Each month (or so) at St. James, we choose different topics to be our focus for mission and ministry that time. The focus is addressed in Worship through sermons and prayers, in Education through Sunday Adult Forums, and in Christian Life through community giving opportunities. We are always looking for new ideas of things to learn and ways to be God's words, hands, and heart in the world. If you have ideas, please share them! August - November, 2011 - "St. James Re-new-all" During these months, St. James is focusing on visioning for the future of ministry and mission for the good of God's world. Through worship, prayer, and conversation, we are considering where we are now and how God is calling us to move into the future. We don't know what "church" will look like in 50 or 100 years, but we do know that it won't look like it looks today -- or like it looked 50 or 100 years ago. So, together we will be using "prophetic imagination" to envision what might be and what steps we will take along the way. If you find yourself disconnected from the church of your childhood - or you have never been connected with a church - these are the conversations for you! Join us as we rediscover who God is, wonder how God is active in the world, and seek a community that brings peace and presence into our lives and into the world. Past foci: March/April, 2011 - Encountering Jesus During the months of March and April, our Lenten journey together takes us through many paths by which others have encountered Jesus, inviting us to do the same. We discover together the joy of these encounters, through Word, prayer, Bible study, and communal worship. We also encounter Jesus each time we meet one of the "least of these." During the weeks of Lent, we focus more clearly on the abundance with which we live, and the scarcity with which others must survive. Recognizing the blessings we receive, we commit to an increased offering for the ELCA World Hunger Appeal. December, 2010 - Healing The focus this month is on healing. December 12th's healing service and the Blue Christmas service on December 19th reflect this theme. Refugee Sponsorship During this Advent season, we are partnering with Tviskes Lutheran Church and Grace Lutheran, La Grange to furnish an apartment for a refugee family. The family will come to the states at the beginning of February, and through this month we gift this family with healing through the gift of a new life and a new start in a new country. Starting all over is difficult under any circumstances, and as we pray for peace in the world, we pray for peace, healing and wholeness for the refugee family we are sponsoring. Mitten Tree As the weather turns colder, warm clothing becomes a dire need for many people in our community. Let's decorate the Mitten Tree! Bring new hats, gloves, scarves, etc. and hang them on the tree. The Mitten Tree donations will be distributed to the Constance Morris House Domestic Violence Shelter and/or Community Nurse Health Association, as we have ability and they have need. Food Collection Throughout the Advent season, we will continue to collect canned goods for the local food pantry. April - June, 2010 In these months, we focus on the gifts God has given us and how God is calling us to share these gifts with the world. We celebrate Gold Shepherd Sunday on April 25th, a day to recognize and pray for the good work that Lutheran Social Services of Illinois is doing in the world, as well as to support LSSI through financial gifts. We will begin inward/outward studies, listening for God's voice and watching for God's grace in our everyday lives. We will participate in discussion groups about who we believe we are and where we envision St. James moving, and we will learn about talking with people one-on-one, learning about their hopes, dreams, and concerns, in the style of grassroots community organizing. In the coming months, we will use what we have learned about ourselves and our neighbors to craft a new vision for the future of St. James and our place in the community. March, 2010 - God's Children During the month of March, we will focus on God's children and how we might be God's presence to them in the world. We continue to donate to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal. We will continue collecting items for the Constance Morris House. In adult forums, we will learn about veterans' issues, including homelessness. January/February, 2010 - Mission During the month of January and into February, our focus will return to mission. We will ask the questions, "Where is God in the world?" "Where is God in our church?" and "Where is God calling us to go/be now?" Convinced that Jesus' exhortation to "Go and make disciples of all nations" is the basis of our Christian call in the world, we will discuss and discover our own gifts for God's mission and discern together how God is calling us to use those gifts here and now for the mending of God's world. ELCA World Hunger Appeal Although we commit to give to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal throughout the year, this month we will focus our giving and serving opportunities on that appeal, as we discern the mission of our life together. |
This month at St. James |