5 year: To be a spiritual community that welcomes and encourages participation among all people in celebrating Jesus Christ's passion and teachings through public and private worship services, prayer, and music.
3 year .... to have expanded opportunities for corporate & private worship and prayer.
offer a workshop on prayer twice a year
offer a mid-week, evening service
offer more special services (i.e. morning Ash Wednesday service)
prepare audio-visual materials about the service (instructed eucharist)
evaluate the need for a third Sunday service (i.e. 11 am) including time and style
expand the offerings of retreats for adults (also in Christian Formation)
18 month
continue with current pattern of services that vary in time and service style
organize a team of people to assist with, and lead the various special services (including Morning Prayer when priest is gone)
organize a team of people (same team ?) to assist with service preparation
use the PowerPoint projector capabilities at least 6 times a year at the 5 pm, and for very special events at the 9 am. Recruit someone to prepare the presentations and someone to operate the equipment.
do teaching service, (instructed Eucharist) at least once per year
enhance the service with: expanded training for lectors (readers), encouragement of more vocal prayers, consideration of introductions to readings, etc.
try a "high service" (i.e. incense, chanting, etc.), probably beginning with mid-week
continue and expand youth involvement with the services
offer periodic retreats, including silent retreats (possibly in cooperation with other churches) (also in Christian Formation Ministry Team)
offer healing service opportunities regularly as part of Sunday services
expand the recognition of church holidays through both information inserts & services
open the church for prayer one evening per week once an administration system established
consider ways to encourage more greeting and mixing at the end of the 9 am service.
5 year: St. Christopher's will strive to be a community which cares for the people (members and others) by: serving a conduit to help people find their ministries, connect worship & Christian Caring, and having both in-reach and outreach coordinators
3 year
have in place a volunteer outreach coordinator
annually evaluate existing ministries to insure the interest and calling remain. If not, replace that ministry with another one to which more people are called.
have in place a volunteer in-reach coordinator (coordinating ministries to church members)
contact every person with pastoral needs on a regular basis. Keep the priest informed, but take some of the time required off his/her shoulders
expand the team of persons willing to assist those in need including food, transportation, cleaning, etc.
have annual Mission Trips for youth and adults (also Christian Formation)
18 months
begin series of teachings on "life issues" such as retirement planning, Alzheimer, nursing homes, Hospice, step families, divorce care, etc. These should be repeated on a regular basis.. (also Ch. Form.)
continue with existing ministries. Add when there is sufficient interest from enough people to support that ministry
activate the "Christian Caring Ministry Team" and keep them informed and involved.
donate a certain percentage of annual budget to various groups and organizations. Use this money (at least partially) to support and recognize those members who are active
expand list of persons willing to give other people a ride to church
investigate Mission Trip for youth and adults (also Christian Formation)
5 year: Members will be actively inviting friends and strangers to attend & participate in fellowship with God through St. Christopher's.
DISCUSSION: The primary goal is not numeric membership growth, although that is likely a side effect. The primary goal is to help people grow closer to God.
The numeric goals are listed under the "Support Services Ministry Team"
3 year:
Involving
expand "fellowship only" events to six per year. Plan for some general event every month (e.g. half would have an agenda)
develop and implement system to track involvement by people. Quarterly review the list with the In-Reach coordinator, the out reach coordinator, and the Christian formation coordinator to notice anyone not involved.
continue stress on small groups as method to improve community as well as ministry. Target that 70% of the adult, regular attenders will be a member of at least one small group.
continue to expand the use of the website to encourage involvement through Bible studies, discussion groups, etc.
expand the short "Episcopal Church" classes to every month offering (also Christian Formation)
Inviting
continue and expand the 18 month activities including direct mail, other advertising, website improvements, and use of sign(s).
18 month
organize, empower, and encourage an "Inviting and Involving Ministry Team" of a least 5 persons. This team will both assist with planning activities and be active supporters of the priest's efforts to invite, get to know, and involve new people.
strongly encourage the frequent use of name tags. Strongly encourage people to automatically make sure other people know each other: "Have you met ____?"
increase efforts to generate enthusiasm for various activities
publish newsletter at least 6 times per year. Structure the newsletter to focus on (1) people and (2) activities with less emphasis on calendars and other "less interesting" news.
Involving
continually stress the importance of using every opportunity to build community by getting to know each other better; coffee hour, blood drives, work days, etc. etc. etc.
Use every opportunity to recognize and celebrate individuals and their contributions
expand use of small groups.
continue "general" small groups as have begun meeting
gather people together by common concerns (i.e. educators or parents of pre-school children) and see if that group wishes to meet regularly. Do 3 such gatherings within 18 months. The "life issues" meetings could be the source for such groups. Target that 40% of the adult, regular attenders will be a member of at least one small group. (also Christian Formation)
hold 4 fellowship only events each year. Vary time, location and activities to encourage the greatest possible mixing.
Vestry to take personal leadership in participating in events to build community. (This does not require attending a great many additional events, but being alert for opportunities at an event.) Over time as the Vestry members rotate this becomes part of the community's leader's lives.
re-start the "dinner with the priest" series. Offer this six times a year with assistance from Vestry members.
develop regular, short classes on the Episcopal Church to supplement the Inquirer's Class. Recruit team to lead the classes and/or audio-visual tools. Hold four classes during 2006. (also Christian Formation)
Inviting
recruit team of at least 5 persons to assist with attracting and welcoming new people.
