The Glen Waverley Uniting Church PSALTER|
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| = A Community of Faith = (Passionately expressing faith & Spiritually inspired living) Key Propositions for Growth + Discipleship formation process for those seeking baptism, confirmation, seekers of faith and others seeking to grow in discipleship * Small groups for learning, faith sharing, prayer and missional action. * Regular regional learning events * Resource library * Leadership development * Age specific activities for children, youth and young adults What might GWUC look like in 2013 if we were faithful to these propositions? GWUC is abuzz with faith conversations. Worship and community activities, meetings and neighbourhood engagement reveal a congregation committed to growing people in faith, calling them to discipleship and discerning our vocation as part of the mission of God. Parents seeking to have their children baptised, young people seeking confirmation, and others seeking to deepen their discipleship are engaged in a program of formation for discipleship. The 3-4 month program involves personal reflection and discussion about the bible, Christian faith and practice, vocation and discipleship, and the UCA. Participants have a mentor with whom they meet regularly to reflect on their learning and faith experience. The program has become so popular that many long-time members of the congregation have taken the opportunity to participate and reaffirm their baptism as part of their ongoing journey of discipleship. The congregation values the faith development of its children and young people. To this end it hosts a Christian education program that teaches the stories of the faith and encourages thinking about how they influence life in the 21st century at appropriate levels for the age of the participants. Emphasis is given to the call to discipleship and helping children and young people discover their vocation in life. Children and young people are also encouraged to participate in activities that support others and connect with the wider community. Christmas Alight and the Easter Event provide opportunities for engagement with other children in the neighbourhood. Every member of the community participates in a small group. Through learning, sharing, prayer and missional action the groups call people to discipleship, build their faith and support them so that they may confidently take up their vocation as part of the mission of God. Participants reflect on how what they are learning interacts with their life experience. Questions and doubts are addressed openly and encouraged as signs of growth in faith. The groups take into account the needs, interests and contexts of participants. Some meet every week, others meet less frequently. Some meet for a period of time; e.g. during Lent or Advent, others prefer the occasional one-off learning event. The groups reflect the diversity of maturity, faith experience and thinking about God that is to be seen at GWUC. Some groups seek to encourage members to discern their vocation and to exercise their gifts in discipleship. Some provide opportunities for in-depth study of the Bible. Some seek to develop contemplative spirituality. Some encourage creativity. Some support members in their efforts to live out their faith at work and in the neighbourhood. Some are activity based, enabling members to participate in missional service in the neighbourhood. Some of the most popular groups meet over coffee after each worship service to discuss the points raised in the Scripture readings and the sermon. People are finding that their life makes sense when they see through the lens of Jesus. They have a growing confidence about reflecting faithfully on contemporary issues and in sharing their faith experience with others. Other long-standing groups (FISH, UCAF, Bible study, etc) have renewed their life to better emphasise learning, faith sharing, prayer and missional activity. Councils and committees of the congregation have also undertaken to make space in their meetings for intentional learning, faith sharing, prayer and missional action. These practices have brought new life and spirit to the groups. Not everyone learns best in a small group. The congregation is concerned to provide multiple learning activities that reflect the diversity of learning styles, experience and levels of participants. Faith at Home leaflets, personal devotional guides (e.g. With Love to the World), and seasonal study and meditation resources are provided for those unable to participate in a regular group and those seeking to develop a personal spiritual discipline. A resource library containing DVD’s, music CD’s, recordings of local learning events and a wide range of books is well-used by church members and our neighbours. The church also hosts spiritual retreats, practical workshops, guest speakers and other learning activities to meet specific needs. Many of these have grown out of conversations with our neighbours. Each year we host a major learning event to the local community and neighbouring churches are invited. This may be a weekend ‘conference’, a week-long ‘festival’, a short term intensive course or a series of studies. Where possible our learning events are filmed for broadcast to our rural partners and added to our resource collection. Many folk have become so excited by their learning and growth in discipleship that they have sought to engage in further study. The congregation supports them by hosting tutorial groups and providing coaching as required. The congregation regularly sponsors and hosts a short term intensive course as part of the CTM’s web of learning. We have become a regional hub for the Lay Preacher’s course. After five years of sustained growth in faith GWUC has been transformed. People of all ages regularly participate in preparing and leading worship. Stories of faith are shared happily during worship, in New View and on the website, in groups and in casual conversations. In fact people are so excited by what they are learning and experiencing that the faith conversations are spilling over into the neighbourhood. Most have engaged in discernment of our vocation – as individuals and as a community – and are now actively involved in projects with the neighbourhood. We have a far greater awareness of how our Christian faith makes a difference through our involvement in our neighbourhoods, families, work places and organisational life. We rejoice at the growth in faith that is happening in our community. We are surely becoming a sign, foretaste and instrument of the reign of God in our neighbourhood. |
