What’s Our Vision for FTCC? During January, we focus on the Life-Long Christian Faith Formation aspect of this question by asking these specific questions.
- Do you agree that FTCC’s primary “business” is assisting parishioners in forming and re-forming their personal Christian faith and that all other callings and programs – such as mission and community outreach – flow out of that?
- What are the tools or practices that people use to form their faith? What tools or practices do you find helpful?
- How are we doing in assisting all people in forming their faith? Children, teens, young adults, adults, elderly? Physical ability? How about those who cannot or choose not to attend worship? How about those who prefer self study/reflection versus a group setting?
- In areas where we fall short, what changes should we make?
Hi Peter, That is all so true but do not forget we are all on this journey and all in a different place. What Stott says can not be attained by most today. All it can be is a goal. And then it can seem so overwhelming .For me personally I have learned to keep it simple and the bottom line is always love. So the two things Jesus said we should do …..to love God and our neighbor as our self. This is a base reference of all we do as far as I can see.
What you all are saying sounds good. We are working to be not just followers of Jesus but true disciples. It took the first disciples time to do this. Jesus was on his way to the cross when Peter denied him three times. And it took Thomas until after Jesus’ resurrection because of his doubts. He felt the wound in Jesus side before he said” My Lord and my God”. To follow the best that we know is what we should do. Jesus put aside the most important job one could do, telling the people about God’s new plan that would come through him, but took the time to heal the sick, cure the disabled, feed the hungry, and etc and etc. So while we bring our attention to becoming diciples let’s welcome strangers, no matter who they are. They might not fit in and make things easier but that does not mean we can not continue to treat them as children of God.
Hi all. Just wanted to drop some summary notes from the Christian Faith Formation luncheon. The food was good, the conversation even better – here are the common themes from the day’s discussion:
A Christ-Centered Church and Life-Long Christian Faith Forming One is:
- A motivated congregation
- Scholarly – reflective – studious
- Educating
- Has God-Christ at the center of discussions
- Has connectedness with God and with those around them
- A community
- Enthusiastic and celebratory
- Faithful and trusting
-
What should we “look like”:
- Diverse and inclusive
- Knowing of one another
- Continually striving
- Storytellers
- Witnessing and encouraging our kids in action
- A church of many teachers
As we look at and consider these we can challenge ourselves to continue our good efforts and add a few actions towards each theme on a regular basis.
Stay well – Adam
Notes from the Conversation
on “Life-Long Christian Faith Formation”
Following Worship on January 29, 2012
We may not be where we want to be, but just in meeting here is testimony to being a Christ-centered church even if we are not at the end goal. We are in a good starting place.
We are a mix of people who understand church in “membership model” terms, and those who understand it in “Discipleship” terms.
There is wonderful modern Christian Literature – CS Lewis, “Knowing God” – we might have an ongoing book conversation, and tie it into the blog that is on our website. Perhaps have internet discussion on each chapter.
A generation ago there was a common religious knowledge, but now we need to do a lot more foundational education – the basics. We need a common language, and diverse ways of exercising our spiritual lives.
The Christ centered church needs to affirm the Bible as the Word of God, with a lot more programs that offer Bible Study – perhaps an evening Bible Study would be good. For most people, “disciple” means a follower of Jesus – its real meaning is to be a “student” of Christ.
The people who have joined this church in the last five years are largely either Catholic or non-religious background, so there may be little common understanding of what we actually believe. People join organizations because they see something meaningful in their lives – unless the church is significant for them, they will not stay. We don’t have enough binding us together.
Several times a month we could have a worship followup conversation. We may find out areas where more teaching is important.
Never thought of going to a church to “get” something – it is something we do in order to connect with God through Christ. This is the main thing.
We were in a church in which we were the youngest people by 65 years – this was not a good thing. They ran blood pressure clinics and bused in people from retirement home. One of our strengths is that we diverse in age and the way our church functions is itself a strength. There is something received – and that is important. The lateral connection with one another is equally important.
Part of the process of being a Christ Centered Church is remembering that we are a community and not just individuals. We are uncertain what path each other may be on – we need to tell each others stories more during worship – akin to what we did during Advent this past year.
Key word is “celebratory” – a palpable enthusiasm is important.
An important component in being Christ centered is “study” – we have a great worship component, but we are weak in the study department – a midweek Bible study with 8-10 people is about it. We have a role to foster this and make it available?
Sunday School is where many of us learned our basic Christian education – learning of the Bible stories. Both for adults and for children.
Some churches have Sunday School separate from the worship hour – everyone does both.
Small groups are important for knowing one another – shared prayer, which may give people courage to share in a larger setting.
