| Lent 2012 - Cultivating Fruitfulness | |
You are invited to join the entire First Lutheran community for a Lenten Journey through worship, devotional reading and small group discussion. Together, these groups will work through a devotional entitled, Cultivating Fruitfulness. This book, coupled with our Small Group Discussion Guide, will guide the congregation through a time of discernment focusing on five core practices or qualities for a Christ following church - Radical Hospitality, Passionate Worship, Intentional Faith Development, Risk-Taking Mission and Service, and Extravagant Generosity. These practice capture the core ministries of our congregation and help us to understand our purpose and mission as disciples of Christ in the world today.
During this time we will not only seek to discern how we are practicing the qualities within our own personal discipleship, but we will ultimately be seeking to discern how we are practicing these qualities of ministry within our community at First Lutheran Church.
Each week in Lent, beginning on Sunday, February 26 (the Sunday after Ash Wednesday) we will focus on one of the practices described below. On Sunday mornings, you'll hear a sermon based on the lectionary texts that will begin our discussion of a particular practice. On Wednesday evenings, you'll hear a more focused message around the same practice. The devotional book, Cultivating Fruitfulness, will lead and challenge our thoughts and actions all week long. Small Groups will meet throughout the week to really dig-in to the material, discuss the details and discern how these qualities are actually being lived out at First Lutheran. Our goal is to pray, practice, and deepen our knowledge and understanding of these practices as we strive to be a fruitful congregation for Christ.
This study is not just your typical Lenten study - you really won't want to miss this! What makes it so special? Well, this is the discernment portion of a year-long journey on which we (the entire congregation - members and nom-members alike) are embarking to help us put words to what we are about at First Lutheran Church. Each week we will be collecting feedback from all participants which will be used later in the year to help shape this idea of who we are.
Your participation in this study is vital to the growth and shape of our congregation. We sincerely hope you'll join us!
Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations
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describes a change, a development that can only be found through the Holy Spirit which results in a deeper awareness of God's will and presence and an increasing desire to serve God and neighbor. While this is deeply personal, it is also radically relational as other help us interpret God's word for our lives.
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus. Philippians 2.5 |
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This means we offer the absolute utmost of ourselves, our creativity, and our abilities to offer the gracious invitation and welcome of Christ to others. We pray, plan and work to help others feel welcome and support them in their spiritual journeys.
Jesus said, " I was a stranger and you welcomed me ... Just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me."
Matthew 25:35,40
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regardless of style, is authentic, engaging, life-changing and is derived from the experience of God's presence, the desire of worshippers for God's word, the changed heart people deliberately seek when they encounter Christ in the presence of other Christians. An hour of passionate worship changes all the other hours of the week.
Let my people go, so that they may worship me. Exodus 8.1 |
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emphasizes extraordinary sharing, willing sacrifice, and joyous giving out of a love for God and the abundant grace he offers.
They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life. 1 Timothy 6.18-19
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doesn't have to be an enourmous undertaking, but whatever it is, it changes the lives of those who receive the help, it changes the lives of the volunteers, and in turn changes churches.
What does the Lord requre of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6.8 |
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Palm Sunday
April 8th
Easter
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