Or, use them to describe your purpose (what we do): "The purpose of Our Church is to..."
Or as a vision (how we do it): "Our Church, where people are..."
Instead of having multiple statements of purpose, vision, discipleship, etc., the same 3-4 descriptors are used, and these same 3-4 descriptors are used to define and direct all of the ministry of the congregation.
I was reflecting back on this, but also the several other books I've read, Re-Pitching the Tent, Liturgy and the Arts, and now A Sense of the Sacred, and in these books, they often spoke of how the central elements and sacraments of worship should have a primary role--not only in shaping the building, spaces and art of each church--but in motivating and forming the church's social outreach, evangelism, and discipleship.
If so, the central sacraments are, of course, Baptism and Communion. These welcome us into the worshiping body, they wash us, feed us, and finally they proclaim our freedom from sin. They provide the ability, motivation and model for our response in the world.
This might be the simple outline of every liturgical service: At Our Church, we are 1. Welcomed (into the presence of the Triune God), 2. Washed (by a reminder of the promises of Baptism, i.e. a confession and proclamation of forgiveness), 3. Fed (by the Word in scripture, sermon and communion), and 4. Freed (by all of these for generosity and service in the world).
I don't intend this as the answer, but part of the discussion that some of us are having about our vision or purpose.
It is my hope that disciples at our church are welcomed (& welcoming), washed (& washing), fed (& feeding), freed (& freeing).
Below is a sketch I made as I thought about this.
We should provide a place of welcome, of hospitality. People are welcomed not only to worship and in our liturgy, but to our facility, our activities and programs (like ALPHA, Family Events, VBS, Music Camp, concerts, musicals, neighborhood dinners?). Like so many roots, people come from many different paths into the main stem.
We could provide a place to wash. Literally, we provide a place for people to take a shower, to clean themselves (& their clothes?). Through our mission work around the world, we provide soap and other means for people to feel clean, dignified, housed, clothed and warm. In our worshiping community, Christ's Baptism and every time we receive forgiveness, we are reminded that we have been washed clean of sin, life's sludge. In truth, every Sunday, we hear how God has drowned the old and raised us new. We carry that promise of grace, humility, and forgiveness into our community and world. This is the water of grace that flows from the Source, our Baptism, and through our lives.
We are a place where people are fed. MLC has many social events around food. Community groups have access to our kitchen and dining facilities. We provide a weekly lunch to local high schoolers, and a place for them to bring their lunches. We provide free groceries through our food bank, as well as a place to sit for a cup of coffee (soup/sandwich?). Cookies are sent to prisons, and care packages to college students. Meals are often provided to members and friends in crises. Spiritually, people are fed by the Word of Scripture, the Sermon, and Communion. Our small groups feed deeply on the Word of scripture and mutual prayer. Christ's Table is extended through our generous giving in our offering, gifts to Emergency Needs in our Community, Lutheran World Relief and Lutheran Disaster Relief.
We provide a place where people are freed. We proclaim freedom from sin, that Christ has freed us from worrying about our salvation. (Grace alone!) We express our freedom through our generous and loving service. Our ministry groups include choirs, women's group, quilters, and much more. We provide hands on service through Christmas Hampers, local clean up work, mission trips. Our goal is to help others who are held down to experience some of the love, compassion and care that Christ has given us. These joyful expressions of our freedom are the fruits of our faith.
I could simplify it even more--we are here as a connection to the Source of Life. What is life-giving? A place of harbor, water, food. But it is freedom, the freedom of Christ, that truly makes us alive and life-giving! To be a source of life in our community!
As a personal purpose, I pray that people will sense the source of life in and through me!
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