Friends of Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church are cordially invited and encouraged to participate in our congregation’s next mission development event on Sunday, February 28, shortly after our 10 a.m. Zoom worship. We’re calling it our “Why Us?” Event.
During our time together we’ll be asking important questions and exploring key Biblical passages that will help us think and discern together about why and how God is calling us to be a community of faith in this place, in this time.
Our conversation will lead to writing a mission statement that will shape and guide our ministry in Jesus’ name in the months and years to come. But in order for our conversation to be lively and productive, we need participants to do some homework. Or shall we call it prep work? It might even be stimulating, creative work. But important to building our ministry together.
How It Will Work
Read the five Biblical texts that follow. Read them again; maybe again. What do they say to you about the church’s purpose? What do you hear God calling us to be, to be about?
Think big!
We’re not looking for ideas about specific ministries, like “Friday Night Family Fun Night,” or starting a soup kitchen for the hungry. Not yet. Those ideas will come later. They will rise from our understanding of how God is calling us into ministry.
Below is an idea after reading the story about Jesus feeding thousands with two fish and five loaves of bread:
This is a community of faith called to celebrate with one another to share freely with others the abundance of God’s life-giving graces.
Just an idea–one among many you may have.
Biblical Passages to Consider
Review the following Biblical passages before the 28th and think about the images and ideas that might be useful in describing the mission of the church and the purpose of our church’s ministry and about the way in which we are called to follow Jesus. Jot down some notes and be ready to share your insights with others that Sunday:
- Matthew 28:16-20
- Mark 6:35-44
- Colossians 3:12-17
- Luke 10:29-37
- Matthew 5:14-16
If you will not be able to attend this meeting, please jot down the images and ideas that these passages evoke about the mission of the church and the way in which we are called to follow Jesus–then send them in. Click here for the Bible verses.