Vision Update

Sunday, March 11^th was our second Community Gathering Sunday for 2007 as well as the second Advisory Session for the Vision Process moving forward.  As you recall, at the first Advisory Session we explored as a group the following considerations:

            ● Our “Formative Memories” – what brought us into a formal church

            ● Name Today’s Church

            ● Future Hopes – What We Want for the Church’s Children

The discussion was as creative as it was inclusive of so many perspectives.  Thanks to all who participated, we began to brainstorm for our “Guiding Concepts” that will be the DNA, if you will of the Vision.  With the wealth of our conversation, prayer and learning together, we returned to the original questions:

            ● What do you treasure (from our past)?

            ● What do you value (in the Church today)?

            ● What do you need (for the future, in addition to people and money)?

Now in this latest Advisory Session, we continued the prayer, brainstorming and conversation.  What has emerged is the beginning of our “Guiding Concepts.”  We present this work to you to invite and encourage you to come be a part of the next Advisory Session to be held on April 29^th, our next Community Gathering Sunday (after Holy Week and Easter).  Even if you have not been a part of the conversation in-person up to now, come join in the fellowship and conversation, sharing how these “concepts” resonate with you.  After all, this is about our future together.  Here’s our work in-progress:

The Vision Committee and the Advisors after much prayer, study, and discernment present the following Guiding Concepts:

Ø      We will continue to develop our sense of “community” by working together as a parish-wide family.

Ø      We will master plan for the programming and physical needs of the extended community.

Ø      We will consider the worship support needs of all liturgical ministers.

Ø      We will strive to improve our worship space to allow us and the liturgy to be embraced and shaped by the worship itself.

We will continue to develop our sense of “community” by working together as a parish-wide family.

            Questions and considerations (in no particular order):

• Pro-active change that does not disenfranchise the current community
• Program focus on who is here and who we are TODAY
• Find ways to accept and be happy with who we are instead of mourning what we’ve been.  Take away this stress and tension.
• Name our strengths and focus on them
• Redefining “success”
• Learn our basic beliefs and apply them
• Self catechize
• What would happen if we combined masses instead of having masses of convenience?
• Should we design for the ideal or the real?  Does that mean we downsize?
• Reconnect to those no longer here; listen to them without ‘fixing’ their needs or response
• Form a community for the 20/30s, especially the ‘college students’
• Provide other opportunities to ‘plug in’
• Ownership and emotional link with the rest of the congregation (and OTHERS)
• In-reach – community “calling” program

We will master plan for the programming and physical needs of the extended community here or at a different location. (in no particular order)

• Youth – youth ministry
• Christian ministry center
• Foster care outreach/ministry
• A break room; a soft/ play space
• A clear prioritized plan
• Short term, mid-range, and long term goals and objectives
• Any additional space needs to work in harmony with the current plant
• Talk about a different parish house/offices/classrooms or a different campus entirely
• More social offerings
• More shared offerings
• Youth in-reach/outreach initiatives; a sense of purpose, caring for others

These Guiding Concepts have the following requests for programming or architecture:

We will consider the worship support needs of all liturgical ministers. (in no particular order)

• Gathering place
  • Barrier free
    • Brides
    • Caskets
    • Columbarium
    • New restrooms
  • Intentional welcoming and hospitality
  • Love with intentionality
  • Greatly improve our ‘hospitality’ to the visitor and new parishioner
  • Become known for our caring
  • Meet the needs of the bereaved and the funeral liturgy
    • All comfortable viewing
    • A place for the bereaved to sit during the viewing
    • Hospitality to the visitors and family
  • Be more comfortable with who we are and become ‘warmer’; even hugs
  • Coffee hour before church; expand after 8:00 service

• How do I get in?  Are there too many entrances?
• Restrooms
  • Well placed
  • Insulated
  • Ventilated
  • Accessible
• Ramps, not lifts; lifts do not allow independence

We will strive to improve our worship space to allow us and the liturgy to be embraced and shaped by the worship itself. (in no particular order)

• Barrier free worship
  • Doors now say, ‘stay out’; is mental inaccessibility
  • Power assisted doors
• Design for the ordinary and accommodate the exception
• Have a more flexible nave space
  • Some ‘fixed seating’ and some flexible ‘pew chairs’
• Bring the Eucharistic Table closer to the assembly without losing the current feeling or losing the altar rail
• Baptismal font is ‘removed from the midst of the people
• Eucharist served on the same level as the nave
• Improve the music space
  • Space for instruments
  • Flexible seating for the choir so they can hear one another and blend more easily
  • Space for instruments
  • The organ is a visual barrier to the altar; rectify this situation
• Great acoustics
• Eliminate entry through the sacristy
• Consider the path of the casket at the funeral liturgy
• Better brighter lighting
• Assisted listening devices
• Repair, enhance, possibly change the windows
• Vessel for fire

Come join us at our next Community Gathering Sunday on April 29^th for the Third Advisory Session!