This week's e-note will cover the following topics: Habitat for Humanity Update SLI Interviews Vital Congregations Research Habitat for Humanity: We've gotten off to a good start on our Habitat build. So far we have received $24,000 in gifts, and a good number of people have signed up to work on the site. If you have not yet done so, please give your "second mile" (over and above your regular offering) Habitat gift as soon as possible, and sign up in the narthex for a work day. We are hopeful that we can reach our goal of $70,000 and adequate workers within the next few weeks. SLI Interviews: Our Communications Department is in the process of interviewing some of our SLI members. Our SLI team is working on clarifying our values, mission, and vision, and developing a mission action plan. All SLI recommendations will be discussed, revised and approved by our Church Council. If you would like to read these interviews, please click here. Vital Congregations Research: The United Methodist Church recently completed a major study of congregational vitality. Unfortunately, only 15% of UMC churches were considered to be highly vital. The research discovered that vital congregations share the following four common traits.
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Small Groups: Vital congregations prioritize group-life. They have more small groups for all ages, including more small groups for children and youth than non-vital churches. Lay Leadership: Vital congregations emphasize lay leadership. They involve and equip a larger number of spiritually minded lay leaders than non-vital churches. Pastoral Leadership: Vital congregations have effective pastoral leaders. These pastors share leadership with laity, motivate and inspire their congregation, and have longer tenure than non-vital churches. Worship: Vital congregations seek excellence in worship. They offer a mix of contemporary and traditional worship services, tend to have pastors that preach topical sermon series, and use more multi-media in worship than non-vital churches.
This research is a fascinating overview of congregational vitality in the United Methodist Church. If you would like more information, go to www.umvitalcongregations.org. I hope to see you this weekend for the worship of God and smallgroup connections. This weekend we will focus on the question, "What brings fulfillment?" Our text will be John 13:1-17. Finally, it was good to receive the following eleven new members: Dowtin and Sarah Martin, Matthew, Connor and Christopher Gelfand, Kim and Evelyn Merrill, Mike Walker and Linda Hood, Josephine Griffin, and Ene Weismantle. Welcome to our church family. In Christ's Love and Service, Martin
PS: Our Patient Advocate Ministry (PAM) celebrates its launch this Sunday with a concert by the Nexus Chamber Orchestra. Steve Silar, Dove Award winner, will debut his latest CD, "Dignity: Songs and Stories for Caregivers." Please join us for this inspiring concert and for the launch of this new ministry. The concert will be held at 4 PM in the chapel.