Re-Visioning Ministries Summary Report

Much of the Re-visioning Ministry process is wrapping up.

Ministry groups have gathered community input.  Some have engaged in planning sessions and others will yet do so.  A summary of information and insights that have emerged from the has been produced.  Click here to access the full document, including results of input and planning sessions, or click here to access a brief executive summary.

September 25 Congregational Input Session Results

Approximately 110 members of our community gathered for a potluck meal on Sunday, September 25, to hear a summary of themes emerging from the series of ministry input sessions and offer their response and input.

First we reviewed the Re-visioning Ministry journey.  In 2010, we began what was called a "transition process", including ministry assessments.  We also got input on understanding the changing world around us through the Shift Conference.  In March, we began the ministry conversations with a Plenary Session where each group identified their purpose.  Ten ministry areas conducted constituency input sessions, with open invitations to all community members to attend or to provide input via online survey regarding strengths, potential improvements and new opportunities to seize.  Some groups have conducted follow-up planning sessions to begin to act on the input received.

Facilitators from input sessions reviewed the key themes that emerged from input sessions and the staffing gaps that have been identified in the light of this input and examination.  Click here to access this information.

Table groups discussed this information identifying what possibilities excited them and what made them curious.  Key themes most often identified included (1) the idea of a "Third Place" community ministry center, in addition to the existing church buildings, where comprehensive pastoral care, youth, senior, homeless, and other ministries could be housed; (2)  broader opportunities for Faith Formation for all ages; (3) coordination of ministries; (4) training and equipping for increased lay involvement in initiating and leading ministries; (5) expanding ministries further into our community, beyond our traditional boundaries; (6) improving communication; and adding a reception/welcoming function to staff.  Click here for the full list reported to the whole group.  Click here for all the thoughts recorded at each table.

We talked briefly about a concept called bricolage which means "the creation of a work from a diverse range of things that happen to be available, making creative and resourceful use of whatever materials are at hand."  Recognizing that, even though we do have limits, we also have resources available, participants discussed the existing constraints that we face and listed resources that we have at hand to apply toward moving into the future.  Then, groups generated creative ideas for things we could do now to enhance our ministries.  Click here for the list of constraints, resources and ideas shared with the whole group.  Click here for all of the ideas generated in table groups.

Pastor Paul presented a chart indicating some preliminary thinking about staffing functions that need to be addressed either by re-configuring current responsibilities or adding additional personnel.  (Click here to view the chart.)

Input from this session will be incorporated into further thinking and recommendations for how to proceed with staffing and budgeting will be available in the next couple of months.

Thanks to all who participated with such enthusiastic and positive energy and to all the folks who stepped up to staff the kitchen for this event!

Administration Planning Session Results

Administration held its planning session on August 23.  The group listed a nubmer of challenges they wanted to solve and chose the development of a culture of collaboration as the one they wanted to address.  They identified possible hindrances to effective collaboration both among office staff and in the community at large.  These ideas included--

• Time pressure
• Interruptions
• So much going on that it is difficult to have access to all information
• Difficulty in saying "no"
• Reacting to urgent demands rather than planning and working ahead
• Different personal styles
• Hesitation to ask others to help

They chose Interruptions as an area to discuss and identified several potential causes.  From that list, they decided to work on two causes:  "Meetings by my desk that don't involve me," and unclear job descriptions.  Discussion about interuptions caused by impromptu meetings that distract those nearby let to an action plan to consider how re-configuring office space might minimize distractions and create hospitable space.  They discussed how lack of understanding about who is responsbible for what increases unnecessary interruptions.  A potential action plan to address this was for staff to generate a list of what they are responsible for and create a reference for one another and for community members so that people know how to approach to help with their concern.

Summary of Mission Council Input Session

The Mission Council hosted a constituency input session on Wednesday, July 13.
Among the strengths of the Mission Council identified by those present was the Council's routine practice of engaging in a deliberate process of discernment when facing complex issues.  They have considered all sides to an issue, managed strong feelings and made a decision for the benefit of the community as a whole, recognizing that sometimes that might be different from individual preferences.  They also celebrated the partnership based on care and respect that is enjoyed between staff and council.

In considering idea for improvement, the group identified several major areas.

• Increasing accountability to the congregation by developing intentional relationships with various ministry areas and finding new ways to communicate regularly with the community about Mission Council activities and concerns.
• Seeking community input through focus groups or other strategies to help the council keep aware of community interests and perceptions.
• Notice and celebrate accomplishments
• Increase the number of Council initiatives
• Update organizational structures so that people know who is on the council and how the council relates to various ministry entities.

There was good discussion about ways that staff and council might develop new ways of working together that allow the council to take on more responsibilities for strategic leadership.

