20/20 Vision

The visioning process began in the Fall of 2001 with the Session’s approval of a Ministry Plan for 2002 that included a component to begin “long range goal setting.” The Session began in March, 2002, to move forward with the establishment of a committee of “indefinite tenure…to work on a Long-Range Plan for Mount Horeb. ”Subsequent to the devastating fire on Maundy Thursday, March 28, 2002, the Session appointed seven members of the congregation to engage in a greatly accelerated process to be completed by September 30, 2002.

      Known as the 20/20 Vision Task Force, under the influence of much prayer, reflection and meditation on Scripture, and believing that God’s vision for the future of Mount Horeb could best be discerned through an open, well-informed process, this group:

·         engaged the congregation in an extensive survey process, including various survey instruments, events, activities, and interviews

·         employed the services of the PC(USA) Research Services to help collect and organize survey data

·         solicited input from the surrounding community through contact with non-members and former members, and community leaders

·         gathered data from area planning agencies and recent census reports

·         kept the Session and congregation informed of the progress of their work through weekly announcements, bulletins, and Communicator articles

       God’s vision for the future of Mount Horeb acknowledges that there are many wonderful things about our church that should be preserved and continued. It also acknowledges that there are some existing things that provide a strong foundation for expansion and development of new programs. And finally, it acknowledges that new things are in order if we are to fulfill the vision that God has given us.

The Task Force believes that God is calling Mount Horeb to “be transformed, by the renewing of your minds, that you may discern what is the will of God...” as Paul urged upon the New Testament church (Romans 12:2). By following in the path that God has set for us, we will be transformed in a way far beyond anything we could imagine.

FOCUS ON:

Growing Personal Faith

“…and without faith, it is impossible to please God…”  -Hebrews 11:6

   Scripture urges us to have “the mind of Christ”, and to become “a holy people.” Through program planning and mutual encouragement among the membership, spiritual disciplines like prayer, fasting, reading and meditating on Scripture, and “almsgiving” will be inspired and practiced. God is leading us to:

Ø      Create and emphasize workshops focused on prayer and other spiritual disciplines

Ø      Provide & promote programs, seminars, and retreats that encourage personal spiritual development for all ages utilizing a variety of formats

Ø      Develop and maintain Small Groups with emphasis on prayer and Bible study

Ø      Make recruitment and training of Lay Leaders for above a high priority

Survey Question: How do you see your vision being accomplished in the next five years?

Responses: “Preserve time for personal spiritual growth.

Building design implications  

FOCUS ON:

Evangelism

Go, therefore, and make disciples…baptizing them…and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…”                                                                                                       -Matthew 28:19-20

“Do not be ashamed then, of the testimony about our Lord…”

-2 Timothy 1:8

   God wills that Mount Horeb spread the Good News that God loves and cares for people. The congregation confirms Jesus’ command to “make disciples,” a developmental process that encompasses all of life from birth to death. Stronger disciples make stronger witnesses. God is leading us to:

Ø      Expand current programs of outreach such as Andrew’s Club,  Health Fair, Ice Cream Social, special services, etc

Ø      Renew Logos

Ø      Add a child daycare program and after-school program

Ø      Make promoting of Mount Horeb and advertising of events major line items in annual budget

Ø      Train leaders and members to develop and practice skills of inviting and welcoming newcomers

Ø      Develop and use small group model for outreach

Ø      Develop and use a plan for moving newcomers into full fellowship and participation in the church

Ø      Offer programs, seminars, classes on topics of general interest or concern to a wide variety of different household situations 

Ø      Make facilities available for use by community groups and organizations

Ø      Foster an openness to, and acceptance of, the diverse racial/ethnic and socio-economic groups around us

Demographic Facts:        

ü       The latest census shows 18,500 residents live within a 3-mile radius around Mount Horeb

ü       Our area is growing at a rate faster than the national average.

ü       90% of adults in our area drive 20 minutes or more to work

ü       Over 25% of the new residents in our area are moving in from a different place. (They will likely not return to their previous church.)

ü       While most residents claim some religious affiliation, less than 25% attended a service of worship in the previous week

ü       33% of households in our area have children at home.

ü       38% of adults are married, no children; 26% are single adults.

