April 7, 2006

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 The following testimony was shared by Michele McGrath, a pastor with Co-Missioned Pastor Initiative Cohort III. Michele pastors the congregation in Victor Valley, California. Her testimony was an e-mail to Lovett Weems and is reprinted here with her permission.

Lovett,  Hello. I am a Community of Christ pastor in the CPI program. You did our first retreat last October 2005. In that retreat, which focused on visionary leadership and congregational vision discernment, you invited us to let you know how it was going. I'm accepting that invitation.

I have spent the last six months living and breathing vision. I think about it all the time. I pray about it every day. I've been teaching the adult class at my congregation, all about vision discernment. I read your book through a second time. I tried my best to share this passion with my tiny, aging congregation. I felt like we were getting nowhere.

The last three sessions (intergenerational—entire congregation invited) of our class were titled: "Where We Have Been,” "Where We Are Now,” and "Where We Are Going.” For "Where We Have Been," we did the congregational timeline activity you presented. They loved it. They talked about people and times gone by. We found that we are not really a dwindling congregation—we've always been small!  For "Where We Are Now," we did the church identity model/healthy congregation model that is a CPI focus. For "Where We Are Going," we did our visioning/strategic planning session. 

At this point, I was really concerned that no real clear vision had emerged for the congregation. They didn't seem to be getting it at all, despite six months of activities, exercises, readings, examples, etc. A lot of the time, my sweet little congregation just stared at me with that "What in the world is she doing now?" look.

So we pushed into the strategic planning session, using the format of Witnessing/Inviting Ministries, Gathering Ministries, and Sending/Serving Ministries. I declared that our vision would emerge from the kinds of activities we cared about, where the energy was, which would (hopefully!) become apparent as we went through the session. I was terrified—what if no cohesive vision emerged even then? I continued to ask the congregation to pray. I continued to pray. I proceeded on faith alone. (I was totally sure that God does have a job for this congregation to do!) The congregation followed in faith, as well.

As I mentioned, we are a tiny, older congregation. We are not able to build Habitat for Humanity houses, start up a daycare center, or things like that.  But as we did our strategic planning session, we noticed one clear trend. From the teenagers to the oldest, most everything we came up with involved food (serving at a soup kitchen, cooking an outdoor BBQ for the neighborhood, becoming a food pantry distribution site, having a holiday party for the local homeless/domestic violence shelters, etc.). We laughed at ourselves—we wanted to feed everyone, and even activities that didn't involve food directly called for a potluck meal before or after to gather, prepare, or celebrate.

I thought on this for a week and came back with a "tentative vision statement" for the congregation to try on. It is: "Victor Valley Community of Christ—a church that feeds body and soul." I read them the following scripture from Matthew 4:19 NLT:  "Follow me, and I will make you fish for men." 

I couldn't believe it—they nodded their heads, they smiled, they laughed, and said, “Yep, that's us!” 

Now, we still have lots of issues and a ton of work to do. But we have found our "song in the heart" and we're ready to take the next faithful step.

Thank you, all of you, who have given me the support and the tools and the inspiration to work with my congregation in this way! CPI IS making a difference in the world, and in the church, and in me.
**Michele McGrath

Thought You’d Like to Know

Planning for the 2006 Congregational Leaders Workshop (CLW), held at Graceland University Lamoni campus, July 30–August 4, is under way. This year CLW will focus on “Sharing the Peace of Jesus Christ.” Upcoming workshops may be downloaded by visiting the CLW website. Take a few minutes to review the exciting list of class offerings in the brochure, which includes a registration form. Both are available in the list in the left navigation bar. Promotional materials are also available at this site. 

Courses will allow participants to explore and develop skills in ministry, service, and witness. Participants will be challenged in their own spiritual growth and personal journey. This year includes a new format with a general session each morning and two additional class offerings during the day. Evenings will include worship, keynote addresses, recreation, and study time in a relaxed schedule.

Just a reminder  Should there be a life-threatening illness or major injury here at the Auditorium or Temple, remember:

1. Dial 9+911 immediately for an ambulance.
2. Obtain patient name, chief complaint, and age if possible.
3. Stay on the line and provide location information.
   1. Auditorium (dome) 1001 W. Walnut
   2. Temple (spiral) 201 S. River
4. Dial 0 (zero) and/or 2111 and relay situation to switchboard and/or Security.
   1. Give the situation/location described to the 911 dispatcher.
   2. The operator/Security will send someone to assist the ambulance.
   3. The operator/Security will notify Risk Management.

These instructions can be found on the orange Emergency Procedures card located by each telephone. If you have misplaced yours or need a new one, contact Risk Management or ext. 1491.

Community Events

Looking for something to do tonight? MOSAIC, a collaborative art project that brings area youth and volunteers together to raise awareness and money for AIDS WALK Kansas City, will be held Friday, April 7, 5:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m. in the art lobby of the Chair Bldg., 2020 Baltimore, located in the historic Crossroads District of Kansas City, Missouri.

MOSAIC brings area youth, volunteers and artists together to create 6”x 6” glazed ceramic tiles designed to reflect the project’s theme, “A World without AIDS.” This thought-provoking exhibit will be held during the district’s monthly gallery openings known as First Friday. The exhibit contains more than 1,000 tiles, each an original work of art. Fifteen area schools and youth groups are represented in this year’s exhibit. This year’s sponsors include Dal-Tile and Stuff.  read more

And then tomorrow, April 8… Come to the Independence Square and celebrate spring with the Independence Square Association “Flock to the Square” event.  A few weeks ago the Square merchants bought pink plastic flamingos and distributed them to various groups to be decorated.  Almost 700 decorated flamingos are now on display in the old Turner Music building at 205 W. Lexington.

The Flock to the Square event ends this weekend, and tomorrow, April 8, there will be children’s events and contests all around the Square.  A silent auction of extra flamingos will be at 7 p.m. at the Turner Music building.  These special flamingos also come with prizes. 

Decorated flamingos are being sold for $10 and undecorated ones for $5.  Ten percent of al sales will benefit the Community Services League.  The rest of the money will be spent for beautification projects around the Square.  Read more about this event

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