Considering the possibilities that might emerge from this Re-visioning process, the council recognized a desire for some training/development that would enable members to assume the important role of leading the community through creating the next phase of ministry at Trinity/Pointe of Grace.




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Transition Update - July 2011

Revisioning, Transition, Living into God’s Future for Us.   We’ve given a variety of names to this journey we’ve been on the last 12 months. 

River and Garden, Shift, Ministry Assessments, Constituency Meetings.  We’ve used a variety of tools to help us on this journey we’ve been on the last 12 months. 

When are we getting a new pastor? Why is it taking so long? Why do we have to think about it?  We’ve asked a lot of questions on this journey we’ve been on the last 12 months.

On the first Sunday of July, 2010, Trinity found itself facing a complex set of changes: 

• A beloved and respected pastor had just retired. 
• Years of faithful prayer, coaching, and work had radically and rapidly expanded our ministry. 
• Our second site was 10 months old. 
• The “pastoral care team” concept was just beginning to catch hold. 
• We were in a time of deep financial challenge. 

The question on that first Sunday of July, 2010 was, “What do we do now?” 

The answer was, “be faithful, be prayerful, be patient, be thoughtful, be creative, be smart.” 

On the first Sunday of July, 2011 it is safe to say that we have come a long, long way to better understanding our ministries, our systems, our challenges, our opportunities, and our needs. All of our major ministries have gone through a process of defining their mission, assessing their work, and listening carefully to those who support them and those they serve. Each group has identified the barriers they face and the hopes that shape their futures. Each group is now working to identify steps to take to move beyond the barriers and into the future.  (See other posts to check out their work.)

Among the next steps, as we move into late summer, will be opportunities for “big picture” conversation for the whole congregation. We are also beginning to shape a vision for staffing at Trinity-Lynnwood and Pointe of Grace. In the last ten years we’ve grown substantially in the number of members, the number at worship, the number of people engaged in and served by Trinity’s ministries. During that same period, staffing has declined. One thing we know already is that simply replacing a pastor is an inadequate answer to Trinity’s real needs. Click here to find a recently developed chart that leadership is using to help identify specific areas of need.

We are grateful for the congregation's willingness to take a good look at itself as it moves into God's future.  Our commitment to not settling for a "knee-jerk" response to our needs will pay off in a healthier congregation and in stronger ministries and presence in our communities.

Blessings, 

Trinity’s Staff and Council

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Faith Formation Constituency Input Summary

Approximately 20 people gathered on June 29 to contribute their feedback and ideas about Faith Formation at Trinity/Pointe of Grace.

The Faith Formation purpose is to make space for all ages to discover and assumetheir unique roles in partnership with God.

The group enjoyed sharing stories of how they witnessed youth prepared to provide faith-grounded leadership in crisis situations, how children and youth feel safe and welcomed in their programs, how a young person remains steadfast in the face of challenges to his faith, and how differing ideas were respectfully shared in adult Bible Studies.  These stories revealed the importance of relationships, safe space, involvement of all ages, listening to and respecting each other and being equipped in faith as contributors to our Faith Formation ministries.

Many ideas for improvement were generated.  Some of the most emphasized ideas included (1) Increasing opportunities for study and learning by all ages; (2) increasing the amount of adult involvement with children in youth, since direct relationship is so important; (3) more church-wide social activities; (4) non-traditional worship and learning opportunities; and (5) consistent learning themes througout various church programs. 

An equally wide array of thoughts emerged about new opportunities that might be pursued.  Some of them included (1) A strong leadership/mentoring training program to help people live into their God-given call; (2) Student-led worship; (3) Continued involvment in Jeremiah Center ministry; and (4) More service opportunities for all ages.

Looking at the challenge of overtaxed and insufficient staff and volunteers, the group suggested having a volunteer coordinator that would help people find where they fit, setting acheivable priorities and making sure that everyone knows what is currently available.  Recognizing that families are overwhelmed and often over-booked, the group suggested modeling making "space" as an effort to be intentionally counter-cultural.  They also talked about the changing expectations in the church culture from the idea of staff doing everything to lay people taking more and more responsibility.  They suggested it is important to recognize and affirm one another in this process, keep conversations and relationships going, continue to raise awareness of this shift, and provide eduction and experience of the new things we are stepping into.

Discussion wrapped up with the group celebrating the great foundation that has been laid and recognizing that we are looking to grow and build on that foundation.

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Worship Committee Input Session Summary

The Worship Committee held its constituency input session on Monday, June 27.  The committee's purpose is to create a system of opportunty for people to use their individual gifts so that the worshipping community can encounter GOD!!
The group identified numerous factors that contribute to the quality of worship, some of which included planning and preparation, good preaching, great music, decoration, variety, lay participation, a consistent message that all are welcome and meaningful moments of ritual.

