A small group of us gathered tonight at Arkona United for potluck, followed by discussion, planning and preparation for the upcoming church year. It was planned to generate some energy and enthusiasm with the young families of our congregation, but we didn't quite get there tonight.
We did, in response to the article "The Church Yesterday & Today" discuss the questions:
What are the characteristics of our congregation and town?
stuck in a rut; aging; supportive; friendly; open
What are the most important aspects of our community?
service clubs (Lions, Lioness); religious groups (UCW, Masons); recreational groups; firefighters; sense of safety
What traditions does our church have that you value?
worship (Christmas Eve, Good Friday, Easter Sunrise, Anniversary), music (choir and organist), food (Fall Turkey Supper, breakfast-bake sales)
What issues are most important to our church at this time?
increasing attendance, especially of young families; stabilizing finances; survival
What is our church “called out” to do?
support missions (Mission & Service Fund); serve the community
How is our church different from the popular culture?
Christ-focused; calmer, quieter, at peace; supportive of others
What daily challenges does our church face to remain faithful and to trust in God alone?
"loss of time", busy schedules; balancing faith with action
What encouragement does our congregation offer to those who seek to live faithfully?
opportunities to gather, to worship; offer welcome and support; a casual, relaxed, informal place to worship
We talked about balancing eagerness to share our faith and bring others to church with respecting people's choices and not being too forceful. We don't want to grow our church with intimidation. We'd rather have people in church because they want to be there, not because we've made them feel guilty.
I'll report more about future plans and courses of actions that discussed tomorrow.
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