I was in an inter-generational women’s group in another church (there was a specific focus that varied from week to week) – it was a great way for getting to know one another. Meetings were in the evenings, but it could be set up in any number of ways. Perhaps a church-wide retreat – or separate men’s and women’s retreats.
Hearty Boys book club is a “guys” group that reads about a book a month –
We also need to recognize that there ways to be more involved with technologies – and we need to figure out how to have discussions in the technical world – it would put us in reach with a larger population.
Life long Christian Education – programs for the youngsters are important – and the parents may follow. We have to start early with a significant program.
Mike might do well to have the scripture lesson for the following Sunday posted on line, it could open up a blog discussion. It would deepen the preparation for worship.
What would a Christ-Centered church
look like in terms of programs
and the people’s mind set.
It would look a lot like our church. It is found in the preaching from scripture; in a lot of people and the way they apply themselves to their lives – to giving and doing for others.
It would be diverse in interests, backgrounds, ages, economic, family styles, ecumenical.
Basically – we would know each other really well and know what our needs are, and that we are always striving to know God better. Many of these needs are being met. We may want to pump these up in some ways. Getting to know each other is the way to deepen that bond.
One of the things that happened this morning – Mary Jenkins’ story about the homeless man with the infection and the way her daughters and others stepped up to help him. Mary’s own background is Catholic. How fine it is to be open to see the need and do what they could. Hopefully the man really was headed to his grandmothers for medicine – it was meaningful.
Our name is “First Trinitarian Congregational Church” and that’s the first impression of who we are. The “Trinitarian” is important. Then it was confirmed by getting to know the congregation.
Studying “Trinitarian” is a good idea.
One issue is that the “minister” is supposed to be the central person. How do we promote other leadership? It is a way of people getting to know one another when it is lay led.
Having a curriculum in place reduces anxiety because the leaders will feel like they have the needed resources.
We will need resource development in order for us to become a congregation of ministers.
A Christ centered church will show evidence of love – and it is the case in this church. The Spirit Sightings is a good way to get people to express what they have experienced.
At the last Open and Affirming Meeting, a visitor came and she said, “Wow! Was the sanctuary full of love this morning!” Bill and Barbara DeMers don’t know a lot of people, but they feel others know them because of their grandson, Kevin’s health struggle.
Madeleine’s guest book that people sign when they visit her – makes her proud of the way the church supports her.
What is the Way to Get There?
God is great. If we become great, it is because God has made us that way. Our task is to give ourselves to God and see what God will do with it. We need to keep ourselves out of the way.
Have yet to hear anything that would suggest a change of direction. What we hear is that we need to be doing more of what we are doing.
There is no “there” – we are on a journey, and we are doing pretty well.
Offering resources that may not have a real religious focus as such, but which people would recognize that they need – i.e. for parents with teenagers facing culture of drugs. People have huge needs and are hurting. We used to offer CPR class. Bring in experts in fields to offer resources for the issues people face in their lives.
Regardless of the education pieces, the question is always, how does this move us outward from where we are now. The invitation should be more broadly open as a means of being hospitable to the community’s needs.
One theme is that we need to be taking down barriers. How do we make it a less intimidating environment – to make it truly hospitable.
One of the common threads in our conversation is about relationships – with God, the Trinity, and among ourselves (small groups). Art Woods is a resource. Or even offer support for the police officers themselves.
The notion of supporting youth – we don’t have a youth group as such. That needs to be a primary focus going forward – but how we do it is not yet clear. Retreat with UCC conferences is one possibility.
The Congregational Church in Weymouth (Rev. Terry Martinson) has a huge youth group that involves many kids who are not part of the congregation.
Dom D’Arcangelo is the DARE officer and might also be a resource.
What are we going to teach these kids – we haven’t heard the name Jesus Christ mentioned since we started the conversation!!
We’d like to be a Christ-centered church more than we are. We are not good at talking about it – it seems to create a barrier instead of establishing connection. God is the main thing, but we don’t do well in talking about it. Our relationship with God and Jesus Christ is important.
There’s a hymn, “They’ll know we are Christians by our love” – the Thursday luncheon is an example. It is the deeds we do.
We are talking about God and Christ more than we used to do.
The purpose behind almost everything we’ve been talking about is to become more faithful followers of Christ. Part of our Yankee culture is hard to overcome when it comes to sharing from the heart.
Trust building is important – it is deeper than just knowing one another.
In general, people don’t talk about religion or politics, for instance, in church people wish us “Happy Holidays!” It is getting to know people and getting comfortable that helps us.
For the first few years as an immigrant, I always said, “Merry Christmas” but I found that this isn’t quite right here – we lose something when we become so politically correct.
Any of us who were brought up in New England – we have a LOT of things we don’t talk about – family, money, who’s hungry, anything to do with Jesus.
