Member Mission Newsletter #12   

Member mission for a vestry, choir – any church group 
       As the vestry's worship chair at  St. Francis, Menomonee Falls, WI, Diana Montenegro recalls hearing, "The level of giving of the parish will never exceed that of the vestry."  She believes this holds for "mission-mindedness" as well.  If the vestry doesn't "get it," it will be much harder to convey it to the congregation at large.  Accordingly, she leads reflection on a different mission field each month – as time allows in the middle of a clergy search.  The vestry members reflect on and share what they are doing now, "to make life better, more loving, more just" in each of their six daily arenas or environments.  As they began with family (or home), each member got into it easily; substantive issues were shared; and all seemed to value the sharing since no one chose to "pass."  "Work" environment is next.
      Why not use this model with the choir, church school teachers, sessions for new members, any church group or committee?
      Contact:  Diana Montenegro, 2380 Mary Beth Ct., Brookfield, WI 53005; 262-786-9743; dmonten@aol.com.

 

Stewardship and our daily missions
     John Scannell, rector of St. Michael's Episcopal Church, Portland, OR, has been experimenting with naming our daily missions as part of the congregation's stewardship in a commitment form entitled "An Offering of Time & Talent."  The form begins with the "Six Areas of Ministry in My Life" as "Daily work, job, school; Home; Community (neighborhood, city); Citizenship (county, state, nation, world); Leisure, volunteer position; Church (congregation, diocese)."  Then come areas of ministry in the congregation: "Worship and Music, Parish Life, Administration, Servant Life (outreach), Pastoral Care, and Christian Discipleship." Responses show serious reflection on the six areas of daily life:  "encourage wife and son to reach their goals (whatever they may choose to do or be);" "volunteering at Head Start;" "share extra produce from garden;" and "political campaigning to get good candidates."  However, the total responding has been low.  A lay leader, Bob Hoffman, sees a need for broad education in the concept of our daily mission fields.  Fifteen to twenty minutes of church group meetings, Advent and Lenten programs, newcomer orientation, and preparation for baptism and confirmation are suitable settings.  Draw on Basic Tools #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 under Making the Vision Work on the web site.  With this teaching in place, the offering of time and talent is an offering in the daily mission field of the church and, in particular, in congregational life and outreach.  Future commitment forms might well include a section on "My own Spiritual Growth and Health." 
     Contact: The Rev. John Scannell, 1704 NE 43rd Ave, Portland, OR 97213-1402; JohnS@stmaa.org; 503-284-7141.

 

Three Kings at Grace Church, Madison, WI
     Pat Size writes: "On Three Kings or Epiphany, word of mouth and newspaper ads brought 55 people together for a Eucharist with the Three Kings and Mary and Joseph and the Baby, on January 11. We included a Mexican musical group who played and sang to entertain us, a meal and pinatas. It was a celebration that we all needed in the midst of personal struggles and conflict in the larger church. It was good to see several Peruvian families come back for the Epiphany celebration."  [Again, Jesus' table is the place of empowerment for mission! – AWS.]
     Contact:  The Rev. Pat Size, 2215 Commonwealth, Madison, WI 53726; p/608-231-1721; c/608-217-1677; patsize@aol.com
        
A church's vision statement for member mission
      "The church of St. Anthony on the Desert is the homeland for its members who are missionaries in their homes, neighborhoods, workplaces and wider world.  We are here to assist our people as they seek to make a difference Monday through Saturday by choosing to be different in Christ." [Scottsdale, AZ]
      Contact: The Rev. Jonathan Coffey Jr., 12990 East Shea Blvd., Scottsdale AZ 85259; p:480-451-0860; f: 480-451-4413; joncoffey@st-anthony.net

 