Ideas for improvement of what is currently being done centered around (1) offering more opportunities for expression of people's creativity in planning and leading worship; (2) exploring non-Sunday worship options to expand outreach; (3) experiment with a variety of different worship forms and times to see which ones generate sustained commitment; (4) include explanatory notes in worship bulletin to help us better understand the meaning of worship elements.

Discusison on important opportunities to consider focused on imagining ideas about how to create more opportunities for lay involvement in creative planning and conducting of worship.  The committee recognized that a significant amount of their work has been directed toward managing the details of worship services and wants to explore the possibility of re-organizing how it functions in order to expand the lay role in generating creative input and content for worship experiences.

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Administration Constituency Input Summary

The constituency input session for Administration was held Tuesday, June 21.  The purpose of Administration at Trinity/Pointe of Grace is to provide resources and support, within appropriate systems, to volunteers and staff engaged in Trinity's Ministries.

Appreciation was expressed for the helpfulness, efficiency and caring, relational orientation of the office staff and it was clearly recognized that this group of people make a critical contribution to the functioning of church ministries.

A wide range of ideas for improvement and potential new opportunities were generated.  The ideas that were judged of highest priority clustered around upgrading the website to make it more user and operator friendly as well as enhancing interactivity on the site and around helping church volunteers to operate effectively in conducting their ministry activities.  The need for volunteer coordination was identified along with the need to identify volunteer skills and link them to specific opportunities.

As with the results of each input session, leaders will be utilizing the data generated here to inform the next step in the Re-visioning Ministry process, developing an action plan to move into the future. 

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First 2 Planning Sessions Completed--Pastoral Care and Mustard Seed Life Groups

Two ministry groups completed the fourth step of the Re-visioning Ministry Component of the process of Living into God's Future for Us.  Pastoral Care met last Monday and Mustard Seed Life Group leaders met on Tuesday.  Both groups spent some time reflecting on all of the input that has been generated so far, then prayerfully imagined where they might be called in the future.  Finally, they drafted a plan of action that will help them answer that call.

They were actively engaged in the strategic thinking process described earlier in this blog which involves imagining what we can do now that will lead to a hoped for future.

The Pastoral Care Team imagined a near term and a long term goal.  In the near term, they recognized the need to get to a place where the whole congregation understands and embraces the multi-level pastoral care structure that is in place at Trinity/Pointe of Grace.  Some of the steps they believe might help them achieve this included

• Identify and understand the "audience" they are trying to reach (various sub-groups in the community.
• Get clear on what these audiences need to understand about pastoral care ministry at Trinity/Pointe of Grace and how they would ideally perceive pastoral care ministry.
• Solicit input from various audiences
• Devise communication strategies such .as (1) regularly engaging people in conversations about the Pastoral Care "umbrella"' (2) communicate special requests to the pastors; (3) plan for Stephen Minister's presence at Pointe of Grace site; (4) Present on Pastoral Care at new members' classes.
• Imagine other creative ways of displaying/communicating the Pastoral Care delivery chart.
• Celebrate successes.

The group also devised a long term goal.  It began with a dream about physical building spaces that functioned as a "community center" where people of all ages and needs could find needs for relationship and wholeness met.  Conversation led to considering the actual ministry that might happen in this space and the goal was formed as a comprehensive, broad program of pastoral care offered to all ages and needs.  Some groups mentioned included seniors, youth, homeless, those with mental health needs.  They imagined some potential steps to begin building a ministry that might one day fill the hoped-for space.

• Identifying the groups that might be served.
• Get acquainted with the groups to identify their needs and desires.
• Involve those groups in planning what to offer
• Share the dream--what happen in a comprehensive ministry.
• Get trained as well as identify partners and connect with them
• Start trying things out--take small steps.
• Collaborate with other groups.

The Mustard Seed Life Groups Leadership drafted a long term objective: 

We want to develop the infrastructure for the caring/"garden”/"home” space that actually draws/invites people (voluntarily) into relationship that helps them be what they are called by God to be, including the missional(ambassadors for Christ) focus of actively inviting others in and making a real difference in our community.  They developed a 9-step action plan.

• Develop a solid model for leadership (turning Huddles into the embodiment of what we home Mustard Seed groups will be).
• Accept responsibility to provide leadership to Mustard Seed ministries. 
• Assess target audiences to find out what they actually want
• Develop a clear Core Message about why community is important
• Develop a inventory of available groups for ready access
• Create a training structure for new group leaders
• Target new audiences
• Seed new groups
• Do a status-check to get feedback about how things are working

Other groups will be developing plans of action to stengthen their ministries in the coming days.  It is exciting to observe one result of our Re-visioning Ministries process is that lay leaders are getting clearer on the potentially powerful role they may play in making ministry happen. 

