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PRESENTATIONSCRIPT

JESSICA: Five years ago, as part of the 25th anniversary of our congregation, we made a “welcome” video to celebrate our story and to introduce ourselves to those who might be looking for a church home. Take a look . . .

[VIDEO PLAYS]As you can see, the video was designed to showcase our mission statement: We are about relationships. Which we are.

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However, over the five years since we produced that video, our congregation has experienced little or no measurable growth in terms of total membership, worship attendance and participation.

There is a sense among members that our church is healthy—they continue to appreciate its unique culture. But they also sense the signs of a leveling out in terms of growth and participation.

What is needed is a fuller embodiment of our mission statement in all aspects of congregational life. Yes, we are about relationships.

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PAULINE: So, did you notice? Our present welcome video—the one we now have on our website—ends on a visual of our mission statement, but without the three clauses that complete it.  In a way, that signifies where we see ourselves at this moment: yes, we are still about relationships—but we have come to a place where we must become more intentional in living out those relationships—with Christ, with one another, and with God’s hurting world. 

For the past six months, those of us who have been part of the Compass Group have been at work—most of it in

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conversation with each other and with congregational members—discerning a way forward, a way to live into our complete mission statement more intentionally. Before getting to the way forward, though, let’s look at the way it is.

JESSICA: The demographics around our church are changing.

North Williamson County is growing and developing rapidly. Several groups of neighbors, in particular, are growing and have the potential to affect the way our church does ministry. For instance:

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older adults and retiring baby boomers relocating to the area,

younger adults who are beginning their careers, mobile and likely to be short-term residents,

young adults populating Gateway Village just down the road from us and the apartment complexes being built east of I-65 in Cool Springs,

a growing Asian population in south Brentwood

and some yet-to-be defined residents in new housing developments near the extension of Mack Hatcher.

To respond faithfully and effectively to these changing demographics, likely will require adaptive changes in the way the

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congregation engages in mission and ministry. We will need to be more present with neighbors, neighborhoods, and the larger community. We may need to make modifications to our congregational life to better welcome newcomers and to better connect those already a part of the congregation. And we may need to expand and strengthen those ministries specifically aimed at nurturing our relationships with God.

PAULINE: The dynamics within our church are challenging.

Our congregation continues to attract visitors. But our records show that only a

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relatively small percentage return for a second visit or eventually become an active part of the congregation. What is at issue? Several things most likely, but we believe they include:

not enough processes in place to help people develop relationships, and to make connections with other congregants and with the church’s ministries.

entry and inclusion into existing groups of all types (affinity groups, mission groups, Bible study groups) are often difficult for newer and even some longtime members.

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what we do at present, in terms of welcoming and including others, is too often more incidental than intentional.

JESSICA: If we really let God have a chance, what is possible? If we had no material constraints, what could we imagine happening? What strategies and ministries can best enable our congregation to cultivate new relationships, grow disciples, and foster vital ministries?

Those questions have directed the work of this Compass Group. But our report this morning is not so much an answer to those questions as it is a vision, a way of

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seeing our congregation guided more fully by our mission statement—our complete mission statement.

“We are about relationships with Christ, with one another and with God’s hurting world.”

To that end, let’s imagine . . .

PAULINE: what would happenif we would more intentionally:

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practice radical hospitality

By better equipping ourselves to look for ways to welcome first time visitors, to help returning guests find belonging and connection, and to make hospitality a part of all our relationships.

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JESSICA: what would happenif we would more intentionally

build community

By creating more small groups, offering more activities that foster new

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relationships, and planning more intergenerational events.

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JESSICA: what would happenif we would more intentionally

care for each other and make disciples

By strengthening our internal care networks, and developing a process for on-going discipleship development such as #SeeAllthePeople.

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PAULINE : what would happenif we would more intentionally

foster a ministry of presence in nearby neighborhoods

By preparing church members to establish caring relationships with neighbors, friends, and coworkers.

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PAULINE : what would happenif we would more intentionally

develop relationshipsin all outreach ministries

By seeing our ministry more with than to groups like Johnson Elementary, Riverbend, Gentry Foundation,

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Graceworks, and the Hard Bargain Community.

JESSICA : what would happenif we would more intentionally

reach out to young adults.

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By finding more ways to invite and engage young adults in faith development and ministry; and to be open to hearing what they seek in church.JESSICA : what would happenif we would more intentionally

reach out to older adults.

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By exploring ways to cultivate on-going relationships with residents of senior living campuses, connecting them with our people and our ministry resources.

PAULINE : what would happenif we would more intentionally reach out to the Cool Springs area business community

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By looking for opportunities to partner with the city and other churches to support the nearby business community.

PAULINE : what would happenif we would more intentionally be present with local ethnic constituencies

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By seeking ways to offer care and ministry with ethnic, immigrant, and non-English speaking groups.JESSICA : what would happenif we would more intentionally support the church staffin their ministries.

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By providing resources and lay leadership in support of each staff person’s gifts and dreams for congregational ministry.JESSICA : what would happenif we would more intentionally maximize the use

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of our facilities

By exploring how and with whom we share our space; by considering how to develop the property across the creek; and by enhancing both our visibility and our security. PAULINE : what would happen

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if we would more intentionally communicate inside our congregation and outsideto the community

By continuing to have regular congregational conversations, reviewing all present communication channels for effectiveness in terms of how well we welcome newcomers and share our story.

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JESSICA : Imagine what our congregation might look like if we head off in the direction of this vision. Actually, we don’t think we would “look” that much different than we do now. We are already a vibrant and vital congregation. We know we have excellent worship and music, solid children and youth ministries, robust outreach and mission work, an inclusive and welcoming congregation, generous people, a well-managed and well-used facility, weekly visitors and a prime location for growth.

Our hope, though, is not that we would look different but that we would be better who God is calling us to be.

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[VIOLET WATERCOLOR SLIDE]PAULINE: One of the most effective ways to renew and revitalize an African violet is to repot it by carefully and intentionally scraping away at its root stem, revealing the healthiest and most alive parts of the plant, and making room for a new thing to spring forth.

The congregation of Christ UMC is already in bloom. What better time, then, to look at our roots, to evaluate what we have been doing so far, and to consider where and what we need to scrape away and what nutrients need to be added to our

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soil. What better time to imagine ourselves in bloom like never before? What better time to be more intentional about relationships— with Christ, with one another, and with God’s hurting world.

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