"Without a vision, the people perish" says Scripture. (Proverbs 29:18)
A Mission Study must be completed before this church can begin to call your next pastor. But a periodic Mission Study and review is a good idea and practice for any church.
The three questions all churches must ask themselves are:
- Who are we? (identity)
- Who is our neighbor? (mission)
- What is God calling us to be and do? (vision)
I am looking for people to help with the Mission Study throughout this interim time. We will have small group conversations, reflect on a number of things, share with the congregation what we are finding, and document these findings in a report that will be submitted to the congregation and the Presbytery.
Although this might sound like a lot of work, it will be interesting, fun and spiritual—we will have an intentional time to reflect on where we experience God in and through this congregation, where we think God is calling us next, and how we might serve God and neighbors in this particular time and place. There will be meetings throughout the year, but the work will not be too difficult.
I hope you will join me as part of the Mission Study Team—I will be reaching out to you, and hope to have a diversity of voices and people to help on this journey of exploration, vision and discernment. If you are interested in joining in this work, please let me know! I look forward to meeting with you.
Pastor Nancy