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Endowment Fund Committee Input Session Summary

The Endowment Fund Committee held their constituency input session on Saturday, June 11.

Contributions to manifesting God's dream in the world were celebrated.  They included--

• Providing significant scholarship assistance to college students.  A scholarship was the impetus that allowed one student to pursue higher education.  Scholarships communicated to students that their home congregation cared about them in a significant way and inspired others to maintain their connections with communites of faith.
• Scholarships to students pursuing religious studies have supported persons entering full time ministry.
• Indivduals have experienced life-changing global encounters as they were able to undertake cross-cultural mission trips, helped by Endowment funds.
• Many existing ministries at Trinity/Pointe of Grace were begun with seed monies from the Endowment Funds including, Youth ministry interns, Stephen Ministers, Pastoral Care ministers, Outreach to Students at Pointe of Grace.

Some of the existing strengths of the Endowmwent Fund Committee that were identified included--

• The passion and excitement of the committee members
• Perseverance and follow-through
• Good information for the web page
• Careful documentation of their work so that history of gifts is recorded
• Good working relationship of the committee members

A primary area for improvement was deemed to be communication so that community members could readily understand the process of giving to the fund and applying to have projects funded.  It was acknowledged that community members in general may not be aware of the significant impact that the Endowment Fund has on the ministry at Trinity/Pointe of Grace.  The expectation is that more communication will inspire further generosity in order to multiply opportunities for ministry.

They imagined new strategies to consider moving forward, including a "wishing well" where people could offer ideas for endwoment gifts; providing assistance to people with estate planning; exploring other options for grants, including capital improvements; and partnering with mission groups.

One outcome of the session was the renewed awareness that the Endowment Fund Committee has a powerful role in catalyzing mission and ministry and that there is untapped potential here to recognized and utilized.

This information will be incorporated into the planning session to follow.

Use the Annual Report as a Meditation Tool to Notice God at Work!

The congregational report, presented at the annual meeting, June 12, 2011, could be a great tool to use in reflection to notice how God has been at work in our community.  The report contains many stories of how members of this community have been joining with God to meet the needs of the world.  You can read this report prayerfully to deepen your sense of what God has been doing.

Here's how......

1)  Click here to access the report , if you don't have a printed copy.

2)  Call to mind the Trinity/Pointe of Grace Idenity/Purpose Statement:  We manifest God's dream as a community that makes space for people to recognize what God is doing to meet the deep needs of the world and to discover and assume their unique roles in partnership with God.

3)  Recall that "manifesting God's dream" is simply making the work of of God visible in the world.  Where wholeness, justice, love and peace are increased, God's dream is being made more and more visible.

4)  Select a portion of the Annual Report to read and read it slowly and reflectively, pondering each account of what has been happening.

5)  As you read each account, ask the Spirit to help you notice a way in which the dream of God has been made a little more visible through it.  Pause to express your gratitude to God for the way that you and your community have shared in this advance of the reign of God in the world.

6)  Help all of us deepen our awareness and gratitude by sharing your insights and reflections on this blog.  It can be as simple as stating, "when I read about......, I noticed and was grateful for.........."

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Local Engagement Input Meeting Results

Local Engagement, or Neighbors in Need (means Saturday Morning, Cold Weather Shelter, Neighborhood Youth Alliance), defines its purpose in this way:
- We create opportunity for people who want to joyfully express their compassion through service to their neighbors in need.

- NIN enables us to live out and share our faith with others. Others involved in Neighbors in Need include Jeremiah Center; Edmonds Unitarian Church; Holy Rosary Catholic Church; Mill Creek Community Church; Overlake Christian Church; Grace Fellowship Church; Boy Scouts; Snohomish County ; United Way; Pointe of Grace; St Thomas Moore Catholic Church; Edmonds Methodist Church; Everett Foursquare Church; Ahmadi Community; City Church; Edmonds School District; Girl Scouts; City of Lynnwood; PEMCO.

People gathered at the input session shared stories of feeding an individual who had not eaten in a day and a half; experiencing the gratitude of a neighbor who realized that others had been praying for her; and watching an individual move from being housed to employed and housed.  They celebrated how this ministry has inspired participation by many other groups outside of Trinity/Pointe of Grace who are eager to serve.

The group recognized that one strength of this ministry has been the personal relationship built with those who participate, helping them feel cared for and valued as a part of a community. 

One of the big dreams of this group is a space that would allow homeless people to have some basic needs met on a regular basis, rather than just Saturday morning, and that would serve as a regular location for emergency cold weather shelter.  Challenges identified included building a broad base of supportive relationships throughout the community and recruiting and recognizing volunteers on an ongoing basis.

Schools Constituency Input Summary

Staff, parents, and board members of Trinity Christian Preschool, Trinity Child Development Center and Harbour Pointe Christian Preschool met on Tuesday, May 24 to reflect together on these ministries. 