previous: FaithCommunity next: CommunityHub = Inclusive Community Missional Group = Under the [[ChurchFutureScServiceGroups|2013 suggested structure]], the responsibilities of this group are formalised as: * Welcoming Team * Greeting Roster. See RosterGreeting * Welcome Table Roster. See [[RosterHospitality|RosterWelcomeTable]] * Door Stewards Roster. See RosterDoor * Newcomers Committee * Morning Tea Roster & set-up. See [[RosterMorningTea|RosterMorning]] * Fellowship Team * FISH groups x 8 * Craft & Collections Fair * Fundraising events. See FundRaisingEventsCalendar2013 * Special dinners * [[UcafHomePage|UCAF]] * [[GomerInfo|GOMER]] * [[AdultGroup|Adult Group]] * [[MensFellowship|Men’s Fellowship]] * CAE Book Club * Tennis Club * Pastoral Team * Supportive Care * Church Roll maintenance. See ChurchDatabase * Cradle Roll Roster * Visitation program. See PastoralPartners * Bereavement support * Hospitality Team * Munch with a Bunch * Club2016 A list of members of the Inclusive Community is available at InclusiveCommunityGroup. = An Inclusive Community = (Supportive liberating relationships; Spiritually inspired living) = Latest News = * InclusiveReport201607 * InclusiveReport201606 * InclusiveReport201605 * InclusiveReport201603 * InclusiveReport201602 * InclusiveReport201601 * InclusiveReport201509 * InclusiveReport201507 * InclusiveReport201506 * InclusiveReport201505 * InclusiveReport201504 * InclusiveReport201503 * InclusiveReport201502 * InclusiveReport201501 * InclusiveReport201410 * InclusiveReport201409 * InclusiveReport201408 * InclusiveReport201407 * InclusiveReport201406 * InclusiveReport201405 * InclusiveReport201403 * InclusiveReport201402 * InclusiveReport201401 * InclusiveReport201311 * InclusiveNotes201310 * InclusiveReport201308 * InclusiveReport201307 * InclusiveReport201306 * InclusiveReport201305 * InclusiveReport201303 * InclusiveReport201302 * InclusiveMinutes201211, ([[InclusiveReport201211|report to Congregational Meeting 26 Nov 2012]] * InclusiveReport201210 * InclusiveReport201209 * InclusiveReport201208 * InclusiveReport201207 * InclusiveReport201206 * InclusiveReport201205 * InclusiveReport201204 * InclusiveReport201202 * InclusiveReport201111 * InclusiveReport201110 * InclusiveReport201109 * InclusiveReport201107 (A longer version of this report is at InclusiveReportLong201107.) * InclusiveReport201106 * InclusiveReport201103 * InclusiveReport201102 * InclusiveReport201012 * InclusiveReport201011 * [[InclusivePlans2011|Inclusive Community Plans for 2011]] * InclusiveReport201010 * InclusiveReport201005 * InclusiveReport201004 * InclusiveReport201003 * InclusiveReport201002 * PancakeDay20100216 * InclusiveReport200911 * To see what is happening with the SeniorsMinistry, click this link. * ChristmasAlight2009 * WelfareReport201002 * LeisureTime == Key Propositions for Growth == * Develop communication processes within congregation and wider community * Extend ‘welcoming’ practices across all congregations * Regular community activities for fun and fellowship * Bi-monthly combined services * Community lunches with conversation == What might GWUC look like in 2013 if we were faithful to these propositions? == GWUC is an inclusive, relational community grounded in Christ’s relationship with us. Worship, fellowship, communication and missional activities encourage deep interaction with others and provide opportunities for sharing our lives creatively. The diverse groups and individuals who gather at GWUC have formed a community which journeys through different stages of life and faith together. In an atmosphere of love and acceptance, there is always a welcoming face and a ready invitation to join in a conversation of significance. This warm environment, together with our growing faith development program, community hub activities, relationships with our neighbours and rural partners, has brought many new faces into our community. Newcomers to worship at GWUC are greeted warmly. At the ‘Welcome’ table questions are answered and information is provided about our community activities. Each newcomer is quickly assigned a welcoming elder who introduces them to other members and follows up by phone call within the next week to discuss their needs and hopes for their connection with GWUC. Hospitality is shared and friendships are formed through regular ‘newcomers luncheons’. People meet together in short term mentoring relationships, sharing life wisdom, experiences of faith and coffee. You find them chatting to one another in our hospitality centre and local cafes, in homes and in the diverse activities that make up community life at GWUC. Others find connection and a chance to share and grow through a variety of small group activities. People have clearly grown in understanding of each other and in confidence about sharing their life and faith experiences. As the proverb says, ‘As iron sharpens iron, so we spark each other’. Within our