Update from Emmanuel Visioning Team

The members of our Team are Jennifer Baan, Corinne Duizer Mike Griffioen, John Kapteyn, Rick Roelofsen, Bill Rood, Jack Rodenburg and Jon Witteveen.

We thank the congregation for your participation in the Visioning Process, especially in the Group Discussions on May 4th. Special thanks for those who looked after proving us with an excellent luncheon.

We have met to process the reports of the discussion groups and have finalized the Vision and Mission Statements and decided upon action steps we are initiating.

The statements are:

Vision Statement:

• "Growing Together in Christ as We Reach Out to Others"

Mission Statement:

• Our ministry is to faithfully worship God and teach His Word, so that we become beautiful, living, disciples of Christ. This will strengthen our love and commitment to God, through our Lord Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit. This makes our ministry a thankful and joyful response to who God is and what He has done. We pray that this takes place in each of our hearts on an individual basis while being taught and encouraged by the fellowship of the church.
• Our ministry is to grow as a community of faith. A church where all can come and experience the love and joy of Jesus Christ, as we grow and serve together.
• Our ministry is to reach out to others with the love and word of God. We aim to follow Christ’s example and serve others in our church and our community. When people are hurting, we share in Christ’s ministry and serve them in their areas of need. When people are looking for a place to belong, we offer fellowship and opportunities to know and experience God.

Prayer:

• We will have a separate prayer time once a month during the service to intentionally pray for a different topic, mostly relating to our Vision.

Bulletin:

• We will no longer send out the Enews and instead place information in a bulletin which will be handed out by the greeters on Sunday morning. This will provide information for guests and provide a hard copy for members as well. The bulletin will also be emailed everyone on our mailing list.

Welcome Brochure:

• A welcome brochure has been created and will be handed out to guests at our services and events. We gave these brochures to visitors at the African Childrens Choir event which was attended by people in a completely full church.

Church Website:

• We will update the website with stories and reports such as this and others, so those who visit will be aware of what is happening at Emmanuel. Pictures will show people.

Small groups and Devotions:

• We ask consistory to look for a small group coordinator and ensure that both members and guests are informed about each small group, when they meet, what they are studying, and contact information for the small group leader in the bulletin/website.
• We will seek out and recommend family devotion material for families that are more applicable to older kids and teens – once we expand past the children’s Bible stories and specifically for teens.

Building relationships with each other:

• We are exploring the possibility of providing lunch severable times a year, with a different theme each time.
• We are considering the organizing of more social events.

Reaching out:

• The use of the house next door by a family in transition from homelessness.
• We could hold events in the parking lot of the church so that we are more visible to the community – for example, a plant exchange next spring, garage sale, BBQ.
• VBS is hoping to have an outdoor celebration for the families of the VBS kids (if it is able to be organized in time).

Connect with...

VBS Kids Camp

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Cadets

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Gems

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Youth Group

for Youth

55+ Coffee

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ECW

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...and more.