The Schools' mission is to share God's love by partnering with parents and guardians in the social, emotional, physical, spiritual and cognitive development of their child.  We provide an age appropriate environment that is safe and caring where children are nurture in the love of Christ.

Participants shared stories that illustrated strengths of the schools.

•  Several expressions of care for school families in times of crisis, including connecting to Pastoral Care ministries, highlighted a sense of "family" as well as the value of networking with broader ministries in the congregation.
• Attention to helping new students adjust to the environment made the School feel like "a home away from home."
• Cognitive progress of a student, in spite of family crises, demonstrated the consistent, supportive environment that Schools provide.
• Children being greeted by name and a hug each day they arrive indicates the personal attention given to each student.
• A mother's call to alert staff when her child was injured overseas on vacation shows the depth of love and relationship experienced by children and families.
• Watching children being allowed to work on a project at their own pace, to their own standards shows patience and the willingness to allow children to express themselves freely.
• Connections made to the church through the Schools suggests that they sometimes act as a "front porch," welcoming people into broader congregational involvement.

 As potential improvements to the Schools were discussed, desire was expressed for even stronger direct connections with the congregations, including regular pastoral presence; direct outreach and service opportunities for children; more advertising; increased parent interaction; new "family-friendly" events; and upgraded facilities. 

Some of the dreams that captured most interest included improved playgrounds; new/upgraded facilities; extending more services to those who cannot pay; and creating a full service center to support families needs.

Some insights identied by the those in the group were

• While the two different sites share similar dreams, they are also two separate sites with unique needs--one size does not fit all.
• The relational element of Schools' ministry is critical and we should continue to foster this.  Personal relationship is even more important than school work.
• Amazing to recall the progress from one room 24 years ago at the School's beginning.
• There are so many things we love about the Preschool!

Global Engagment Constituency Input Session Results

A group of people passionate about Global Engagement at Trinity/Pointe of Grace gathered on Monday, May 16 to reflect on possibilities for that ministry area.  There is not currently an organized entity in our community that bears overall coordination for this area.  Many of the expressions of Trinity/Pointe of Grace reaching out beyond our local community exist as individual initiatives that have gained varying degrees of involvement by others in the community.  One of the things that happened at the meeting was that these individuals got connected and will begin to explore the possibility of increasing visibility of global engagement activities by collaborating in new ways.

The group celebrated a number of positive dimensions of their experience:

• Direct connections with people in their own communities kindles empathy and respect for the people.
• Relationships with women in Nicaragua warmed as anxiousness and nervousness gave way to understanding and grace.
• Living Water is widely owned by many in the Trinity/Pointe of Grace communuity and other churches are expressing interest in starting a similar project.
• Seeds of Hope was inspired by encounter with a mother who did not even enterain the option of sending her children to school because there was no way to purchase uniforms.  Now mothers like her are being empowered to realize that they do have options
• People are getting the message that they can actually make a difference in real places.

From stories shared, it is clear that globally focused activities at Trinity/Pointe of Grace are currently inspired as individuals who have traveled to various places where they have had personal encounters with the needs of the world, return with a burden to make a difference and share their stories and their vision with others.

Conversations about ways to improve the work of Global Engagement at Trinity/Pointe of Grace centered around ways to communicate  more effectively with others since growth of these ministries seems to be founded on direct personal experience and telling of stories.

A challenge identified by the group was that the variety of groups, each with differing passions and seeking support from the broader community, might be vulnerable to a spirit of competition for resources.  The group aspired to maintain a spirit of abundance rather than scarcity and to look for ways to collaborate rather than compete.

One idea that emerged from discussion was the establishment of some type of common infrastructure that would allow leaders in the various ministries to connect more regularly with one another to find encouragement, share their wisdom and experience, and collaborate on deepening awareness of global opportunities in our community.

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Mustard Seed/Life Groups Constituency Input Session Results

Approximately 15 people gathered on Saturday, May 7, to review Mustard Seed/Life Group Ministries at Trinity/Pointe of Grace.

The group reviewed the Trinity/Pointe of Grace identity statement and the purpose of Mustard Seed/Life Group Ministry: to provide an organic, life-giving process for engaging people, who share a common interest, in relational gatherings, including opportunity for nurturing relationship with God, mentoring one another, and making a positive difference in the community.

Individuals shared stories that they believed reflected positive experience of fulfilling this purpose. The Harmony group was surprised to receive enthusiastic cheers as they marched in the Gay Pride Parade and discovered that was inspired by the uncommon message of acceptance communicated by a religious body. Members of the Journey Group shared the practice of journaling with Fort Lewis families with loved ones deployed overseas to help both the ones deployed and the ones at home process and share their feelings during the period of separation. Living Water representatives heard of others encouraged by their connecting theory and practice in words and deeds of the church. 

