Renewal Task Force Notes

    Themes of church life and mission:

    We have placed your comments in the themes that you suggested.  Some of your comments fit with more than one theme and have been repeated accordingly.

    Outreach – Evangelism – Community Hub.

    We would like to see more people in our church, including more diversity and inclusivity of people of different backgrounds, experiences; we know we need to encourage others to join.  All are welcome!

    We would like to see more young people at church.

    We wonder what happened to our missing generation (50’s, 40’s and under).

    We need to be aware of welcoming newcomers, offering them support, including having learning nights for newcomers, develop a visitor’s package for them.

    We remind each other that we are to spread the gospel to those beyond our four walls.

    We think an Evangelism committee would be a good idea for an every member visit.

    We think a Signal should go to every member.

    We would like to do more evangelism; to be intentional about inviting and welcoming.

    We see there is a trend in youth and young people liking more traditional music and worship.

    We would like to see our elderly attend church.  Maybe a homebound transportation program is needed?

    We know we need to be accessible – and look forward to the lift being installed.

    We would like to see the official greeters restored for Sunday mornings and other events.

    We think a formalized “follow-up” process be established when people are absent, and to “follow up” on the newly baptized and their family.

    We would like to be more strategic about our advertising, have one person or a team to look after communications.

    We would like our leaders to connect with other community leaders (both religious and secular).

    We would like to see a needs assessment done of our neighbourhood – to see where we might be able to make a difference.

    We hope that churches work together more closely and communicate with each other better; that there be a shift in mindset about not doing ministry alone.

    We think we should contact organizations directly for more use of the facility - both the church house and sanctuary.

    We think some kind of weekly “open door” activity might help us make important connections with the neighbourhood; open our doors to the public; luncheons, music, a time of quiet reflection and prayer.

    We hope that can keep our doors open.

    We think a community hub idea is a good idea as church and for our outreach to the neighbourhood.

    We would like to have learning events for young urban professional’s moving into the neighbourhood (have high powered individuals speak on subjects they are interested in).

    We could offer English as a Second Language as a way of welcome and outreach to newcomers to Canada.

    We would like to see a series on parenting – maybe a six week series.

    We would like to see learning around bullying and standing up to bullying

    We would like to see more small groups and opportunities to deepen discipleship in our congregation.

    Place questions on the tables for coffee hour discussion around a scriptural theme or a sermon on a regular basis after worship

    Prayers and scripture readings before all meetings and at the end of meetings

    Modelling discipleship to come from the pastors; theological guidance from the pulpit on serving the community.

    To have more fellowship in our homes and at church.  Place sign-up sheets for small groups so people are aware of what is going on and can participate.

    We would like to see more fellowship events, like:

    Sports activities; A card group; Dinners and potlucks

    We remember from our own youth more regular youth activities and wonder if we did more of those would more families and youth join?

    We would like to see more musical events.

    Spiritual Care

    We think an Evangelism committee would be a good idea for an every member visit.

    We think a Signal should go to every member.

    We need to be aware of welcoming newcomers, offering them support, including having learning nights for newcomers, develop a visitor’s package for them.

    We think a formalized “follow-up” process be established when people are absent, and to “follow up” on the newly baptized and their family.

    We would like to see our elderly attend church.  Maybe a homebound transportation program is needed?

    We hope that can keep our doors open.

    We know we need to be accessible – and look forward to the lift being installed.

    We wonder what happened to our missing generation (50’s, 40’s and under).

    We would like to see more small groups and opportunities to deepen discipleship in our congregation.  Ideas that came up are listed here:

    a.     Place questions on the tables for coffee hour discussion around a scriptural theme or a sermon on a regular basis after worship

    b.     Prayers and scripture readings before all meetings and at the end of meetings

    c.     Modelling discipleship to come from the pastors; theological guidance from the pulpit on serving the community.

    d.     To have more fellowship in our homes and at church.  Place sign-up sheets for small groups so people are aware of what is going on and can participate.

    We would like to see more fellowship events, like:

                      a.   Sports activities

                      b.   A card group

                      c.   Dinners and potlucks

                      d.   We remember from our own youth more regular youth activities and wonder if we did more of those would more families and youth join?

    We think some kind of weekly “open door” activity might help us make important connections with the neighbourhood; open our doors to the public; luncheons, music, a time of quiet reflection and prayer.

    We would like to see a needs assessment done of our neighbourhood – to see where we might be able to make a difference.

    We would like to have learning events for young urban professional’s moving into the neighbourhood (have high powered individuals speak on subjects they are interested in).

    We would like to see a series on parenting – maybe a six week series.

    We would like to see learning around bullying and standing up to bullying.

    We would like to be more strategic about our advertising, have one person or a team to look after communications.        

