Sunday Adult Forum: When the Members are the Missionaries
Sunday, 9:30-10:15 am, St. Anthony on the Desert, Scottsdale, AZ – 3/2/03 – 25 people
Brief presentation
God is on mission to overcome evil and to bring the creation to fulfilment
God’s mission has a church; the church does not have a mission
We join God’s mission in baptism; we join God’s work of love and justice – justice is the public face of love
Jesus is most concerned about how we live from Monday to Saturday
Sunday is for direction and power to live that way
Each of us has six mission fields
home – work – local community – wider world – leisure / re-creation – church
A spirituality for missionaries
coworkers with God
Jesus Christ, the victor over evil
Jesus shares his power over evil with us – “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22)
Interaction
Some practice in discerning our present missions
Divide group into six parts – assign a different mission field to each part
Individual reflection making notes – “What I am doing right now to make life better – more loving and just – in this mission field”
Sub-groups: each shares what they are doing
Plenary:
Leader asks: “Do you believe God is working with you in what you are doing?”
One person from each mission field shares what they are doing – leader presses for the specific action
While we live in all six mission fields all the time, one, two, or three may get most of our attention at a given time. Individual reflection: “Which mission fields are getting most of my attention now?” Ask two or three to volunteer their answers.
Closing
To structure this vision – every member on mission 24/7/365 – into congregational life
1. Incorporate the vision into your congregation’s mission statement – supporting the members in their daily living as Christians
2. Provide a continuing action for members to discern their present missions and how to talk of them with others
Member Mission |
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