After being in this church for about four years, there is yet not one person who I feel I could talk to about who I am, what I’ve done before I was here. We can’t seem to talk about it here. Why is that? Is it because everyone knows each other? Perhaps not.
A lot of this church lives in Scituate, those who don’t live here feel some distance. Certainly not intentional on anyone’s part. Coffee Hour is full of various groups – but it may be quite intimidating if you are new, or your children aren’t in the same schools are on the same teams.
Interpersonal relationships; trust; what’s important in our lives; what’s in important in someone else’s life; we need to know what is going on in people’s lives.
How have we changed in the last five years?
We are more participatory, sharing, especially in worship.
This church has always shared personal experiences – but we are doing it more now.
The worship service itself is less “stiff.” People are invited into it. Welcoming.
Imagine a dinner gathering where children perform and that is our entertainment. I once did a “ice breaker” where you walked around a room until the leader said, “Stop” and you were given a question to ask the person next to you – you both answered – and then you began to walk again.
Christian faith formation is clearly the most important part of this vision, as the other parts derive from it. The essence of it is whether, as the New Testament states, Christ was begotten of God, an incarnate Logos, and a resurrected Savior. C.S.Lewis in Mere Christianity remarks that if the Biblical narrative is not true Christianity is meaningless; if true it is of infinite importance; Lewis, a former atheist, came profoundly to the latter view
The trouble is that much of contemporary secular academia, the media, and the arts view orthodox Christianity essentially as a pleasant ancient myth that has been replaced by superior modern scientific knowledge; it has become rather uncool to be a serious Christian.
I think these are all valuable questions and ideas to consider. However, I must admit I’m a little overwhelmed by the enormous scope of these questions.
I think the role of the church is ever changing and growing. We are certainly dedicated to spreading the word of Christ and God but I think that looks very different today than it did 50 years ago. It also looks very different within the South Shore than it would look if we were active (not just sending funds) in foreign mission work. Additionally, in a world that does not always embrace an active church life it is important to focus on what can be, realistically, accomplished given societal constraints. And when all else fails, ignore society and do the right thing!
That’s the crux of this whole effort – to figure out “what’s the right thing” FOR US. To me that’s a matter of defining the – the Vision [the tough part] – then implementing program components that reflect the realities of where and who we are now.
For example, if Christian faith formation becomes a prime focus, that may lead to a much more comprehensive range of adult programs both study groups and online tools. Who will create/manage all that? Many churches have adult & child church school Sunday mornings followed by worship. Would that work here?
This is an important discussion. I wonder if people see the vision differently depending on where they are on life’s path (i.e. old guys like us versus people with small kids)? Are we able to create an atmosphere for both groups to prosper in their Christian road?
Also, does the vision create opportunities for us to do more programs? If so, what?
Les makes a key comments, about the different age groups ( generations) in the congregation, how best to blend the hopes and vision for the various age groups into overall vision of FTCC.
I agree that the business of the church is strengthening the Christian faith, however don’t see the associated programs such as Mission flowing from that linearly, as much as supporting the development of that faith.
What does it mean to be a Christian Church? Yes, we have elements of a social service agency; elements of a social organization like a senior center, newcomers club or country club; elements of a commercial property or financial management firm; elements of a grade school, elements of a secret society [some would say]; elements of a performing arts center; elements of a restaurant. I think you get the idea.
But what is it [or should it be] that sets FTCC and any other Christian Church apart from any other organization. Shouldn’t it be the centrality of Christ in everything we do? Shouldn’t our principal “job” be to promote Christ into the lives of all and to support personal Christian faith formation? Seems to me if we can do that job well, we will do a much better job on all the other things we do and with much more enthusiasm and broad involvement.
Sure, we have people who feel called to do mission work, or cook for seniors , or swing a hammer in Appalachia, or count the money coming in or pay the bills going out. Wonder who they feel called by or how they became open to hearing it?
The key question is whether we have our focus in the right place and how well we are doing what I think is our primary job and, if not, how we can do better.
Bob: Shouldn’t it be the centrality of Christ in everything we do? Shouldn’t our principal “job” be to promote Christ into the lives of all and to support personal Christian faith formation? Seems to me if we can do that job well, we will do a much better job on all the other things we do and with much more enthusiasm and broad involvement.
Excellent. Christ is the keystone of the arch of our vision.
Bob Gowdy :your comments & questions were indeed food for thought and encouraged me not just to explore my own thinking , my faith but also to research (google) what the world at large expects of the Christian Church.
One thing jumped out from the various video clips ” Love is central to Christianity “.
I would not be a christian if I did not accept Christ and be willing to follow him and his doctrine . in doing that I pray to God to give me the:
Courage to care,
Capacity to share,
Courage to listen,
Capacity to learn.