    We want to make sure that people (staff and volunteers) know that we appreciate them.

    Building – Maintenance – Care – Redevelopment

    We have hope for the future in our redevelopment.

    We see the possibilities in a housing development and a smaller church facility to maintain.

    We would like to see a senior’s residence.

    We think we should keep our building maintenance focused on the sanctuary.

    We need better signage for visitors and newcomers to the building, both inside and outside.

    We know we need to be accessible – and look forward to the lift being installed.

    We need to update the washrooms (especially the men’s downstairs).  But we could always sell nostalgia tours of the women’s washroom!

    We hope that churches work together more closely and communicate with each other better; that there be a shift in mindset about not doing ministry alone.

    We remind each other that the church is the people, not the building.  Church is about what we take from it and what we give back to it.

    We would like to be more strategic about our advertising, have one person or a team to look after communications.

    We hope that can keep our doors open.

    Youth – SCS – Young Adults Formation – Education

    We would like to have learning events for young urban professional’s moving into the neighbourhood (have high powered individuals speak on subjects they are interested in).

    We would like to be more strategic about our advertising, have one person or a team to look after communications.

    We would like to see a series on parenting – maybe a six week series.

    We would like to see learning around bullying and standing up to bullying.

    We would like to see more fellowship events, like:

                      a.   Sports activities

                      b.   A card group

                      c.   Dinners and potlucks

                      d.   We remember from our own youth more regular youth activities and wonder if we did more of those would more families and youth join?

    We would like to see more young people at church.

    We see there is a trend in youth and young people liking more traditional music and worship.

    We think some kind of weekly “open door” activity might help us make important connections with the neighbourhood; open our doors to the public; luncheons, music, a time of quiet reflection and prayer.

    We hope that churches work together more closely and communicate with each other better; that there be a shift in mindset about not doing ministry alone.

    We think a formalized “follow-up” process be established when people are absent, and to “follow up” on the newly baptized and their family.

    We love that our Sunday School is flourishing.

    Worship

    Here are some things we listed about worship:

    a.   Have communion every Sunday

    b.   Pay more attention to the length of the service (too long at times)

    c.   Don’t play the whole hymn, especially the long ones

    d.   Don’t play the entire hymn before we sing it

    e.   Play music that is also suggested by congregation

    f.    Pay attention to the lyrics of the hymns

    g.   Be careful with the “dogma” – need to appeal to people’s spirituality

    h.   Keep sermons relevant

    i.    Get large projector screen(s) in the chancel area

    j.    Drop the Apostles’ Creed

    k.   Change words to “these words are attributed to” and not “the word of God.”

    l.    Put attendance back into the guide to worship

    m.  Sponsors should be reminded to come for Confirmation

    n.   See more youth involvement in worship

    o.   Have an alternative worship – Friday?

    We would like to see the official greeters restored for Sunday mornings and other events.

    We hope that churches work together more closely and communicate with each other better; that there be a shift in mindset about not doing ministry alone.

    We think we should contact organizations directly for more use of the facility – both the church house and sanctuary.

    We would like to be more strategic about our advertising, have one person or a team to look after communications.

    We think some kind of weekly “open door” activity might help us make important connections with the neighbourhood; open our doors to the public; luncheons, music, a time of quiet reflection and prayer.

    We would like to see our elderly attend church.  Maybe a homebound transportation program is needed?

    We know we need to be accessible – and look forward to the lift being installed.

    We see there is a trend in youth and young people liking more traditional music and worship.

    Music

    We would like to see more musical events.

    We would like our leaders to connect with other community leaders (both religious and secular).

    We think some kind of weekly “open door” activity might help us make important connections with the neighbourhood; open our doors to the public; luncheons, music, a time of quiet reflection and prayer.

    We hope that churches work together more closely and communicate with each other better; that there be a shift in mindset about not doing ministry alone.

    We think we should contact organizations directly for more use of the facility – both the church house and sanctuary.

    We would like to be more strategic about our advertising, have one person or a team to look after communications.

    We see there is a trend in youth and young people liking more traditional music and worship.

    We know we need to be accessible – and look forward to the lift being installed.

    We would like to see more fellowship events, like:

    a.   Sports activities

    b.   A card group

    c.   Dinners and potlucks

    d.   We remember from our own youth more regular youth activities and wonder if we did more of those would more families and youth join?

    Other

    We want to continue with all the good things we are doing.

    We want to be financially healthy.

    We think the new directions we are taking are exciting; we know that change is necessary.

    We wonder if we need less Lutheran churches in our area in order to sustain our Lutheran community.

    We recognize that we can’t be everything to everybody; best to find our ‘niche’ and focus our energies on that.

     

    Are there things that you would like to add, please let us know?