community’s heartbeat and hub of activity, you will find groups that teach you to knit - and knit together – toys and blankets to go to African missions. You’ll find picnics, fishing trips, book clubs and family camps where all are welcome to participate and share. Through activities such as concerts, exhibitions, craft days, dances and fetes we have welcomed the neighbourhood into our midst. Other activities such as the long standing Easter Event, Stations of the Cross art installation and Christmas Alight have been joined by faith festivals, carols on the lawn and a community Christmas tree display - all means by which we are able to share the Christian story with our neighbours. Even though they may not yet be regular worshippers in the congregation, many of our neighbours have become familiar with our community and see GWUC as their church. GWUC offers a variety of worship experiences to meet the needs of our diverse community. However, every two months we look forward to worshiping together. In these community services we share stories of our journey with God and our neighbours, celebrating the love and grace we find and renewing our commitment to love and serve our neighbour as Christ loves us. We celebrate our diversity by participating in many different ways; sitting in the round, using symbols, pictures and creative media to explore the message for the day. In these services everyone participates and engages in worship. Hospitality and conversation are hallmarks of regular community lunches (often connected with a combined service). Groups wanting to share their gifts or raising funds may prepare meals, or we may share food we have brought. We particularly enjoy opportunities for sharing meals that represent the ethnic and [[AffirmingOurCulturalDiversity|cultural diversity]] of our community. Conversation always accompanies our practice of hospitality. As well as informal conversation, we use a variety of processes to encourage interaction, imagination and the sharing of wisdom as we consider questions of interest. Through these lunches we are connecting with more and more people in our community. Monthly ‘Fellowship and Faith’ events enable us to share and hear stories of faith. Over coffee and cake we enjoy hearing from people who speak candidly of the ups and downs of their personal journey, followed by questions and conversation. Other opportunities for sharing stories are provided in services of worship and in small groups. We are developing deep understanding of others and ourselves. Many deep relationships have formed. As a large, diverse community we have developed many ways to communicate with one another and our neighbours about our ministry, activities and life. The weekly bulletin contains details of forthcoming worship services, group activities and mission events. You can also sign up to receive emails with news and events for each day. An extensive, interactive website shares who we are and how we live out our vocation as the body of Christ in our neighbourhood. It also hosts several blogs for discussion about matters of interest. One of the most popular is a discussion site with the minister about the week’s scripture readings. In the foyer a large television screen highlights group activities and coming events. Each week a video showcases the life and mission of one of our groups. Attractive, informative brochures about the various groups and community programs are available. Our bi-monthly magazine, ‘NewView’, is full of interesting articles and pictures telling the stories of our life and faith together. In particular we enjoy the regular interviews with members of our community about their journey in life and faith. We are also concerned to share our story beyond the doors of the church. Copies of the bulletin and NewView are shared with all who meet in our building – and often include stories of their activities. NewView is distributed in the local neighbourhood and every member of the congregation takes an extra copy to share with their neighbours. Community events are advertised and shared via the local papers and community bulletin boards. We make good use of the generosity of local real estate agents in providing advertising boards for significant events. And every member of the community offers particular invitations to at least one friend or neighbour to share in each community event. Through organisational tasks, small groups, fellowship activities and missional endeavours in our neighbourhood the GWUC community is enjoying strong, deep relationships with one another, our neighbours and Jesus Christ. ---- CategoryInclusive |
previous: FaithCommunity next: CommunityHub
Inclusive Community Missional Group
Under the 2013 suggested structure, the responsibilities of this group are formalised as:
- Welcoming Team
Greeting Roster. See RosterGreeting
Welcome Table Roster. See RosterWelcomeTable
Door Stewards Roster. See RosterDoor
- Newcomers Committee
Morning Tea Roster & set-up. See RosterMorning
- Fellowship Team
- FISH groups x 8
Craft & Collections Fair
Fundraising events. See FundRaisingEventsCalendar2013
- Special dinners
- CAE Book Club
- Tennis Club
- Pastoral Team
- Supportive Care
Church Roll maintenance. See ChurchDatabase
- Cradle Roll Roster
Visitation program. See PastoralPartners
- Bereavement support
- Hospitality Team
- Munch with a Bunch
- Club2016
A list of members of the Inclusive Community is available at InclusiveCommunityGroup.
An Inclusive Community
(Supportive liberating relationships; Spiritually inspired living)
Latest News
InclusiveMinutes201211, (report to Congregational Meeting 26 Nov 2012
InclusiveReport201107 (A longer version of this report is at InclusiveReportLong201107.)
To see what is happening with the SeniorsMinistry, click this link.