Building design implications:  

ü     Facilities for 300-325 occupants

ü      Flexible, multiple-use spaces

ü      Public ease of access to site

ü      All-weather access to building

ü      Signage and visibility

FOCUS ON:

Christian Education

“Make me to know your ways, O Lord, and teach me your paths…” 

-Psalm 25:4

   Through our process, God is telling us to give highest priority to education for all ages that leads people to accept Jesus Christ as Savior and to obey him as Lord. The congregation ranks education as the most important task for Mount Horeb. It is also the best area of church activity for creating multiple pathways of entrance for newcomers into the church. God is leading us to:

Ø      Encourage greater participation, in and support for, existing education opportunities for all ages like Church Sunday School, “Faith Journeys,” “Faith ‘n’ Flicks,”  Confirmation Class, etc

Ø      Hire a youth Minister or youth Director

Ø      Develop the Small Group concept for both on- and off-site education experiences, such as Bible Studies, current topic discussion groups etc

Ø      Encourage and support greater member participation in educational offerings by our PC(USA) denomination such as youth retreats, summer camps, Presbyterian Women’s Conferences, Synod training events, and denomination-wide conferences

Ø      Offer after-school opportunities for children and youth that provide an atmosphere for recreation, study (both secular and religious), and fellowship

Ø      Create and maintain a well-equipped and well-supplied Media Center providing state-of-the art technologies for education

Ø      Begin immediately to hold a series of workshops to help members identify and use their spiritual gifts

Ø      Develop an ongoing strategy for training lay leadership

Ø      Make outreach to the community a component of every educational offering

Survey Question:   “How important do you think the task (of education) should be in your congregation?

Response: Providing adult education: Very important/important = 74%

                Providing education for children and youth that encourages an open search for a faith that makes sense: very important/important = 87%

Demographic Facts:         

 Building design implications:

FOCUS ON:

Community Service

(After Jesus washes his disciples’ feet)  “For I have set for you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly I tell you, servants are not greater than their master.”      -John 13:34

    Through the voice of our congregation and the assessment of future needs around us, God is leading Mount Horeb to greater service in the community and the wider world. Unconditional service to others is the model set down for us by our Lord. It is a means for personal spiritual growth and also a way for sharing God’s love with others. In addition to programs mentioned elsewhere, God is leading us to:

Ø      Develop outreach programs for the aging, such as Meals on Wheels, “Caregivers Morning Out,”  and a Senior Day-Care facility

Ø      Host Seminars for the community on topics such as senior health issues, childcare issues (especially for single parents), parents of teens, youth issues, etc

Ø      Network with other agencies and organizations to provide information, services, or training on a variety of community issues

Ø      Encourage and promote member participation in community-based service organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, providing “safe houses” for the abused/neglected, “Christmas in April,” etc

Ø      Continue support of area outreach programs such as Weekday Religious Education, Young Life, etc

Ø      Initiate a pre-school and daycare program

Survey Question: How important do you think the task should be (of helping members encounter God in serving others)?

 FOCUS ON:

Worship

“…be filled with the Spirit as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves….”                                                                                           

- Ephesians 5:19

   Worship is the principle activity of a God-centered church. Everything we do as a church flows out of our worship. The Bible leads us to consider a wide range of activities, participants, and styles of worship. A majority of Mount Horeb members wish to continue a traditional style of worship. However, a significant minority desires alternative styles of worship. Un-churched people generally are more attracted to non-traditional worship services.  God is leading us to:

Ø      Continue a strong traditional Sunday morning worship service, along with traditional seasonal services such as Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Christmas Eve, etc

Ø      Develop a variety of alternative worship services, including ( but not limited to), contemporary Praise services, Youth services, services for Healing and Wholeness, etc, to be held at a variety of times throughout the week  to accommodate different work and family schedules

Ø      Utilize more lay leaders in worship

Ø      Encourage and develop musicians of all ages within the congregation

Ø      Augment the offering of worship music with greater variety of instrumentation and vocal groups

Ø      Utilize newer technologies to provide a wide variety of music for congregational participation

Ø      Ensure that those absent from worship are restored to full fellowship

Ø      Be prepared for newcomers by developing a corps of trained greeters in addition to ushers

Survey Question: How satisfied are you with the following at Mount Horeb?

