July-August 2004
For meditation:Albert Borgmann in Power Failure (Brazos Press, 2003) says the rich -- most of us -- are in "advanced poverty," the poverty of being unable to be moved by misery. The poor are now in "brute poverty." In the past, location and social structure made poverty inescapable but now poverty exists while capacity to end it is available but not used and that is brutish. Recall Matthew 25:37: "Lord, when was it we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink?"
On mission at work
Ideas for the Fall
[For information as to where the following are being implemented, write membermission@aol.com or phone 518-963-7541.]
Bible study: end whatever form you use with "On the basis of our study, how will I live this next week at ______?" Fill in the blank by rotating through the daily mission fields. After a second cycle, participants will think more widely than before. One church learned this pattern as they closed up for the summer; in the Fall they will resume with an hour of study before the Sunday liturgy.
For catechumenal formation: look again at pp. 148-150 in WTMATM.
Change the mindset of members to see that they really can invite friends and neighbors to church activities by offering (for the Fall months or next summer): for gardeners, a speaker on plants in the Bible; monthly Power Point eucharists accompanied by a small band and held in the parish hall followed by a covered dish meal or a picnic; a monthly intergenerational event; a monthly brunch after the liturgy; a float in community parades and handing out donated candy bars with an invitation to Sunday worship (or vacation Bible school, if summer).
Christian education planners:"What do we offer to help our members in the specifics of living as Christ’s people everywhere they are every day?"
Connecting with Cursillistas: link the "mission fields" of the member mission vision with the "environments" reported on in group reunions.
During the summer, evaluate what you’ve done in member mission through a phone survey to participants: how do they feel about it now; what support do they need now; then, draft opportunities to offer in the Fall.
"Moments for Mission" as part of a Sunday morning adult group that brings in people to tell what they have become involved in at work, home, school, or community.
Neighborhood-building: a series of evenings with community leaders – elected, police, school, local artists – to build a sense of the community and its history and motivate individual participants to involve themselves in activities that match their convictions and abilities.
To open up talk of member mission: "About that book you have -- WTMATM -- if you had a chance to look at it, has any of it stayed with you in any way?"
More ways to open up member mission with a group:
1. Describe how WTMATM lists the different arenas and under the arenas has case studies with each entitled "A mission to . . ." and a brief description. Then ask each person to select one arena; give the title of a mission they are on there; then describe it in some detail. Share and discuss the results.
2. And / or recall that our baptismal covenant is to be lived out wherever we are. List the six mission fields. Ask: "Rank them in order of their importance for your Christian journey from most important (1) to least important (6)." Share and discuss results.
3. And/or ask them to rate each of the six arenas on a scale from 1 - 5: "I’m very clear on what it means to live my baptismal covenant in this arena" (1) to "I have great difficulty seeing the relevance or practicability of the baptismal covenant in this arena" (5). Share and discuss results.
[Thanks to Bill Yon (The Rev.) in Chelsea, AL at 205-678-9455 or nandjedi@aol.com.]
Parenting: offer seven sessions using Parenting with Love and Laughter: Finding God in Family Life by Jeffrey. D. Jones (Jossey-Bass, 2002); each chapter offers a variety of points for departure; a "pilot" group got into such basic questions as work outside the home for mothers – when it is a choice and when it is a necessity
Devise a two or three session introduction to member mission for both present and new members which can be offered several times a year. If your congregation has a weekly midweek gathering with a variety of offerings, make it one of those offerings several times during the year.
Workshops for regional / diocesan conferences:
Evangelism Inside Out: An engagement with Scripture leads us to recognize that each of us is already on mission. Then we compare our personal missions with our congregation's programs and outreach. Next, what changes will be necessary if a congregation decides that its
basic purpose is to support its members in their daily living?
Recruiting Partners for Mission: We will reflect on a present mission in one of our "fields for mission" (home, work, local community, wider world, leisure or church); anticipate forming a team of one or more persons to join us in it; and do some limited practice in recruiting the team.
In worship, hold up the daily mission fields in the prayers and sermons and hear them present in the Bible readings.
More resources
The Agape Meal, by Ken D. Thompson; the early church’s "love feast" can continue to enrich and to enlarge the life of Christian people today; email Emmausfarm@aol.com.
Centered Life focuses on daily life: "It's not living a different life, but living life differently. Your calling is your life, it's in the work you do every day – as a parent, child, neighbor, caregiver, volunteer, worker, or however you spend your time." For resources for both individual members and congregations as whole, go to www.centeredlife.org; an initiative of Luther Seminary, 2481 Como Avenue, St. Paul, MN; 651-641-3485.
Engage God’s Mission: The Social Policies of the Episcopal Church; summaries of resolutions from recent General Conventions for members, congregations, and planners; Peace and Justice Ministries, The Episcopal Church Center, 815 Second Ave., New York, NY 10017; 800-334-7626; www.episcopalchurch.org/peace-justice/index.asp.
Finding God @ Work; Practicing Spirituality in Your Workplace, by Gregory F. Augustine Pierce; six full session plans on themes such as balancing work and other responsibilities and working to make the system work. ACTA Publications, 4848 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60640-4711; 773-271-1030; gfapierce@aol.com.
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