Being a Christian is no different than being a Hindu to me ” it’s a way of life to live and love ” , the only difference is that we christians believe we have Jesus Christ to guide us.
The role ( not the job) of FTCC or any church IMVHO is to promote “A Christian way of life “, that will bring Christ in the heart and mind of the people in our community , even if they not christians. In that the love of Christ will shine through.
Excellent, Roy,
One way I have found to follow Christ is to follow daily online Bible Study. The late Stott was the Rector of All Souls Church, Langham Place.
He is a graduate of Trinity , Cambridge College with a double first in French and Theology and of Ridley Theological College, Cambridge.
For a sample of his daily Bible Study have a look at the following:
EPHESIANS.
A Commentary by John Stott.
Ephesians 6:5-8. 3) The duty of slaves (continued).
It is immediately remarkable that in his *Haustafeln* Paul should address himself to slaves at all. The simple fact that he does so indicates that they were accepted members of the Christian community and that he regards them as responsible people to whom, as much as to their masters, he sends a moral appeal. If children are to obey their parents, slaves are to obey their *earthly masters* (verse 5), and for the very same reason, namely that behind them they must learn to discern the figure of their *master…in heaven* (verse 9), namely the Lord Christ. In each of the four verses addressed to slaves Jesus Christ is mentioned. They are to be obedient *as to Christ* (verse 5), to behave *as servants (literally ‘slaves’) of Christ* (verse 6). to render service *as to the Lord* rather than men (verse 7), knowing that they will receive good *from the Lord* (verse 8). The Christ-centredness of this instruction is very striking. The slave’s perspective has changed. His horizons have broadened. He has been liberated from the slavery of ‘men-pleasing’ into the freedom of serving Christ. His mundane tasks have been absorbed into a higher preoccupation, namely *the will of God* (verse 6) and the good pleasure of Christ.
Exactly the same principle can be applied by contemporary Christians to their work and employment. Our great need is the clear-sightedness to see Jesus Christ and to set him before us. It is possible for the housewife to cook a meal as if Jesus Christ were going to eat it, or to spring-clean the house as if Jesus Christ were to be an honoured guest. It is possible for teachers to educate children, for doctors to treat patients and nurses to care for them, for solicitors to help clients, shop assistants to serve customers, accountants to audit books and secretaries to type letters as if in each case they were serving Jesus Christ. Can the same be said in relation to the masses of industrial workers with tedious routine machine-minding to do, and to miners who have to work underground? Surely yes. The presence of Christ in the mine or factory is certainly no excuse for bad conditions. On the contrary, it should be a spur to improving them. At the same time their situation is not nearly as bad as slavery in the Roman Empire, so that if the work of Christian slaves could be transformed by doing it *as to the Lord*, the same must be true of Christian miners, factory workers, dustmen, road sweepers and public lavatory attendants.
Once Christian slaves were clear in their minds that their primary responsibility was to serve the Lord Christ, their service to their earthly masters would become exemplary. First, they would be respectful, obeying them *with fear and trembling* (verse 5), which implies not a cringing servility before a human master but rather a reverent acknowledgement of the Lord Jesus whose authority the master represents. This is plain not only from the usual contexts of the expression ‘fear and trembling’ but also from the fact that the equivalent Colossians passage it is replaced by ‘fearing the Lord’ (Col.3:22; cf. Eph 5:21). Next they would obey in *singleness of heart* (5), with integrity or wholeheartedness, without hypocrisy or ulterior motives. Thirdly, they would be conscientious, not offering *eye-service as men-pleasers*, working only when the boss is watching in order to curry favour with him, but *as servants of Christ*, who is in any case watching all the time and is never deceived by shoddy work. Fourthly, their service would become willing and ‘cheerful’ (NEB) instead of reluctant or grudging. Because they would consciously be *doing the will of God*, they would do it *from the heart* (verse 6) and *with a good will* (verse 7). As we might say, their heart and soul would be in it. And all this because they know that their Lord is also their judge, and that no good work, whoever does it (*slave or free*), is ever left unrewarded by him (verse 8).
The belief that Jesus Christ is our teacher and guide in life is just a part of being Christian. His death and resurrection are what makes him what he is to us. With Lent and Easter coming up it is a good time to go deeper into who Jesus Christ is and what he means to us as Christians. This is not to put down any other belief . I believe God loves us all. But if we profess to be followers or disciples of Jesus than faith and belief in him is what will lead us to him. And it has been my experience that if we truly want to have God direct our life we have to ask him. He will not force his way upon us. His way is not our way so it also takes trust in him that he will show us his way even if it is not the way we thought it should be. God is good and his never-failing love can be counted on.