Based on shared accounts of positive experiences of Life Groups, the group identified a number of factors that contribute to the current level of ministry sucess. Some of these include:

• The power of allowing groups to form around individual passions
• Flexibility and willingness to allow groups to change with circumstances
• Relationship building

A number of possible improvements to enhance Life Group Ministry were identified. Some of the priority improvements included:

• Develop better ways of communicating with the community about the opportunities available in Life Groups
• Reach outside of the congregation to include and cooperate with other groups and individuals
• Deepening the experience of sharing learning at Huddles (leader meetings) to increase leadership skills and to enable leaders to refer people to groups that might interest them.

The group named some challenges that might be faced as they move forward and tried to generate possible solutions.  Some of these included:

• Challenge:  Limited Resource       Solution:  Consider applying for grants, share resources, develop co-ops
• Challenge:  Rejuvenating groups Solution:  Give personal invitations to others, share stories of what Life Groups are doing to make a difference in the world, listen to others’ interests and refer them to groups they might connect with
• Challenge:  Personality clashes in groups         Solution: Provide education and/or coaching
• Challenge:  Communication          Solution:  Utilize multiple avenues for different audiences, remember not everyone is present in worship or receives What’s Happening

Some of the insights gleaned from the session were

• We can still learn more about being in community with people who are different from us
• There is not yet a “whole” structure that contains/links the multiple life groups
• We can learn to respect diverse opinions
• If we pay attention to our experience, we can see more of what is being accomplished
• We are all part of the body of Christ—with different expressions

All of the information gathered at this session will be included in the action planning process for future Mustard Seed/Life Group ministries.

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Pastoral Care Input Session Summary

A good group of folks gathered on Tuesday, April 25, to review Pastoral Care Ministries at Trinity/Pointe of Grace. 

The group reviewed the Trinity/Pointe of Grace identity statement: We manifest God's dream as a community that makes space for people to recognize what God is doing to meet the deep needs of the world and discover and assume their unique roles in partnership with God; and the purpose of Pastoral Care Ministry:  The purpose of the Pastoral Care Team is to identify, invite and offer educational experiences, emotional and spiritual support to caregivers within our faith community so that we all recognize and share the presence and power of God's love in our relationships. 

Based on shared accounts of positive experiences of Pastoral Care ministry, the group uncovered a number of factors that contribute to the current level of ministry sucess.  Some of these include:

• Everyone empowered to minister, not just clergy
• A large cohort of people trained in listening and in following through on needs
• A computer tracking system so that no one "falls through the cracks"
• Formal and informal referral process identifying and screening needs and making connections to resources
• Building relationships leads to discovery of places where people can serve
• A culture of acceptance and non-judgment nurtured at all levels

A number of improvements possible improvements to enhance Pastoral Care Ministry were identifed.  Some of the priority improvements included:

• Expanding on quality training offered to Pastoral Care and Stephen Ministers and offering more specialized trainings
• Paying attention to the concerns of older members of the community
• Remembering that all are ministers
• Share stories of people who have benefitted from care of Pastoral Care Ministers and Stephen Ministers

Participants spent some time imagining new possibilities might take Pastoral Care Ministries to a new level of effectiveness.  Ideas that seemed most popular were

• Offer some level of training in listening and caring skills to many more members of our community
• Build a Community Center to house additional ministries to Neighbors in Need, Cold Weather Shelter, Counseling Services, Seniors Services
• Have professionals (doctors, lawyers, counselors) available for consultation
• More people viewing themselves as ministers
• Youth-related counseling ande mentoring services
• Full range of Senior Ministries

Some of the insights gleaned from the session were

• When we break large challenges down into small steps, they seem more doable
• Hiring another pastor may not "solve" everything
• Some in the community prefer the ordained ministers to offer pastoral care and others hold that all are ministers
• These kinds of conversations can be encouraging
• Pastoral care is being offered in many places beyond our congregation.

All of the information gathered at this session will be included in the action planning process for future pastoral care ministries.

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Pointe of Grace Community Visioning and Staffing Conversation

On Wednesday, May 4, approximately 30 folks gathered for a visioning session to inform planning for staffing the Pointe of Grace campus to support emerging ministries.  Following this session, the Mission Council approved a position description for a Ministry Developer to be based in Mukilteo.

Rather than simply filling the vacant position left by the recent resignation of the Pointe of Grace administrator, a conversation was held to imagine possibilities for future ministry and think about what kind of staff would support community members in creating those possibilties.

Pointe of Grace currently houses several distinct community elements:  Sunday morning worshipping community, Harbor Pointe Christian Pre-School teachers and parents, Unbend and The Pointe, high schools ministry, and the Community Gardening community.  Representatives of all these, plus several members connected to the Lynnwood campus, told stories of personally meaningful experiences they've had at the Pointe of Grace campus; generated visions of future ministry results; and identified the kinds of staff functions that would best help them succeed in developing those results.

