Parish Visioning Exercise
Facilitator: Captain Deb Everest, Church Army
Deanery Program Associate
What Do We Believe is God’s Vision for Our Parish?
As Found in Acts 2:42ff
A Simple Parish Vision Statement:
Love God, Each Other, and Our Neighbours
What Current Ministries, Relationships & Activities Best Reflect this Vision?
Sharing our faith in words and actions
Harvest Cupboard Food Bank & Medieval Festival; Tina is Chair of Harvest Cupboard;
Groups such as Youth Group, Women (ACW), and Men’s Group (ACM)
Music, besides at the services, but performing at other churches and community events;
Interfaith Services (like "Prayer, Praise and Preaching")
Priest is serving the whole north shore from Pays Plat to Manitouwadge; Priest is just finishing two years as Regional Dean of Thunder Bay;
Working together - fellowship;
Our Church is used by others in the community;
We are major participants in the Gitchigomee Teen Canoe Trip;
Hospital Ministry is significant, with Teresa Chair of the Hospital Auxiliary, and Helen playing organ at Chapel services;
Daniel is the founder of the Terrace Bay branch of Hospice Northwest, and the trainer - a needed source of help with those in palliative care;
How do we show we love one another?
Dog walking!
Canoe Trips
Lunch/coffee after church every Sunday
Listening
Calling each other, looking after each other;
Informal prayer chain; strong prayers for the sick and in mourning every Sunday;
Discipleship
Alpha
Sharing with others outside the Parish, including other local churches, and other north shore communities;
What Changes Can We Make to Better Reflect this Vision?
Prayer shawls (donated to someone in need)
Immigrant Families coming to Thunder Bay
Food Bank
Special Services - Mill Layoffs
Hospital Christmas and Easter Services
Special Events - Steel River Canoe Trip
Camp Gitchigomee Teen Canoe Trip
Full time priest in Schreiber
Fund a Church Army Captain for Marathon/Manitouwadge;
Find a way to obtain student ministry; or curates for Marathon/Manitouwadge;
Bible Study, Prayer Group, and Music Group
Focus more energy on Young People, and Young Families - perhaps have Richard Pepper or Deb Everest come for a special kids day, or come to do a week of vacation Bible school - maybe in partnership with St Andrew’s;
Deanery Weekend at Neys in late September every year; Church on the Beach, relaxation, camp fire
Prayer, Praise & Preaching
World Missions - Support Debbie Tremblay’s work;
More formal prayer chain;How Will We Evaluate Our Progress?
Each month, over coffee, discuss an area of ministry and evaluate it;
More visioning exercises;
Every year, meet to revisit our projects and ideas;’
Fellowship
Praising the Lord
Teaching
Shared Meals
Charity, looking after each other
Prayer
Signs & Wonders
God was adding to their number
