Transcript Now is the Time of Salvation

If I was standing at the
beginning of time, with the
possibility of a
general and panoramic view of
the whole human history up to
now, and the Almighty said to
me, "Which age would you like
to live in?"
I would take my mental flight by Egypt through, or
rather across the Red Sea, through the wilderness on
toward the promised land. And in spite of its
magnificence, I wouldn't stop there.
I would move on by Greece, and take my mind to Mount Olympus.
And I would see Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, Euripides and
Aristophanes assembled around the Parthenon as they discussed the
great and eternal issues of reality. But I wouldn't stop there.
I would go on, even to the
great heyday of the Roman
Empire. And I would see
developments around there,
through various emperors
and leaders. I might even
hover over Bethlehem. But
I wouldn't stop there.
I would even come up to the day
of the Renaissance, and get a
quick picture of all that the
Renaissance did for the cultural
and aesthetic life of man.
But I wouldn't stop there.
I would go by the man
for whom we Anglicans
are so prayerfully
indebted.
But I wouldn't stop there.
I would come up even to 1867, and watch
this great nation being born.
But I wouldn't stop there.
Strangely enough, I would turn to the
Almighty, and say, "If you allow me to
live just a few years in the first half of
the twenty-first century, I will be happy."
Now that's a strange statement to make,
because the world is all messed up. The
nation is sick. Trouble is in the land.
Confusion all around. That's a strange
statement. But I know, somehow…
…that only
when it is dark
enough, can
you see the
stars.
That is casting a vision. A vision for now...
“Behold, now is the accepted time;
behold now is the time of
salvation!”
2 Cor 6.2
An example of a vision in the corporate
world:
Beat Coke!
Pepsi’s vision is to beat Coke, and all their goals center
around this vision.
How do you develop a vision?
• We’re going to present to you one
framework for discerning a vision.
• You can use it as is, or modify it to meet the
needs of your parish.
• Emphasizes significant community
involvement.
• One day program!
• Suggests ideas for more detail.
Pathway to
developing a
Parish Vision
Some preparatory steps
1. Have a prayer team supporting you.
2. Go through the process with your
leadership team (no less than 2 people).
3. Remember: your vision for you as a
leader, your leadership team &
congregation will come through prayer.
Possible prayer support
• Consider such courses as:
– Prayer: Opening Your Heart to God by Bill
Hybels
– 12 Step Centering Prayer
– Ignatian Prayer
– Meditation,
– Fourth day groups,
– Cursillo,
– Anglican Fellowship of Prayer,
– Lectio Divina, etc
Parish Visioning Workshop Outline
9:30 Welcome
Prayer
Bible Study
10:00 Vision Statement
 Nature and Mission of
the Church
 Needs and Issues of
Today’s World
 An Image of the Future
11:30 Worship
Service
12:00 Lunch
1:00 Goals
1:45 Break
2:00 Objectives
2:45 Closing
Step 1
Prayer and
Bible Study
Through prayer we begin the process of finding a
basis for UNITY in understanding God’s work.
Prayer is the foundational motivation for ACTION
in Christ.
Prayer, in community, also holds us
ACCOUNTABLE.
Prayer provides a clear sense of direction for the
congregation/group. When this is articulated you
have your VISION STATEMENT.
Acts
1.4 Waiting for the promise
1.14 Devoting themselves to prayer
1.24 Praying to choose next leader
2.1 Pentecost - centered in prayer
2.42 Devoting themselves to prayer
3.1 Going to the Temple to pray (healing)
6.4 Leaders devoting themselves to prayer
...
22.17-21 Paul’s direction came through prayer
We will now spend some time praying over a passage of scripture.
Scriptural options include: 1Chronicles 28.19-20 and Revelations
3.1-6...
