated?
Who is my neighbor
What is all the law?
How do I do this?
Does this mean "all" the law
Who are the Sadducees
WHAT IS THE VISION?
Love is more important than legalism, laws, rules, etc.
Relationship is more important than legalism.
Covenant, community built on love,
rather than individualism, rather than competition, rather than fear
MATTHEW 28:19-20 THE GREAT COMMISSION
WHAT IMAGES EMERGE?
Students being Taught
Go..... not stay where you are wait for people to come..
Go Baptize, go teach, Remember
Loving act, not a forced act
Making disciples... get them to follow
WHAT QUESTIONS
Who are "the nations"
What does "everything I have commanded you" mean?
How do you make disciples if they won't listen
How can we share with those we don't know
if we can't share with those we do know?
What does it mean to be baptized?
WHAT IS THE VISION SHARED?
Bringing people into the fold
Reassurance that they(we) are not going to have to do this by ourselves.
Go and Do! A new vision for God's and "all" people A Formula for success
GENESIS 1 "...AND GOD SAW THAT IT WAS GOOD!"
God's intention here is to provide what we need, we are to be concerned for the rights of the poor always, acknowledge God as our provider, guide, comforter in our relationship with God through creation.
We were created out of God's love, we are to be an expression of God's love, Everything God created was satisfying.
We are important to God, more than anything else, subdue everything except other humans.
We are encouraged to see the "goodness" in God's creation
HOW ARE WE LIVING THIS IN OUR CONGREGATION ?
We are Taking care of each other as a part of caring for God's creation
HOW CAN WE LIVE THIS OUT IN OUR CONGREGATION ?
By taking care of the environment, mission outreach
PSALM 23.... "The Lord is my shepherd"
To dwell in the house of the Lord forever.... to be in relationship with God forever
If we follow God we will be led through troubling times and we can invite others to do the same.
God is always there to lead us, to restore our souls, comfort us, renew us.
God gives us the strength to go on.
"Faith Witness" is a way of sharing how God is guiding us on the journey.
Do we count our blessings and use them to continue on?
AMOS 5:24.... "Let justice roll down like waters"
Justice and righteousness are moving forces for God's creation.
God wants to see a mighty flood of justice for all, and a river of righteous living that will never dry.
Do what is right, Love God.
Through Forgiveness, we are to be an intentional moving force for justice and righteousness.
God wants us to live a righteous life forever
and be fair and just with all people.
Judgement, accountability for sins, trust in God
We try to be accepting of all people NOT REALLY
MATTHEW 5 ... "The Sermon on the Mount"
Describes what we should be like ethically, functions as a Code of Ethics for us as followers of Christ in order to live in his Kingdom.
Expresses God's promises, the Kingdom of God is for all people, not based on social achievement.
It goes on to tell us to love our enemy as well as our neighbor
It is all about relationship with God and neighbor;
We are all equal in God's eyes
Can we live by this code of ethics all the time?
THE GOSPEL OF JOHN ... " The I AM sayings"
Love God with all our heart and mind
God is our sustenance, our Light, God provides a way for us to be constantly and always in relationship with God. God cares for us, intends for us to live forever with God, we can do this by listening to and following Jesus.
Assurance, Hope, Salvation, Example. Eternal life, one with God in and through Jesus, Jesus is the Core of everything, of our Faith.
We are seeking to live out this belief.
We hold Christ in the center of our congregations beliefs
by our constancy and commitment to the ministry of St. Mark
ROMANS 8:31-39... "If God is for us, who can be against us?"
God cannot be separated from us, God intends for us to be with God always.
God sent Jesus, God's only son to die for us
and raised him to intercede for us, this is how much God loves us
and wants to keep us in relationship with God.
1 CORINTHIANS 13
3 things that will endure, Faith Hope and Love, and the greatest is Love.
Works without love are pointless.
Be patient and Kind with God's creation
God refreshes us with/through all the
good patience, hope and love that we both receive and give.
GALATIANS 3:28 ... "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female"
No differences in God's eyes, once you have been baptized
Protective and loving intention
Shows God has unconditional love for us,
so we should relate to each other in the same way.
OUR CONGREGATIONAL TIME-LINE
50's Started as a mission church by other churches, named after an evangelist, formed by uniting other groups. There was a need discerned and acted upon. Organized and functioned as an institution. A lot of fund raising events. Refugee family adopted, then after six months they left.
Heartbeat named
Differing visions; competing sites.... pews or chairs..... which room to worship in.... additional land purchase... building the sanctuary was the plan..... interrupted by the parsonage construction.
Founding Pastor resigned amid controversy.
60's Two ministers, avg. attendance 148 (1969). Crowded, huge youth groups, Women of St Mark and Choir reactivated, debt down to $4000.00.
Alan Happe ordained in 1964. Sausage suppers.....
70's Two Pastors.... Rev. Hayden reluctantly accepted with less votes than he wanted, left after 2.5 years. He wanted to build the sanctuary. The congregation was not well informed of Council business. New Sanctuary plans were made, but came to an abrupt end. Some leaders not willing to take the risk in faith to borrow the money.... The church President stated that "We need to rely on new members for leadership", afterwards the son of a prominent member got upset and left the church.
80's Kuchen baking came to an end. New organ was installed.
Quilters organized. Women of St. Mark organized. First Flea Market.... Fall Festival Booth built, Oscar Hartig & Glen Gallagher. Handbells played in Festivals at USI. Added 3rd and 4th octaves to handbells.
