An update from the Vision Community to Carmel Friends Monthly Meeting

August 21, 2007

In the June Monthly Meeting, we outlined our anticipated approach to discerning God’s will for the future of Carmel Friends –  a “vision” that determines the mission for our congregation and a strategy for how we can fulfill the mission. We gave a brief progress report (verbally and in writing) to the Monthly Meeting in July.

We have progressed in several ways. We have:

1.      Deepened our love for one another through sharing of our “stories” (our personal journey with God)

2.      Improved our ability to “speak the truth in love” (and listen for the truth in love!) through study and application of “Caring Enough to Confront” (a book by a Christian psychologist with a Mennonite background) and “Crucial Conversations” a book that explains what to do to transform conflict from destructive to constructive.

3.      Realized that we (the Vision Community and the church as a whole) need to be more “visitor friendly” - being more attractive, relevant, and appropriately relational. (In fact, we’ve also realized that our church must also be more attractive, relevant, and appropriately relational with current members of our congregation as well!)

A.     Members of the Vision Community (as well as others in the congregation) led the creation and implementation of Carmel Friends Fest and VBS in July.

B.     Members of the Vision Community are now focusing more on greeting, getting acquainted, and following-up with those who visit our services (e.g. Sunday School and Worship) and programs (e..g. Carmel Friends Fest).

C.    More effective use of “Visitor Cards” are being made by making sure they are readily available in the sanctuary (in the pews, ushers personally presenting them to visitors as they enter) and attractive for visitors to use.

D.    Music during worship services on Sunday mornings has been expanded to include a wider range of styles: traditional hymns, contemporary songs, and choruses.

1)     The Vision Community will be considering how to address the needs of those in the congregation who enjoy more of the “traditional hymns.” One idea is to hold special music services periodically that are dedicated to “traditional hymns.”

E.     Use of projected images in the sanctuary during Sunday Worship has been enhanced (higher quality content and execution of projection).

F.     A fresh approach to adult Sunday School has emerged in Vision Community discussions. It involves adult classes meeting together in an informal setting in which they can move around and converse with each other while enjoying very simple refreshments (e.g. coffee, soft drinks). A brief devotional that stimulates / lends itself to discussion will be given. This devotional can take various forms: a member sharing something they’ve learned about or experienced with God, some question they are facing, a reading from the Bible, a short Christian video – and occasionally a longer video such as a Gaither concert. However, it is likely that there will be some coordination between the topic of the devotional and the sermon that will be given during the worship service. While listening to the brief devotional, people can continue to enjoy their refreshments. After the devotional, people will be encouraged to continue enjoying their refreshments and to discuss their response to the devotional. There will be a few (3 or 4) discussion facilitators prepared to help stimulate the discussion – however, people will be free to join (or not!) in the discussion that occurs among any small groups that informally form during the remainder of the time. There will be a closing prayer and encouragement to join in the worship service.

1)     Members of the Vision Community will explain and discuss it to all adult Sunday School classes from August 26 to September 16.

2)     All members of the congregation who have questions or concerns will be encouraged to participate in the Vision Community sessions the evenings of August 26 and September 9.

3)     The Christian Education Board and Ministry and Counsel will consider it during their meetings on September 9 (though the leadership and many of the members of these committees are also in the Vision Community).

4)     The approach will be “demonstrated” during the pitch-in meal preceding the Meeting for Worship and Business (a.k.a. “Monthly Meeting”) on September 16.

5)     The approach will be considered for adoption in the Meeting for Worship and Business on September 16. The recommendation is likely to include when to start the new approach, what should happen with existing adult Sunday School classes, and how and when to assess and improve the effectiveness of the new approach.

4.      Realized that our (Carmel Friends) services fall significantly short at meeting the needs of young families and young adults – both those who are currently associated with our congregation and those who are visitors. We are focusing on identifying how to better meet their needs.

A.     Instead of discontinuing Children’s Church during the summer, members of the Vision Community were inspired to try an innovative approach. Various adult members of the congregation have been taking one session of Children’s Church to share what they enjoy doing as a hobby or vocation (gardening, scrapbooking, fishing, caring for a pet, providing quality water, etc.) and explaining how and what the experience has helped them learn about God.

B.     Realized that our “J-Train” program may not be meeting the needs of all of our congregation’s junior high age youth.

1)     Leadership of the “J-Train” program and Christian Education are currently determining what to do in order to offer a youth program that meets the needs of youth from both church and non-church families.

C.    Realized that we need to be providing child care not only during Sunday School and Worship, but also during other services and meetings. Members of the Vision Community will be working out how to achieve this.

5.      Realized that we (the Vision Community) need to get to know better the people touched by our congregation: members/attenders, visitors, and parents of youth who attend but do not attend themselves.

A.     Members of the Vision Community are considering in-home (or other conducive venue) visits with the parents who do not attend any services of Carmel Friends but whose children have been in the “J-Train” program.

B.     Members of the Vision Community have taken the lead in organizing the “Monthly Meeting Dinner Groups.”

C.    Members of the Vision Community have facilitated discussion of specific questions during the meals prior to Meetings for Worship and Business have in order to help everyone get better acquainted as well as provide opportunity for people to express needs and concerns and ask questions of the Vision Community.

D.    The Vision Community engaged the assistance of a Western Yearly Meeting Christian ministries student intern to help both identify the human/social needs and human service resources within the community (Carmel) around the church. The intern interviewed parents of children attending the “J-Train” program, and administrators of various local social service organizations. The intern will be giving her report in the August 26 Vision Community session.

E.     The Vision Community continues to invite the participation of all interested members of the congregation; and, is considering how to do more comprehensive and insightful needs assessments both within and outside the congregation.

F.     The Vision Community is beginning to discern that the mission God has for Carmel Friends Church has something to do with developing relationships in which God is experienced, recognized, loved and celebrated.

6.      Realized that our congregation probably needs to focus on doing fewer things that better meet the needs of people God wants us to care for. While we are still trying to identify the “people God wants us to care for,” it is clear that they include those He has already brought to us: current members, attenders (importantly the “J-Train” kids and their families), and visitors.

People who have attended Vision Community sessions include:

(bold text indicates most frequent participants – apologies to anyone overlooked!)

Anyone with any questions or concerns about the future of Carmel Friends is encouraged to either attend the Vision Community sessions or speak with any of those who do attend the Vision Community sessions.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the Vision Community,

Paul Bishop