Response:

Traditional worship opportunities:
Very satisfied/satisfied = 79%

Non-traditional opportunities:
Very satisfied/satisfied = 34%

FOCUS ON:

Fellowship

”…Day by day as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread in their homes and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number.”–Acts 2:46-47       Along with a strong desire to grow the church, God affirms the deep desire among members of Mount Horeb to maintain the close, family connections that have sustained and nurtured the faithful throughout the years. This is the quality of koinonia, translated as “fellowship,” which was developed and encouraged in the New Testament church. It should not be sacrificed for the sake of membership growth, but must be preserved and shared even as we grow. God is leading us to:

Ø      Establish and promote a prayer chain that includes all member households

Ø      Develop and encourage a Small Group structure that promotes mutual caring and sharing

Ø      Maintain and improve  system of internal communication through verbal and bulletin announcements, phone, email, and postal system

Ø      Continue and encourage participation in occasions for congregational sharing such as after-worship fellowship, program-related dinners, and seasonal celebrations (Shrove Tuesday, Birthday Dinner, Hanging o” the Greens,” Birthday Party for Jesus, etc)

Ø      Develop a method for ongoing assessment of congregational desires for fellowship opportunities

Ø      Clarify roles and strengthen responsibilities for pastoral care in areas of family and personal needs, absenteeism, counseling

Survey Question: What church activities have you found most meaningful in developing your faith?

Response: “Fellowship activities”; friendships made

Demographic Facts:  

Ø      91% of households in part of our area fall into the US lifestyles Group “Middle American Families”; in other parts the predominant group is “Rural Working Families”

Ø      Much of our area can be described as very traditional in terms of family structure, due to the above average presence of married persons and two-parent families (65% of adults are married, 81% of married couples have children at home)

Focus on:

Organization

“See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them.” 

– Isaiah 42:9

“…Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that…I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel…”                                                                                                                                        – Philippians 1:27

   The church God envisions in this report is not the Mount Horeb of the past or the present.  It will continue to be, as the Presbyterian motto goes, “A church reformed and always being reformed,” by the power of the Holy Spirit. God is leading us to:

Ø      Examine the existing organizational structure and modify as necessary to provide for shifts in program emphases, greater flexibility, more openness to new ideas, and involvement of more people in decision-making

Ø      Make identification and training of lay leaders an ongoing priority

Ø      Initiate Small Groups focused on prayer, study, and fellowship

Ø      Expand the paid church staff to include a youth Director or youth Minister

Ø      Encourage grassroots development of service projects

Ø      Empower small group decision-making

Ø      Value members’ time with consideration to time, length, frequency, and schedule of meetings

Ø      Develop respectful communication skills and loving interactions among all from the Session to individual members

Ø      Acquire, use, and periodically update church management software and hardware

Ø      Review and revise the Vision every two years

Survey Question: How satisfied are you with (flexibility and willingness to accept new ideas)

Response:

very satisfied/satisfied

with Congregation = 35%

with Session        = 40%

CONCLUSION

   A fire changed Mount Horeb Presbyterian Church forever. And yet, many things will remain the same. The spirit of God’s people remains high; our will is strong.

   On the third day following the fire- Easter Sunday, 2002- there was a most remarkable event.  The Youth of the church, hearing that the Sunrise Service was being cancelled because of the fire, took the initiative to keep that wonderful tradition alive. They planned and organized a service, provided the leadership, arranged for some special music, and organized a phone-calling campaign to get the word out. Very early on Easter Sunday, despite a drizzling rain, they led a wonderful service.

    Some initially saw this as an act of defiance against church leaders who had decided to cancel the planned service. But those who attended were truly blessed by a very meaningful and uplifting event. In retrospect, this occasion demonstrated all the best things about Mount Horeb. The young people of the church have learned well the lessons taught them by an older generation. They carried forward the tradition in a bold, new way. They did it for all the right reasons- to honor God and to praise the Risen Christ.

   They valued one of the special traditions of the church, and yet they did a new thing. What a wonderful model for us as we ponder the Vision that God has laid out for us in the foregoing pages. God honors the traditions that have been kept alive by faithful members of Mount Horeb through the years. And yet God leads us to do new things to pass the traditions of our faith on to others.

   Disasters like our fire let us know that we are an imperfect people, living in an imperfect world. Something happens, life changes, and we must go on. Yet we have this truth- that God is together with us through the changes. And God can use the changes to bring about an even greater good.

   In Jesus Christ we can see into the heart of God. In his life’s ministry, his death and his resurrection, Jesus showed us that God is about loving, healing, restoring, reconciling, and saving. That is the work Jesus invites faithful disciples to take up when he says, ”Come, follow me.”

   The 2020 Vision Task Force offers this Vision as a projection of God’s will for Mount Horeb, as a framework for action, to be prioritized and fleshed out in the near future.  The services of Task Force members remain available to assist the Building Committee, the Session and the congregation in whatever capacity would be of service.

To God be the glory