My Blog

Tag: Five Practices

  • With God’s Help, I Will

    Sliderimages900x350px_GetInvolved

    The Catechism of The Episcopal Church can be found on pages 844-862 in The Book of Common Prayer. This brief summary of the Church’s teaching is also known as “An Outline of the Faith.”

    Among the teachings we find in the Catechism is a description of how the mission of the Church is carried out and by whom: 

    Q. Through whom does the Church carry out its mission?
    A. The Church carries out its mission through the ministry of all its members.

    Q. Who are the ministers of the Church?
    A. The ministers of the Church are lay persons, bishops, priests, and deacons.

    Q. What is the ministry of the laity?
    A. The ministry of lay persons is to represent Christ and his Church; to bear witness to him wherever they may be; and, according to the gifts given them, to carry on Christ’s work of reconciliation in the world; and to take their place in the life, worship, and governance of the Church.

    That means every member is a minister and every member has a ministry.

    During this time of transition, we are going to emphasize this teaching in a variety of ways. The vestry has appointed a discernment task force to work with me in this emphasis. The first thing we did was to bring the vestry a plan for increasing the effectiveness of our committees, guilds, and ministry groups. The plan, adopted by the vestry at its May meeting, provides for recruiting additional participants, rotating participants and leaders, and providing up to date descriptions of the expectations of each committee, guild, and ministry group. We are now in the process of implementing this plan, which we believe will add to the vibrancy and fruitfulness of The Episcopal Church in Jackson Hole.

    Our emphasis has included a series of sermons and articles that called attention to five practices that shape and sustain fruitful congregations. The concept of fruitfulness is rooted in the teachings of Christ; “I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name” (John 15:5, 16).

    Fruitful congregations understand that every member is a minister, called by and connected to Jesus Christ. From him they draw the divine resources to carry out his work in the world. They intentionally repeat and deepen certain fundamental activities, seeking to perform them with excellence: Radical Hospitality, Passionate Worship, Intentional Faith Development, Risk-Taking Mission and Service, and Extravagant Generosity. In this parish, these five practices are carried out under the leadership and engagement of our committees, guilds, and ministry groups.

    During the month of June, we are asking each member to “Get Involved” in one or more ways in response to the Christ’s call. We’ve published a brochure that provides brief descriptions of many ways to get involved along with a Ministry Interest Indicator, which you may use to let the discernment task force, the staff, and me know where you believe you are being called to serve.

    You may already be involved. If so, great! Let us know if you want to continue to be involved in that way. Or, you may sense that it is time to move to another ministry. We’d like to hear from you about that. And, if you are not involved, tell us where you believe Christ wants you to bear fruit.

    “Get Involved” brochures are available in the Narthex, Hansen Hall, and the Parish Office. You can also access the brochure and the Ministry Interest Indicator online. CLICK HERE.

    Healthy transitions between settled rectors are times for the congregation to be especially engaged in the life and mission of the parish. I hope you will see this as a time to discern your ministry at St. John’s and pursue it “with God’s help.”

    I’ll see you in Church!

    Ron Short Sig Blue

     

     

     

     

  • Cultivating Fruitfulness: The Practice of Hospitality

    This time of transition presents an opportunity for conversations about cultivating fruitfulness in the life the parish. We’ll be referring to Robert Schnase’s book Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations. I hope you’ll follow along and, if you would like to read the book, it is available at Cokesbury and Amazon.com. You may also wish to explore the website.  All of this is to help us to examine together how these five practices might apply to St. John’s as you look to the future with a new rector.

    • Radical hospitality
    • Passionate worship
    • Intentional faith development
    • Risk-taking mission and service
    • Extravagant generosity

    Most churches would describe themselves as places where hospitality, worship, formation, service, and generosity may be found. These are certainly characteristics of St. John’s. What differentiates fruitful congregations is when these characteristics become intentional practices that are so obvious that one must find adjectives that are powerful enough to describe what is going on.

    This week, we are exploring the practice of Radical Hospitality. Don't let the word 'radical' scare you. The Latin source of the word “radical” means “up from the root.” To use it in this context is to suggest something that is deeply rooted in our lives. Radical hospitality is actually an idea conceptualized by the Benedictine monks in the 5th century and is one of the central tenants of the Rule of St. Benedict. Radical hospitality is rooted in faith and deep personal convictions.

    How “radical” is the hospitality at St. John’s? If someone who visits us on a Sunday tries to describe their experience of our hospitality to someone on the following morning, might they describe it as “radical?” Robert Schnase describes radical hospitality this way:

    "The words radical and hospitality are not usually together in one phrase. To advance the church, perhaps they should be. Christian hospitality refers to the active desire to invite, welcome, receive, and care for those who are strangers so that they find a spiritual home and discover for themselves the unending richness of life in Christ. It describes a genuine love for others who are not yet a part of the faith community, an outward focus, a reaching out to those not yet known, a love that motivates church members to openness and adaptability, a willingness to change behaviors in order to accommodate the needs and receive the talents of newcomers" (Five Practices, pp.11-12).

    Here are some questions a congregation might ask about its practice of hospitality:

    • Are newcomers invited to coffee hour or a meal following worship?
    • Do members speak to newcomers during coffee hour, or huddle with people they know?
    • Do newcomers receive notes and phone calls after a visit?
    • Do members seek out people whom they do not know during The Peace, coffee hour, events?
    • Are those who are new to the parish invited to serve in ministry groups, guilds, committees?
    • Do committees practice regular rotation of leaders and members?
    • What kind of welcome is communicated by inside and outside signage and media?

    I hope you will read the book, foster conversations with fellow parishioners, and be open to the possibilities we will be exploring in the coming weeks. And ask Christ to reveal to us some new, possibly terrifying, discoveries that will lead to a renewal of mission.

    I'll see you in Church!

    Ron Short Sig Blue