Our Hopes and Dreams

OUR HOPES
The following series of statements represent a constellation of hopes expressed at the Church Retreat in September, 2006. They shape our shared imagination of the future.

We Hope…

…To encounter God through the art of worship, so that we are animated for God’s mission in the world.

…Adults of all ages find meaningful experiences of community, service, and formation as we seek to follow Jesus.

…Our children will be formed in the image of God, learn ways of serving, and experience the love and protection of the community

…Our youth will discover the distinctives of Anabaptist faith and decide to become followers of Jesus.

…Our elders will share their stories and wisdom.

…Our young people will infuse the community with passion and vitality.

To learn more check out the sermon entitled "Imagining our Future".

OUR DREAMS
Our dream is to bless the world with the unique gifts of our congregation. Below is a description of three attributes that mark our community and describe our distinct identity. Naturally, these are neither exhaustive nor static, rather they hint at our contours.

• We represent a Third-Way approach to Faith

In a world and a culture that is growing increasingly polarized, divided, and split on so many issues, the Mennonite church, and our congregation have a deep history and heritage of modeling a third-way approach to faith. This is not a mediating or moderating position between two extremes; but rather a way beyond competing positions, a way beyond the religious categories of liberal or conservative, right or left, red or blue.

For more information checkout the sermon entitled “Third Way Faith”

• We seek to practice a Holistic Spirituality

Spirituality is most often understood to be a personal thing. But we hope to practice a spirituality that touches all areas of life. It is personal, but also communal, physical, emotional, financial, and intellectual. We believe in a spirituality that changes our life and world here and now, not just in the next life.

• We dream of being a “Keystone” community

The word “Keystone” is a metaphor taken from the environmental world. There are certain species in nature that function differently than other species, they are known as keystone species. They are unique because they have an impact on their environment that is vastly disproportionate to their size or number. This same phenomenon that occurs in nature also occurs in human communities. We dream of being keystone congregation. One that has an impact on the world that is vastly disproportionate to our size and number.

For more information checkout the sermon entitled “Keystone Congregation”