Participants imagined a future characterized by such things as comprehensive programs for children and youth, thriving Vacation Bible Schools, alternative style worship services, a Pub-style drop-in center, serving as a bench-mark example of community gardening, integrated relationships between Pre-School and congregation, and impactful discipleship programs.  At tables, five small groups listed skills they would like to see in a staff person.  This input was incorporated into the Mission Council's work on position description for what is being called a Ministry Developer to serve at the Pointe of Grace location.  This position is envisioned as a 25-hour position.  The Ministry Developer position is an unfolding expression of the Trinity/Pointe of Grace identity of "manifesting God's dream by making space for people to recogize what God is doing to meet the deep needs of the world and to recognize and assume their unique roles in partnership with God."  This position will focus on encouraging and equipping individuals to understand and fulfill their personal vocations to ministry and service.   You may click here to view the Ministry Developer position description.  Since staffing the Pointe of Grace campus is an immediate priority, the council is actively engaged in the search and hiring process.

To add a comment, click on the (#) comments link below and the page will open where you can read comments and add your own.

How Are We One?

Worship photos by John Ortiz, NiN photo by Eileen Hansen, Jeremiah Center photo by Josh Jones

"Are you visiting today or do you normally attend another service?"  That is the question I've learned to ask when I greet someone who is a stranger to me on Sunday morning.  Until I devised this approach, I often found myself welcoming someone who is a regular part of the Trinity/Pointe of Grace community as an outsider, just because I didn't recognize her or him.  Before coming to Trinity/Pointe of Grace, all of our church experience had been in smaller communities where we knew everyone by name.  The community here is different.  The pictures above represent six different expressions of this community, each of which has its own character and which people may identify as their primary connection to the community:  7:45 Sunday at Trinity; 9:00 Sunday at Trinity; 9:30 Sunday at Pointe of Grace; 10:30 at Trinity; 8:30 Saturday at Trinity (Neighbors in Need); throughout the week at Jeremiah Center. 

We are all part of one community which gathers in different groupings, in different times and places!  This is one of the happy consequences of growth to which we need to adapt in order to continue to thrive as a community in the future.  In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul wrote, about the unity of the body of Christ, "Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many.  If the foot would say, 'Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.  And if the ear would say, 'Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,' that would not make it any less a part of the body."  We all understand this.  But we might be vulnerable to falling unconsciously into the same kind of error Paul was trying to correct!  We might be prone to think "because you gather in a different location, you are not part of my community," or "because you gather at a different time, you are not part of my community."  Folks whom we don't see on a regular basis may not be a part of immediate circle of relationship but they are still part of the one large body that makes up Trinity/Pointe of Grace.

Unless we are intentional about changing our awareness, we will naturally slip into an "us-them" mindset.  "Us" is the people I know and see regularly.  "Them" are the people who I don't know.  One way I'm trying to address this for myself is through a thought discipline.  I'm trying not to use the word "they" when I refer to community members who gather at a time different from my regular slot.  I try to think of them as "we" and describe them as the folks who gather at Pointe of Grace or at 10:30.  It's a small exercise but potentially powerful because each time I use the word "they" about another group, I'm separating myself from them.  In this era in our community, it seems worth the effort to remember that there is only one community gathering in several places and times and everyone in that community is a part of "we."  There is no "them"--only "us"!

Another way to build our awareness of oneness is to follow the example of the brave souls that I've mistakenly welcomed as visitors by occasionally paricipating in the community at a time or place different from our norm.

If you have found a way to build a bridge to another part of our community so that you feel more connected--more "one" with the whole, please take a moment to share your experience so others can join you in weaving stronger relationships. 

To share your experience of building bridges of relationship, click on the (#) comments link below and the page will open where you can add your own storie and read others.

Stories of Making Space--Pointe of Grace Garden Stewards and Trinity Creation Stewards

Mustard Seed Groups, Creation Stewards and Pointe of Grace Garden  Stewards are sponsoring Creation Care Day, Sunday, April 10.  Last week, they highlighted the ways which they have discovered to participate with God in manifesting the dream of healthy and restored creation.  Activities such as recycling, reusing plastic bags, native growth restoration, community garden and the annual Creation Care Day have provided opportunities for building connections with others while caring for the environment.  View the complete presentation here.

These two groups are demonstrating the core idenitity/purpose of Trinity/Pointe of Grace:
We manifest God’s dream

as a community that makes space for people

--to recognize what God is doing to meet the deep needs of the world

                      and

--to discover and assume their unique roles in partnership with God.