Key Propositions for Growth
- Develop communication processes within congregation and wider community
- Extend ‘welcoming’ practices across all congregations
- Regular community activities for fun and fellowship
- Bi-monthly combined services
- Community lunches with conversation
What might GWUC look like in 2013 if we were faithful to these propositions?
GWUC is an inclusive, relational community grounded in Christ’s relationship with us. Worship, fellowship, communication and missional activities encourage deep interaction with others and provide opportunities for sharing our lives creatively. The diverse groups and individuals who gather at GWUC have formed a community which journeys through different stages of life and faith together. In an atmosphere of love and acceptance, there is always a welcoming face and a ready invitation to join in a conversation of significance.
This warm environment, together with our growing faith development program, community hub activities, relationships with our neighbours and rural partners, has brought many new faces into our community. Newcomers to worship at GWUC are greeted warmly. At the ‘Welcome’ table questions are answered and information is provided about our community activities. Each newcomer is quickly assigned a welcoming elder who introduces them to other members and follows up by phone call within the next week to discuss their needs and hopes for their connection with GWUC. Hospitality is shared and friendships are formed through regular ‘newcomers luncheons’.
People meet together in short term mentoring relationships, sharing life wisdom, experiences of faith and coffee. You find them chatting to one another in our hospitality centre and local cafes, in homes and in the diverse activities that make up community life at GWUC. Others find connection and a chance to share and grow through a variety of small group activities. People have clearly grown in understanding of each other and in confidence about sharing their life and faith experiences. As the proverb says, ‘As iron sharpens iron, so we spark each other’.
Within our community’s heartbeat and hub of activity, you will find groups that teach you to knit - and knit together – toys and blankets to go to African missions. You’ll find picnics, fishing trips, book clubs and family camps where all are welcome to participate and share. Through activities such as concerts, exhibitions, craft days, dances and fetes we have welcomed the neighbourhood into our midst. Other activities such as the long standing Easter Event, Stations of the Cross art installation and Christmas Alight have been joined by faith festivals, carols on the lawn and a community Christmas tree display - all means by which we are able to share the Christian story with our neighbours. Even though they may not yet be regular worshippers in the congregation, many of our neighbours have become familiar with our community and see GWUC as their church.
GWUC offers a variety of worship experiences to meet the needs of our diverse community. However, every two months we look forward to worshiping together. In these community services we share stories of our journey with God and our neighbours, celebrating the love and grace we find and renewing our commitment to love and serve our neighbour as Christ loves us. We celebrate our diversity by participating in many different ways; sitting in the round, using symbols, pictures and creative media to explore the message for the day. In these services everyone participates and engages in worship.
Hospitality and conversation are hallmarks of regular community lunches (often connected with a combined service). Groups wanting to share their gifts or raising funds may prepare meals, or we may share food we have brought. We particularly enjoy opportunities for sharing meals that represent the ethnic and cultural diversity of our community. Conversation always accompanies our practice of hospitality. As well as informal conversation, we use a variety of processes to encourage interaction, imagination and the sharing of wisdom as we consider questions of interest. Through these lunches we are connecting with more and more people in our community.
Monthly ‘Fellowship and Faith’ events enable us to share and hear stories of faith. Over coffee and cake we enjoy hearing from people who speak candidly of the ups and downs of their personal journey, followed by questions and conversation. Other opportunities for sharing stories are provided in services of worship and in small groups. We are developing deep understanding of others and ourselves. Many deep relationships have formed.
As a large, diverse community we have developed many ways to communicate with one another and our neighbours about our ministry, activities and life. The weekly bulletin contains details of forthcoming worship services, group activities and mission events. You can also sign up to receive emails with news and events for each day. An extensive, interactive website shares who we are and how we live out our vocation as the body of Christ in our neighbourhood. It also hosts several blogs for discussion about matters of interest. One of the most popular is a discussion site with the minister about the week’s scripture readings. In the foyer a large television screen highlights group activities and coming events. Each week a video showcases the life and mission of one of our groups. Attractive, informative brochures about the various groups and community programs are available. Our bi-monthly magazine, ‘NewView’, is full of interesting articles and pictures telling the stories of our life and faith together. In particular we enjoy the regular interviews with members of our community about their journey in life and faith.
We are also concerned to share our story beyond the doors of the church. Copies of the bulletin and NewView are shared with all who meet in our building – and often include stories of their activities. NewView is distributed in the local neighbourhood and every member of the congregation takes an extra copy to share with their neighbours. Community events are advertised and shared via the local papers and community bulletin boards. We make good use of the generosity of local real estate agents in providing advertising boards for significant events. And every member of the community offers particular invitations to at least one friend or neighbour to share in each community event.
Through organisational tasks, small groups, fellowship activities and missional endeavours in our neighbourhood the GWUC community is enjoying strong, deep relationships with one another, our neighbours and Jesus Christ.