Continue and expand the process of Vestry members getting to know a couple new people each year. Develop a system to determine when that new person no longer needs such direct attention so Vestry member can take on another person.
offer at least 3 events per year which are particularly easy to invite friends and neighbors to (e.g. carols around the bonfire). Strongly encourage members to invite friends.
consider printing signs to be placed in members' yards, something like: "I would enjoy telling you about St. Christopher's"
continue to use direct mail to reach people. Target about 2000 households per year for multiple mailings
evaluate other advertising options such as weather.com or Google.com
recruit someone to take over the website work from Ken. Improve and expand use of the website
consider covering the area between the two buildings to create an outdoor greeting area. Use canvas or some other non-permanent covering. (also in Support Services Ministry Team)
continue to focus the sign on intriguing people to visit the website and then visit in person
expand use of graphics on the sign (budget considerations)
investigate the possibility of lighting the sign for a couple hours each night with a solar power battery system
fix the light on the building's cross. Change colors periodically to attract attention. Consider the same on the sculpture on the corner.
5 year Be offering a flexible group of classes and study groups (that may also include services, presentations, and courses for individuals) that enable ALL people to actively study the Bible and examine the events of our present day experiences in the light of God's teachings
3 year
continue to expand the Christian Formation program so that it is well known and respected throughout the area. This is particularly important for the youth groups.
offer periodic educational and spiritual retreats for adults, possibly with other churches (also in Worship Ministry Team)
expand and improve lending library
have annual Mission Trips for youth and adults (also Christian Caring)
expand the short "Episcopal Church" classes to every month offering (also Inviting & Involving)
increase administrative assistant/Christian formation person's hours to at least 25-30 hours per week (also Support Services Ministry Team).
continue to expand the use of computer and internet options for adult, youth, and younger children programs
18 months
recruit active, 5 person Christian Formation support team (not just the teachers)
expand cooperative activities with other churches, especially in youth programs
have one major program (e.g. Alpha or Purpose Driven) each year for adults
continue and expand the number of Bible study groups
continue and expand the number of general small groups as recently begun (also Inviting & Involving)
continue to expand the use of the website to encourage involvement through Bible studies, discussion groups, etc.
begin active use of computer and internet options of youth group & younger
complete purchase of initial Godly Play story materials
continue and expand the annual Vacation Bible School
with Inviting & Involving use the VBS as an invitation to invite people
offer periodic retreats, including silent retreats (possibly in cooperation with other churches) (also in Worship)
expand the number of accredited Godly Play volunteers
continue and expand an annual training event for volunteers (with Diocese and other churches)
expand youth involvement with Diocesan and regional youth activities.
continue Birthday book program.
investigate Mission Trip for youth and adults (also Christian Caring)
develop regular, short classes on the Episcopal Church to supplement the Inquirer's Class. Recruit team to lead the classes and/or audio-visual tools. Hold four classes during 2006. (also Inviting & Involving)
increase administrative assistant/Christian formation person's hours to at least 20-25 hours per week, while protecting the Christian Formation time from being eaten up by general office work (also Support Services)
evaluate Kids Saints and Parents Night Out programs to determine if they should continue
Discussion: elements within the Support Services Ministry Team are those things necessary to make possible the other Team's activities.
5 year: BUILDINGS: There will be sufficient comfortable space to contain the ministries underway with consideration for future expansion. This includes having sufficient parking for 98% of activities. Buildings and grounds will look "loved" (well cared for).
BUDGET: Have attendance & involvement grow sufficiently so that regular income pays annual operating expenses. (Note: This includes the expanded ministries being discussed. Using average figures, this would mean approximately 50-60 additional people in attendance on the average Sunday, or an equivalent increase in giving, for the level of ministries included in the Vision. To simply maintain existing ministries would be approximately 30-40 persons, or an equivalent increase in giving.)
STAFF: Continue with full time priest, add deacon, increase to full time administrative assistant whose responsibilities include Christian Formation, increase cleaning to at least twice per week.
3 year
(budget) have sufficient people present on an average Sunday so that none of the endowment is necessary to continue programs at the 2005 level. (see notes above)
recruit a team of five persons (or more) to be the focus of buildings and grounds activities. The Junior Warden would be the convenor and organizer of the activities. One goal is to continue to "do ourselves" to reduce costs for outside contractors.
continue regular work days to both save money and help people know each other better
increase administrative assistant/Christian formation person's hours to at least 25-30 hours per week (also Christian Formation).
recruit a deacon as soon as one is available who would be a good match for St. Christopher's
conduct necessary studies to determine when, and what building construction is necessary, as well as fund raising plans.
18 month
(budget) have sufficient people present on an average Sunday so that none of the endowment fund's interest, and only a small portion of the principle is necessary to continue programs at the 2005 level. (This requires approximately a 25-30% increase in pledges from existing or new pledges.)
continue regular work days and build a sense of "we can do it rather than hiring it out" as much as is reasonable
increase administrative assistant/Christian formation person's hours to at least 20-25 hours per week. (also Christian Formation)
prepare a "campus plan" to guide decisions about programs, buildings, parking, landscaping, etc.
specifically consider covering the area between the two buildings to create an outdoor greeting area. Use canvas or some other non-permanent covering. (also Inviting and Involving)
specifically consider constructing a ramp into the front door, or both doors of the parish house to make access to rest rooms easier for those on walkers or in smaller wheelchairs. (Motorized wheelchairs cannot fit into the parish house rest rooms but walkers and smaller chairs can)