September 2003
Reaching the younger generations
Living as a Christian is what Generation Xers (aged 22-42, born 1961-81) and Millenials (aged 21 and under, born 1982-2003) want. Xers want better and longer lasting relationships and to see love and justice lived out in all of daily life. Millenials want authenticity and to see the faith lived out 24/7/365, also. Both have low expectations and high ideals with and a growing awareness of evil (for some) and sin (for others). Both like to be in small groups of five to seven to shape their lives on – for some – God's law and the Christian virtues (faith, hope, and charity) or – for others – on the classical virtues (prudence, temperance, fortitude, and justice). They are not seeking to feel good and they are not on personal quests.
[As observed by Hugh Magers, Episcopal leader in stewardship and evangelism – 956-542-4123; adventepis@aol.com.]
Connecting with nonchurch people
"God is most concerned about how we live from Monday to Saturday. Sunday is to help us to do it better." This two-liner puts how we live up front. I find it a better door-opener than "telling my story." While I need to be able to tell my own faith story in a few short sentences, the time to tell it usually comes later in an ongoing conversation. This two-liner seems to say to nonchurch people: God is about day-to-day life, not ritual; there may be some help for me in the life I am trying to live; and it must work for the speaker. You have already told much of your own story while saying I am ready to hear as much of your story as you may want to share. Most important, if you get the chance, you can go on to talk easily of the ongoing struggle with evil, God's victory over it in Jesus Christ, and the Spirit's presence with us to share in Jesus' power in our daily living, our daily missions. – AWS
Serving, not exploiting, the workers
Old Adirondack, Inc. is a new small business manufacturing rustic indoor and outdoor furniture in upstate New York for sale across the US. With jobs short in this region, the workers appreciated the employment and its considerate benefits. However, they had seen jobs that looked good before end up in more exploitation. Would they be exploited here, too? Recently, at their suggestion, a picnic for both production and front-office people took place on company time. Trust had replaced suspicion. The owner and manager, Steve Maselli, comments on this mission at work, "I believed these are not just 25 workers, but 25 souls."
Contact: Steve Maselli, 518-963-7184, smaselli@oldadirondack.com
Adapting the member mission vision freely
Daniel T. Benedict, Jr., Worship Resources Director for the United Methodist Church in Nashville, reports that, for some time, he has advocated orienting people to think about where God is calling them in their daily life right from the beginning of their Christian experience. Liturgies for membership had led him to look seriously at the process surrounding their use (see his Come to the Water, Discipleship Resources, 1996, www.discipleshipresources.org). At a recent conference, he opened with a variation of the questions from Appendix A of WTMATM as follows: Where is the greatest stress or struggle in your life? Who is there? What is going on? What do they need? What is God doing? The basic issue was how do we live as Christians in community in a way that supports people to be missionaries every day. The struggle to find the right questions to ask is ongoing.
Dan is also commending the book to the rector of a small Episcopal rector near his home. Moving from the weekly eucharist as the heartland and homeland of the people, the rector might explore with the members, "How can we support our people in being missionaries where they are in their world?" and "What kind of group life would support that?" In his Covenant Discipleship group of his office, Dan will propose identifying their missions in the various areas of their lives. Then, let that expand how they talk about being accountable for their discipleship as including being specific with each other about what their missions are. [By the way, is not this proposal in his Covenant Discipleship group a mission in re-creation for Dan?]
Incidentally, Dan provided a link to membermissionpress.org as a further help on the daily ministry of members raised by James 1:17-27, one of the readings for the Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost, 8/31/03. See http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=8873&loc_id=9,612,52.
For help in planning worship every Sunday, see this UMC resource at www.gbod.org/worship and select lectionary at the lower right corner of the home page. Scroll down the lectionary table to the Sunday for which helps are desired. It is based on the Revised Common Lectionary.
Contact: The Rev. Daniel T. Benedict, Jr.; POB 340003, Nashville, TN 37203-0003; 615-340-7072; dbenedict@gbod.org
Other adaptations
Do adapt this vision and its resources freely. Two guiding principles are for all the members to see themselves as part of God's mission and for each of them to be able to identify their specific mission or missions in each of their daily arenas. For some options, on the website <membermissionpress.org> go to Making the Vision Work to Session Plans and Ideas.
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