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HOW MIGHT OUR CHURCHES BE PLACES OF DEEP CONNECTION? HOW MIGHT WE CREATE SETTINGS AND EXPERIENCES IN WHICH PEOPLE MOVE FROM ISOLATION TO COMMUNITY?
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I Refuse to Lead a Dying Church
Session Two: Choosing
CommunityOver Isolation
November 26, 2013
Facilitators: Teaching Elder
Shannan Vance-Ocampo
And Transitional Leader Cheryl Galan
WHAT IF PEOPLE LOOK FOR COMMUNITY SOMEWHERE ELSE BECAUSE THEY THINK THEY HAVE A BETTER SHOT
OF FINDING IT THERE….THAN FINDING IT
AT CHURCH?
HOW MIGHT OUR CHURCHES BE PLACES OF
DEEP CONNECTION?
HOW MIGHT WE CREATE SETTINGS AND
EXPERIENCES IN WHICH PEOPLE MOVE FROM
ISOLATION TO COMMUNITY?
SIGNS OF ISOLATION People scattered across worship
space, sitting in isolation from one another
No systematic design for connecting with people who drop out of worship for more than a couple of weeks
Nice coffee time after worship, but no settings to move beyond small talk to share real talk
SIGNS OF ISOLATION Fortress-like buildings erected in
another era by people that used to live in the neighborhood, but either died or moved somewhere else; typically locked up 165 hrs./week
Ministries to the poor offered at arms-length distance from people served, rather than as part of a strategy that partners neighbors and congregations in authentic spiritual community
CHOOSING COMMUNITY OVER ISOLATION
This involves choices in three circles of relationship• Relationships to the wider community around the church
• Quality of community that exists within the church itself
• Grounding our life together in practices that shape community, in Christ
Knowing God
Knowing Yourself
Knowing Others
PANEL OF PRESBYTERS Unbinding the Gospel
Christine Treger, Westfield Red Ribbon Fellowship
Jeniffer Rodriguez, First Elizabeth
Disaster Assistance Mike Rountree, Basking Ridge
PANEL OF PRESBYTERS Support Group for Released
Prisoners – Michael Granzen, Second Elizabeth
Interfaith Hospitality Network/Art Therapy –Kris Smith, Lamington
Small Group Ministries – New Providence – ???
THE CHALLENGES OF CHOOSING COMMUNITY
OVER ISOLATION The challenge of the habits
and routines of existing groups The challenge of vulnerability The challenge of leading by
example and experience
PRAYER TRIADSHow may I pray for YOU today? Ask God Tell the others: This is how you
can pray for me Decide how you will pray for
one another Enter a time of prayer; listen for
singing bowl to signal time to switch