Dear Grace Community,
I write to you in what is now the hottest week of the summer. We’ve reached the 100’s. It’s July so no real surprise. Our mission trip team is home from Denver, and a group of youth and adults are at the Presbyterian Triennium. We’re a month removed from a wonderful Vacation Bible School. The life of the church does not slow down, but the pace changes in the summer.
Staff and volunteer leaders are looking to the 2019-20 church year with great anticipation. Your Session spent many months studying the PCUSA Vital Congregations took-kit. The concept of Vital Congregations moves the focus from church growth to church vitality.
For too long churches have chased the idea of growth. Growth is important, no doubt, but the reality of changing social trends is that almost no churches are growing. This reality can feel defeating if all we focus on is numerical growth. I appreciate the shift to thinking about vitality. Vitality is essential for us as a church.
The PCUSA study walked us through seven types of church vitality. Through our study we recognized that we have strengths and opportunities for growth in each area. The Session has identified two areas to focus on in the coming year, and I look forward to sharing more about this in the coming weeks and months.
In Christ,
Catherine
JUL