Living Out Our Faith on the "Other Six Days" Workshop – A Lenten program
[Draft outline of the Lay Ministry Discernment Committee, St. Mark's Church, Milwaukee, WI.]
     Format this imaginative flyer as desired.  Session plans follow.
HELP WANTED
EASTSIDE CHURCH HIRING FIELD REPS
Work at home, at your job, or in the community, doing what you already do!
No limit to number of positions offered and pay surprising
No previous education or experience needed, only commitment
To learn new techniques in communication
And models of living.
Training Sessions start
Wednesday, March 3 and 4 following Wednesdays
Dinner provided at 5:30 pm
Training Workshops from 6:15 to 7:15pm
Saint Mark's can equip you to live fully on the
"OTHER SIX DAYS" of the week
ALL ARE WELCOME – NO ONE TURNED AWAY
Saint Mark's Episcopal Church
2618 N. Hackett Ave
414-962-0500

 

Session I:  Introduction to OSD (Other Six Days) and Discerning our Gifts
1.  Welcome to group and setting the stage with a very brief theological presentation of living into your baptismal covenant and the concept that every Christian is a missionary.  10 minutes max     (Michelle P. Mooney)
2.  Introduce the idea of "spiritual gifts" and tie it to individual ministry.  Administer the inventory.*  20 minutes    (Ginny Schrag)
3.  Go over the completed inventory and show the attendees how to score it.  10 minutes  (Ginny Schrag)
4.  Wrap-up.  15 minutes  (MPM and GS)
5.  Give out packets with materials (except the 6 mission fields inventory) for all the subsequent workshops.  Have a few of the books available for purchase if participants want them.

 

Session II: Living Out Our Faith, Members As Ministers
1.  Introduce worksheet on the 6 areas of ministry.  Talk about how discerning and using your unique gifts, talents, passions are tied to discerning your missions.  Give a few examples from very intimate one-on-one relationships to forming block clubs, advocacy, and voting. 10 minutes   (MPM)
2.  Attendees fill out form individually.  15 minutes
3.  Break up into groups of threes to share what they wrote.  Facilitators will go around and visit the groups as appropriate.  15 minutes
4.  Call group together to share any surprises or matching of ministries that they had, and talk in general about what new learnings they experienced.  20 minutes  (GS)
5.  Thank everyone for their hard work and emphasize how much we hope to see them again for the next three weeks.

 

Session III: Loving Relationships
1.  Story of Good Samaritan Luke 10:25-37
Highlighted: vs. 27 "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself."
[A second scripture story could be 1 Corinthians 13: 1-13, making sure that people understand that this is not just for marriage but for all relationships.]
Discussion of "How does Jesus show love?"  Some answers could include, by not getting angry, a willingness to teach, accepting all folks, being patient, and enabling people to choose rather than force. 10 minutes
2.  Stories from Schwab.  Kit, Eddie, and Bonnie, as examples of a ministry to establish and encourage loving relationships.  (Point them out in the materials packet as ones assigned for this week) 20 minutes
Discussion of ways in which these stories illustrate loving relationships.  Bring in that all mission is God's mission in which we share.  Talk about the factors below that influence your ability to enter into ministry.
a.  What conditions inhibit love?  What is blocking God's love in your mission fields?
b.  What changes will be needed to increase love in your mission fields?
c.  What can you do to achieve these changes?
d.  What other people might I draw into my mission fields?
e.  How will I talk to God about my mission?
3.  Have participants individually pick one of their mission fields where they could take steps toward building more loving relationships in the coming week.  The more specific the steps the better, and they can be "baby steps!" 10 minutes
4.  Report back to share and to encourage any who wish to list their mission on the large sheet, hung in the room, under "Establishing more loving relation ships." 15 minutes
5.  Thank everyone and point out scripture passages and stories from Schwab for next week, which is on "Justice Seeking." 5 minutes

 