Luke 12:32-48
32“Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the
kingdom. 33Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that
do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no
moth destroys. 34For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 35“Be
dressed for action and have your lamps lit; 36be like those who are waiting for their
master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him
as soon as he comes and knocks. 37Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds
alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down
to eat, and he will come and serve them. 38If he comes during the middle of the
night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. 39“But know this:
if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would
not have let his house be broken into. 40You also must be ready, for the Son of Man
is coming at an unexpected hour.”
… continued next page
41Peter
said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for
everyone?” 42And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and
prudent manager whom his master will put in charge of his slaves, to
give them their allowance of food at the proper time? 43Blessed is
that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. 44Truly
I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions. 45But if
that slave says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and if
he begins to beat the other slaves, men and women, and to eat and
drink and get drunk, 46the master of that slave will come on a day
when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know,
and will cut him in pieces, and put him with the unfaithful. 47That
slave who knew what his master wanted, but did not prepare himself
or do what was wanted, will receive a severe beating. 48But the one
who did not know and did what deserved a beating will receive a
light beating. From everyone to whom much has been given, much
will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted,
even more will be demanded.
Step 1. Prayer and Bible Study
In small groups:
• Have one person read aloud and slowly
• Recall the word or phrase that catches your attention
(1 min)
• Each person shares the word or phrase with the group
• Read the passage again aloud and slowly (different
reader)
• Think/write: “How does this passage speak to my life,
my community, my nation, my world today?” Think
about the people you encounter, not just in your own
circle of friends. (3-5 min)
Step 1. Prayer and Bible Study
cont…
• Each person shares the above: “I hear...”
• Read the passage again aloud and slowly (different
reader)
• Think/write: “From what I have heard and shared,
what does God want me to do or be this week? How
does God invite me to change? How does this passage
speak to my role as a steward for the Lord?” (3-5 min)
• Each person shares the above: “I ...”
• Each person prays for the person on their right, lifting
up what was shared.
Step 2
Nature and
Mission of the
Church
Step 2. Discerning the Nature and
Mission of the Church
In small groups:
 Brainstorm a list of Biblical images used to
describe the nature and mission of the church
(approx. 8 images)
(10 min)
 Tape your images to the wall - walk around and
browse at the other groups’ lists, return and list
additional images you consider important
(10 min)
Step 2. Discerning the Nature and
Mission of the Church cont…
Each person in the group puts a sticker by
the two images they most meaningful.
Select the top two images and write them
out on newsprint.
What do they say to you about the church’s
mission? Note the answer below.
(10 min)
Pathways that go out from
here:
•Exploring God’s vision of
creation in scripture
(Vision and the Church)
Step 3
Needs & Issues
of Today’s
World
Step 3. Needs & Issues of Today’s
World
 In your group, brainstorm (don’t discuss)
responses to each of the following questions:
(approx 15 min.)
1. What are some of the needs and issues of today’s
world about which Christ’s disciples (us) should be
responding?
2. What are some of the needs and issues of this
community about which Christ’s disciples (us) should
be responding?
3. What are some of the needs and issues of this church
family about which Christ’s disciples (us) should be
responding?
Step 3. Needs & Issues of Today’s
World cont…
 Tape your 3 lists to the wall and scan the
other groups’ lists
(5 min)
 Complete your three lists and identify the
top two items on each list (using stickers),
and write them out on newsprint
(10 min.)
Pathways that go out
from here:
Getting international spokespeople to share
with a mission team and/or congregation
Community consultations (beginning with a
storyteller from the community)
Your leadership team may wish to do a time
line for the congregation (timeline should
be visible during visioning process/day)
Pathways that go out
from here cont…
Exploring your faith community in terms of:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Worship
Evangelism
Membership development
Children’s programs
Youth
Seniors
Pastoral Care
Adult education
Community and fellowship
Step 4
An Image of
the Future
A magic carpet ride over your church/parish ...
What do you see happening inside? What do you hear?
A magic carpet ride over your community ... What do
you see happening in the community? What do you hear?
A magic carpet ride over your world ... What do you see
happening? What do you hear?