If you would like to post your story of how you have noticed how God might desire to change the world, imagined a way to use your gifts to cooperate with God so that God's dream of increased love, compassion and justice in the world is made more visible, please post it here!

To add your story, click on the  (#) comments link below and the page will open where you can read stories and add your own.

Impact of Congregational Growth

 

Differing sized churches typically experience different group cultures and different patterns of ministry and relationship.  What works for one size just doesn't fit for another.  Over its history, Trinity has shifted through four milestones in size and is on the brink of a fifth.  Churches of up to 50 in worship operate as a family, with a few long-term lay leaders providing stability and direction.  Churches with 50 to 150 attending worship are described as pastoral size because much of congregation's life centers around relationship with the pastor.  The next level, program size, too large for everyone to be intimately connected with a pastor, has people making more connections through lay leaders who are involved in offering a variety of ministry programs.  Churches with between 350 and 500 worshippers are termed corporate and often have a large, professional staff in charge of developing many areas of ministry.

The fact that Trinity has successfully navigated each of these transitions is testimony to the congregation's resilience and adaptability because many factors exert pressure on groups to remain in their current category.  Since we currently have combined worship attendance of 550, we are likely facing another shift in the way we do ministry.  Staff will become more focused on equipping and empowering individuals and groups in the community as they respond to God's call to ministry.

Most likely, each of us have a "favorite" church size imprinted on our memory that tells us how things "should" be.  Perhaps it matches the church of our childhood, a church where we had a particularly significant experience, or the first congregation we were exposed to.  It is likely that those memories are not matched in our current experience since the Trinity/Pointe of Grace community has developed beyond what many have experienced before.  This means there may be feelings of disappointment when those old expectations aren't met and feelings of surprise and satisfaction as we encounter new and enriching opportunities that are available to us here.

It is useful to pay attention to these kinds of shifts in a community because shifts tend to mean that some things that are familiar are less evident while new possibilities emerge.  It is also good to notice what we particularly appreciate and recognize that we can take our own initiative to re-create some of those "favorite" experiences in new ways.

Some members of this community may be able to remember some of the shifts that happened at former developmental steps--things that decreased and new things that came.  If you do, and would like to share them, to help us understand how those changes happened, add your story to this blog. 

To add a comment, click on the  (#) comments link below and the page will open where you can read comments and add your own.

Where are we in the planning process?

Some folks have been wondering where we are in the planning process (formerly called Transition, now called Living into God's Future for Us).  In last week's entry (March 16, Living into God's Future) we discussed some of the motivation for planning.  This entry describes how planning is moving forward these days.

The graphic below pictures 3 distinct stages.  Currently we are engaged in the conversations represented in the left-hand column.  Staff and Mission council are involved in ongoing conversations to clarify existing needs and opportunities.  The circled "Re-visioning Ministry Conversations" are in process.  Core leaders of basic ministry areas met on March 5 to discuss our community's identy/purpose statement and begin clarifying the purpose of each ministry area.  Those groups are currently having follow-up discussions in preparation for meetings that will be held for each area, inviting constituency input and feedback.  Ministry leaders will develop preliminary plans, based on this feedback.  Congregational conversations are happening via this blog, the upcoming constituency input sessions for ministry areas and forums yet to be announced.

As activities represented in the first column proceed, we will move into a phase of discerning and describing a long term vision for Trinity, Lynnwood and Pointe of Grace.  Building on recent similar work, we will assess the community around us, look at current needs and opportunities, and open ourselves to the leading of the Spirit in order to plot the trajectory for ministry that we believe will characterize our community in the future.

The third column of the graphic represents the development of an organizational and resource plan for ministry.  Our community has already evolved into new ways of doing ministry and we need to develop the organizational systems that will support the complex network of ministries that exist and will emerge in the future.  We also need to organize our human resources (staff and volunteer) so all are liberated to maximize their effectiveness and plan for arranging and developing our capital resources (building, property, finances) in ways that will position us to move into the future we imagine God has for us.

When will this process be done??  That is good question.  Let me begin to answer with a joke that has often come to mind reflecting on this process. 

Question:    "Why do surgeons get paid so much more than auto mechanics?"

Answer:       "Because mechanics don't have to work with the motor running."

It's hard to predict exactly how long this will take because we aren't shutting down current ministry while we do it.  Existing ministries continue.  New ministries are initiated.  Staff continue to walk with community members through life's passages.  Life and ministry are happening now, even while we plan for the future.  But, acknowledging this reality, we can project that the Re-visioning Ministry conversations may be completed by sometime this fall and an organizational and resource plan may be completed sometime next spring. 

This blog will be a central place to keep updated on evolving developments and to keep connected to what is happening.  If you have questions about this planning process, you can post them here. 

To add a comment, click on the  (#) comments link below and the page will open where you can read comments and add your own.