Vital Congregation
Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? —1 Cor. 3:16
What is vitality? As we embark on a new year of life, we personally reflect on the year past and consider how we want to live in the future. One of those goals often is vitality. Whether we call it better health, eating habits, more exercise, or adventure; we want to grab life at its fullest, be strong and well, and feel fully alive. This is true for organizations also. As the Presbytery of Northwest Coast, we are embarking on a desire to strengthen and encourage congregations to be vital, healthy, and strong.
The PC(USA) website states the vision and purpose of the Vital Congregations Initiative:
“By the power of the Holy Spirit, and in authentic relationships with mid councils, we seek to equip, nurture and support church leaders to empower their congregations to renew, recover and live more fully into faithful discipleship to Jesus Christ.”
“The purpose of the Vital Congregations Initiative is to work alongside leaders of existing congregations continually assessing, discerning and living into faithful actions that increase vitality through intentional spiritual practices that take them deeper into following Jesus Christ, so that their own lives are changed, congregations are transformed and the mission of God spreads throughout particular communities and the world.”
For more information, please visit the Northwest Coast Presbytery and PCUSA websites for Vital Congregations:
https://www.northwestcoast.
https://www.
The themes for the Vital Congregations Initiative are:
1. Lifelong Discipleship Formation; 2. Intentional Authentic Evangelism; 3. Outward Incarnational Focus; 4. Empower Servant Leadership; 5. Spirit-Inspired Worship; 6. Caring Relationships; 7. Ecclesial Health
Over the course of the next couple of months, we will explore each of these marks of a Vital Congregation in worship. Many of these we do very well. I believe that our congregation is a vital and healthy one, but there are always places to grow and improve. Over the summer, we will dig deeper into a couple of them which the Session determines to be our focus and goal for growth. As we begin this journey, please take some time this week to consider and think over Lifelong Discipleship Formation and how well we equip and grow disciples at our church.
Here are a few questions to consider:
Lifelong Discipleship Formation
Does our church prioritize faith formation and disciple-making?
A. How are members growing in their faith through participation in this congregation?
B. Would you say the following are emphasized in our congregation?
- Bible study
- Christian education for adults
- Christian education for children
- Prayer circles, prayer chains, prayer partners, prayer walks, etc.
- Other activities to engage in or learn about spiritual disciplines
C. Does this congregation….?
- Challenge its members to become more Christ-like
- Help members apply their faith to everyday life
- Equip its members to make disciples
- Emphasize the importance of mentoring and spiritual direction
God of steadfast love, The earth and all that is within it proclaim your wondrous works. The mystery of your splendor, the hope of your redemption, the truth of your salvation are daily made manifest throughout your beloved creation. You are, indeed, a living God who longs to reveal in wisdom and in truth. You long for relationships of righteousness. You desire for your people to marvel at your majesty and be transformed by your grace. Lord, we admit we do not always perceive it. We fear to follow; we ignore our discipleship. In Christ, help us to have courage and conviction to walk in faith that seeks wisdom and righteousness all of our days. Make us a people whose lives to proclaim your story, and witness to your love. Form us as your disciples, so that we might be instruments of your will and grow ever closer to you. For this we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Warmly in Christ,
Rev. Hanna Peterson Shearer