Step 4. An Image of the Future
 Work with your newsprint from steps 2 and 3 (top
2 images and top 6 items). Review the material
and draft a clear, brief statement of no more than
25 words beginning: “The vision of our
congregation is to ...”
(20 min)
 Elect one or two persons from your group to work
(over lunch) in a collaboration with members from
the other groups. This session will create a single
vision statement for the parish/congregation.
Pathways that go out
from here
This may be the occasion when
images/examples of transformation are
shared, both in study and preaching!
WORSHIP
LUNCH/FELLOWSHIP
In the large group:
Present the VISION STATEMENT
and get feedback on how it might be
FINE-TUNED, not SCRAPPED!
(10 min)
Step 5
Goals
Step 5. Goals to Meet Your Vision
Statement
• Goals should be viewed as a means of achieving
the Vision.
• Goals are long-range in nature and should be
stated in general terms.
• Keeping the above in mind, please answer the
following question:
IF RESOURCES WERE UNLIMITED, WHAT
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE YOUR CHURCH
DOING OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS?
Developing Goals
List on newsprint (approx. 8 answers)
(15 min.)
Tape your list to the wall - walk around and
browse at the other lists. Return to your
table and list additional goals you consider
important.
(10 min)
Developing Goals cont…
Select six Goals which your group finds
most meaningful (try to have at least one
goal for each point in the Vision Statement)
and write them out on the newsprint.
(10 min)
Each group then takes their top 6 list and
tapes it to the wall. From all the top lists,
you select your top six goals. (use stickers)
(10 min)
Pathways that go out
from here
Presentations from community leaders who
can offer expertise
BREAK/FELLOWSHIP
15 min
Note: During the break a
leader will have to
write/type up “How”
questions relating to each
goal.
Example:
Goal - To be fully accessible
Question - How can we make (your parish name) accessible?
Step 6
Objectives
Step 6. Objectives to Meet the Goals
• Objectives are clearly defined stages for
moving the congregation/parish toward its
goals.
• They should be stated in such a way that
their achievement is measurable.
• Also, a time frame should be established for
achieving each, so that at given points
progress can be assessed.
Vision, Goals, Objectives!!!
What does it all mean?
• Vision: We will reach out both locally and
globally beyond the church: to help others know
Christ; and to meet social and economic needs.
• Goal: help improve the lives of children in third
world countries
• Objective: provide cleaner water for children …
let’s build some wells – at least one each year.
Developing objectives
Have the Goals visible.
 On a sheet of paper labeled, “Your Ideas,” Answer
the questions found on the screen.
 These are the “How” questions that arise directly from
the goals listed.
 Remind all that they need to be very specific about
what they think needs to be accomplished and how
their answer will meet the goal that has been stated!
 Tape your list to the wall- walk around and
browse at the other lists. Return to your table and
list additional points you consider important. (10
min)
Pathways that go out
from here
– Gifts inventory/program should be offered, eg .
Network, by Bill Hybels
– Measurement and evaluation team needs to be
formed
– COMMUNICATE to your parish what you
have accomplished. Let them be part of living
the vision!!!
Go out praising God!
Communication
and Follow-up
It is very empowering if you have the Vision
Statement and Goals as a bulletin insert the
following Sunday (sometimes this means the next
day). Following the Vision and Goals you might
want to note that ideas/objectives are being gathered
by the various groups within the parish to meet those
Goals and fulfill the vision!
Have I got everything???
• A lot of information is generated in just one day.
Try to capture as much of it as you can –
COLLECT all the flipcharts/notes, and record the
information. You can use it when you hold
planning sessions with your Parish Council.
• Some of the “gems” of information are the ideas
each participant came up with for achieving the
goals and objectives. This information should be
collected and distributed to the various ministries
or groups in your parish.
Once again…
the pathways
Any questions?
Comments on the process?
For more information…
• Mentorship, Facilitators
– Contact Jim Stevenson (see your last letter)
• Resource materials
– Diocesan website (Program: Stewardship)