Session IV:  Justice Seeking
1.  The Great Judgment – Matthew 25:31-46 highlighted:  vs. 40 "Just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me."  You could also include or use, Luke 4: 14-21, especially vs. 18 and 19 which is a quote from Isaiah.  Other choices might include talking to the Samaritan Woman and Jesus and the tax collectors. 10 minutes
2.  Stories from Schwab. George, Susan, and Kevin.  Discussion of ways in which these stories illustrate justice seeking.  Bring into the discussion that all mission is God's mission in which we share: 20 minutes
a.  What conditions inhibit or block justice from occurring in my mission fields?
b.  What changes are needed to increase justice in these fields?
c.  What can you do to achieve these changes within your gifts, limitations and convictions?
d.  How will I draw others into working with me?
e.  How will I talk to God while I'm working in my mission field?
3.  Have individuals list one mission where they can work for justice during the following week.  Again stress that the more realistic and specific you can get, the better. 10 minutes
4.  Everyone report back to share and put their responses up on the big sheet hung in the room.  These responses would be under "Justice Seeking." 15 minutes
5.  Thank everyone and assign the last stories about "Reconciliation."  Discuss how next week will be our final week and ask permission of the group to extend the session by 30" for a wrap-up. 5 minutes

 

Session 5:  Reconciliation and Wrap-up of all 5 sessions
Extended session of 1 and ½ hours
1.  The Prodigal Son: Luke 15:11-32.  Highlighted is vs. 23:  "Let us eat and celebrate.  Also vs. 24: "...for this son of mine was dead and now he is alive again; he was lost and is found." 15 minutes
2.  Stories from Schwab.  Margaret and Jim.   Discussion of ways in which these stories illustrate reconciliation. Remembering that all mission is God's mission in which we share.  Encourage them to think about in both the Schwab stories and their own missions the following:  20 minutes
a.  What conditions inhibit or block reconciliation in your mission fields?
b.  What changes are needed to increase the possibility of reconciliation in your mission fields?
c.  What can you do to achieve these changes?
d.  How can you draw others into working with you?
e.  How will you talk to God while working in your mission field?

3.  Give each individual time to think about how they could have a ministry of reconciliation in their own lives.  Where would they start and with whom? 10 minutes
4.  Bring the group together to put up on the sheet the last missions dealing with "Reconciliation."  Let them see where they come together.  Mention that often missions can be a combination or blending of the three areas. 20 minutes
5.  Perhaps here we could bring out some refreshments of a simple nature such as punch and cookies, before we go on to the wrap-up.  This would emphasize the transition to talking about future plans to continue in living out the OSD life.
6.  Wrap-up would include time to talk about the question, "How can the church community assist you to discern and act on the missions that you have listed?"  "How can the church community assist you in your conversations with God?" etc.  Perhaps also a list of study groups, activities, and other resources provided or sponsored by our church.  Individual mentoring with a committee member is also possible.
• We could present Ginny's idea of a Breakfast Club for folks who work or volunteer outside the home, to talk about how they can bring their faith to bear on their work life.
• Another possibility is the announcement of future sessions to follow-up on what we have presented and developed so far with particular emphases such as leadership training, how to facilitate groups, or prayer as an adjunct to ministry discernment and support, as some examples.
• Maybe the group would like to schedule a time, say on a Friday evening after Easter, when they would like to get together and have fellowship and share progress on their missions. 
• Another idea would be to have them write up a story about a mission that they are undertaking as a result of the workshop and we will together publish a booklet of them to share with the parish.  I think joining this with Pentecost would be a cool idea.
• The point is, we want to keep the OSD theology out in the parish, and we need continually to be supportive to those who are beginning to live out their faith in this way. 30 minutes
7.  Thank everyone and emphasize that OSD is a way of life, a way of living out your theology and what it means to be a Christian.  Reinforce that the committee is here to mentor everyone in his or her journey in mission.
     Contact: The Rev. Michelle Mooney, Deacon, (at home) 2633 North Hackett Ave., Milwaukee, WI 5321; p: 414-964-3118; f: 414-964-3583; michellemooney@sbcglobal.net; (at church) 2618 N. Hackett Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53222 with phone 414-962-0500

 

* The inventory can be secured from Michelle Mooney.  For another approach to spiritual gifts, see Making the Vision Work > Basic Tools #s 2, 3, and 4 on the web site