Transformational Ministry Update:
The transformational ministry team has used the work done by the congregation to come up with a purpose and several guiding principles. These were adopted by the congregation in June of 2007. A potluck/BBQ will celebrate their adoption on Wednesday, June 27, at 6:00-- all are welcome
Purpose:
Gather to worship Christ Jesus; Generously reach out to the Community, sharing the blessing of God's love through the power of the Holy Spirit
Guiding Principles:
1. Jesus is Lord and Savior
2. Pray, Listen, and be open
3. No Fear Here!
4. Expect Miracles
5. Surprise the world with love
6. Mission, not maintenance
7. We are generous
8. Find joy and strength in each other to serve.
Coming Next: Asset Mapping
The next part of our transformational ministry process is to look at the assets we have as a worshiping community. This will be a fun exercise where we look at what gifts God has placed in our midst. No one signs their names to anything, or signs up for anything-- it's just a way of looking at and celebrating what we have. All are welcome to come!
We will do our "asset mapping" twice over the summer, once on Wednesday, the 11th of July, at 6:00, over a potluck and icecream Sundaes (icecream provided), and once on Wednesday, the 25th of July, at 6:00, again over a potluck and icecream Sundaes (icecream provided).
Work to Come
---Taking a look at where and how God is at work in Pasco and the Tri-Cities area (to be done over the summer and/or fall.)
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Minutes
Transformational Ministry Meeting
March 3, 2008
Present: Jone Stout, Linnea Hillesland, Fern Blake, Doug Ahmer, Randy Peterson, Richard Ding, Pastor Karen.
Meeting opened with prayer. Pr. Karen also read John 11:44, and asked team members to discuss what they would let go of, in the course of their walk toward faithful living.
We reviewed our February 25 meeting with Pr. Mark Nelson and Pr. Darius Larson. Both Darius and Mark encouraged us to think “small” at this time, rather than large—without losing sight of the larger picture or energy for it—and gave us a number of ideas for how we might do this. These ideas included community potlucks in the parks around the area and/or worship services in the parks around the area. (These would occur over the summer.)
We also reviewed discussion, re., how to keep the congregation involved in the process here—something all team members agreed was vital. There are some differing thoughts, whether to provide leadership and ask congregation for input, or ask for input and go from there. Consensus generally was the first, as the congregation has entrusted the TM team with leadership. It was noted that input and discussion are always valued, and that things can change as the congregation gives its voice in the process.
The team agreed that keeping it simple while at the same time looking out for the big picture was a good thing to do. Doug suggested that rather than do a community potluck, we think about simply giving out ice-cream. Team members thought this was a great idea. Randy will contact Carla Peterson about health rules for ice-cream, Doug will talk to city officials about park use. The plan as it stands now is to go to 3-4 parks—one around the church, and three around North West Pasco—put up a banner with our name on it, and hand out ice-cream, simply for a community outreach, neighborly thing to do. This would be done once a month, June through maybe September. Congregational members would be vital in the process, and needed for it. We might hand out flyers about the ice-cream in neighborhoods as a way both of making the outreach known and of doing a “walk-about” of sorts.
Pr. Karen brought up that the worship and music committee is looking into providing a mid-week service in the Easter season, featuring services oriented to Taize, Prayer around the Cross, and Healing. We wondered if this would be good preparation for any worship in the park we might do over the summer. Consensus was that it would be, but that perhaps keeping it very simple at this point—only ice-cream—would probably be the best thing to do. Team members thought, however, that mid-week alternative services in the Easter season could be a good way to reach out to the community. (Linnea also provided a helpful picture of what Taize services look like, in the process of discussion here.)
We noted that Darius and Mark encouraged meeting to happen outside of the church, whenever possible, to get our “chatter” out there in the community. In light of that, the TM team will meet at Yoke’s coffee shop on Road 68 on the upcoming third Monday of the month, March 17.
Meeting closed with prayer.
Respectfully submitted,
Pastor Karen Bates-Olson
Minutes
Transformational Ministry Meeting
February 18, 2008
Present: Fern Blake, Linnea Hillesland, Jone Stout, Richard Ding, Brent Pfundheller, Doug Ahmer, Pastor Karen.
+Meeting opened with prayer.
+Statistics Darius showed us last meeting were reviewed a bit.
+Meeting with Darius, 2-04-08, was reviewed. We particularly found helpful his wisdom on putting application for the EOCM grant off until we are a little more ready, presenting it perhaps on a more off-season date.
+Pr. Karen shared her brother’s experience—Pastor Kevin Bates at Advent Lutheran in Millwood, WA—in regard to EOCM grant process. We reviewed that the grant would not be an “escape hatch” for the congregation, but would very much ask for congregational involvement. Perhaps a way at things right now would be to ask for a smaller amount from the Good Shepherd funds, if we started an off-site worship service, and then see what comes with the need for/vision for EOCM monies.
+We talked about ways to go about ministries such as off-site worship, and educational outreach. All were in agreement that we want to start these sooner than later. Walk abouts for this would not necessarily be helpful at this time—we’ve perhaps collected the information we need. Walk abouts more toward when we have the ministries in place might be a better idea.
+We addressed our meeting with Mark Nelson and Darius Larsen, coming up this next Monday, February 25. We want to brainstorm ways to go about off-site worship or educational ministry, and would like their support and encouragement here.
+It would be very helpful if Mark N, as the LCM coach, could come to our meetings about once a month for a bit on out here. Pr. Karen will contact him.
+We addressed what we might do as an off-site worship ministry. Going the way of the Non-denominational approaches would not necessarily be helpful, because they already do that so well. (Bethel, a large non-denom. Church in Kennewick, is expanding into North West Pasco, will be buying a building and starting ministry there.) Maybe we are called to provide something more like the Emerging Church or Shift Happens. We will have more conversation here—and more research. Jone will look into what it might cost to rent Theater space for off-site worship. She will also have her son and daughter-in-law make some inquiries about the possibility of sharing space with the upcoming Bethel presence.
+Meeting ended in prayer.
Respectfully submitted,
Pastor Karen Bates-Olson |
