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Introduction: For the Episcopal Diocese of Nevada 39th Annual Convention, Bishop Dan Edwards chose the theme of “I Love To Tell The Story” for Evangelism. I presented the committee with E=mc2 information and songs. The bishop asked me to teach the E=mc2 workshop and approved it for the convention date of October 24, 2009 at Lake Tahoe.
E = mc2 for Evangelism by Teresa Schroeder.
Evangelism is declaring or sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Evangelize is from the Greek word euaggelizo (pronounced: yoo-ang-ghel-idzo) and means to announce good news or bring glad tidings. It is in reference especially to preaching the gospel. The first recorded Evangel in the New Testament is the angel Gabriel in the gospel of Luke. Angel means a messenger of God and Evangel is a messenger of good news of God. Gabriel announces to Zachariah that he will have a son named John and to Mary that she will have a son named Jesus. An angel also appeared to the shepherds to announce “Unto you a child is born, a Savior, the Messiah and Lord.”
I think of Bible history as HIS-story of the Messianic Kinsman Redeemer who claims, consoles, and calls a chosen people to Himself. This is definitely good news to share. He is the Incarnate Son of God. He is Lord “Adoni” in the Hebrew Canon or Old Testament and “Kurios” in the Greek Canon or New Testament. In Hebrew He is known as “Yeshua ha Meschiah” and in Greek as “Jezus oi Kristos”. Note that Christ and Messiah both mean anointed one.
Jesus is the Lord of Evangelization. He preached repentance and proclaimed the Reign of God. (Mt.4:17, Mk.1:14, Lk.4:14) He gave us the greatest lesson on how to evangelize in Luke 24:13-35. On the first Easter He spoke to two disciples on the road to Emmaus. They were Clopus and his wife Mary. (She is named at the foot of the cross in John 19:25). First: Jesus asked them “What are you discussing?” They told Him of the crucifixion and the empty tomb. Second: Jesus interpreted all the prophetic and messianic scriptures. Third: Their hearts were enlightened and uplifted. Fourth: Jesus fellowshipped with them in the breaking of the bread.
In this workshop I will follow Jesus teaching model with 1) Life Dimension by discussing what’s happening. 2) Faith Dimension by explaining the scriptures relating to the topic. 3) Reflection by experiencing His Presence in these scriptures, stories, and songs. 4) Faith Response will be tomorrow with the “Breaking of the Bread” at the Convention Eucharist with Bishop Dan.
On the first Easter two weary people were on their way home. They believed their Messiah had been murdered. Their expectations were unfulfilled so they did not recognize Jesus, even though they heard the tomb was empty. They were blinded by grief, fear and tragedy. But as Jesus walked with them, He revealed the fulfillment of the prophesies they could not see. Their eyes were opened to the truth of the gospel and His triumph over death to really see Him alive. We must not let our expectations blind us to what God is doing in our lives. Let the One who walks beside you open your eyes to His plan and His purpose for your life.
TODAY the faith of many church members and/or believers all across America has become impersonal and superficial. God seems to have been removed from their lives and they sometimes refer to God as the “guy upstairs”. Instead of saying a prayer, some believers “make a wish” and “knock on wood for luck” just like non-believers. So many mature believers have become spiritually stagnant.
In the twentieth century Sunday was a day for church and family. In the twenty-first century Sunday is just another day of the week to schedule activities while not at work or at school. (I remember in the 1950’s that Jewish stores were closed on Saturdays and Christian stores were closed on Sundays.) Jesus said we can not serve God and mammon. Even though our money says “In God we trust”, money and materialism are major parts of this present culture. God has been removed from schools and society so that today people only hear about God in churches or in church families.
The Magnetic Church model states the goals of Evangelism are to encourage skeptics with practical opportunities, motivate the curious into active involvement and inspire those already actively evangelizing to apply their experiences and spiritual gifts to exciting and new ministries. Evangelism according to Magnetic Church information is assisting non-believers to become believers, encouraging believers to become disciples and inspiring disciples to become evangelists. A MAGNETIC Christian is defined as Motivated, Attentive, Gracious, Natural, Energized, Trained, Inspired and Called.
I have categorized Evangelism into three themes: a Mission of Faith, a Ministry of Hope and a Message of Love.
First - Evangelism is a Mission of Faith: The author of Hebrews 11:1, 13:7 states, “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, and the conviction of things not seen. For by faith the men of old received divine approval; consider the outcome of their life and imitate their faith.”
We believe that “we walk by faith and not by sight.” I Cor. 5:7, 4:18 “We do not fix our gaze on what is seen but on what is unseen. What is seen is transitory and what is unseen is eternal”. Before Jesus cured the demonic boy the father asked Jesus to help him to believe (Mark 9:24).
The world says SEEING (hand to eyes) is believing;
but the Word says BELIEVING (hand to heart) is seeing.
With Evangelism as a Mission of Faith we realize that: we must pray for God to lead us to the ones He wants to bring the Gospel message. [Use Bible: Paul says in Second Cor.2:14:17, "Thanks be to God, who always leads us to triumph in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. For we are to God, the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved, and also among those who are perishing. To the one we are a fragrance of life, and to the other we are the odor of death. For such a mission as this is anyone really qualified? We are not like those who peddle the word of God for profit. We speak in Christ's Name, pure in motivation, conscious of having been sent by God and standing in His Presence." NAV]
Paul’s parable had a significant meaning to the Corinthians. The imagery of triumph to them was that of a Roman general, who marched in victory with his entourage, consisting of two groups of captives: those being saved and those perishing. The captives allowed to live would become slaves of the Empire. The other captives were condemned and being led to their death. Each group carried burning incense. The practical lesson here is that the believer is an “aroma of Christ” wherever he/she goes. Christians with their testimony are the fragrance of life for those who choose to believe and the odor of death to those who choose not to believe the gospel. Paul also refers to the false teachers who infiltrated the church to take money from gullible members. Paul here affirms Jesus teaching to “give freely what you have been freely given.” (Matthew 10:8)
Dr. Charles Garfield, formerly of NASA and now at Berkeley teaching Sociology and Psychology, studied persons who reached their highest possible achievements in life. He studied people who strived for their peak performance and who brought their best to other people. He found that their focus was to be the best person possible and that they were totally committed to a “mission” in life. Well, our mission is giving ourselves to something that is greater than ourselves. Our mission as Christians is being totally committed to Jesus. We are to serve others and to witness for Jesus.
To guide us in this Mission of Faith the church teaches us the Five Marks of Mission. 1) To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom. 2) To teach, baptize, and nurture new believers. 3) To respond to human need by loving service. 4) To seek to transform unjust structures of society. 5) To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth. Evangelism is a summary of what all mission is about, because it is based on Jesus’ own mission to make known the Kingdom of God.
Second - Evangelism is a Ministry of Hope: In Colossians 1:5+27 Paul declares, “Christ in us is our hope of glory.” “You heard of this hope through the message of truth, the gospel, which has come to you and has continued to grow in your midst as it has everywhere in the world.”
We believe God is who He says He is, and that He can do what He says He can do. Believe that you are who God says you are. God formed you in the womb and you are fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps.139:14). If you are in Christ you are a new creation (2Cor.5:17) and you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you (Phil.4:13).
Evangelism being a Ministry of Hope recommends that: we must pray for God to open the eyes of those who are spiritually blind. [Use Bible: Second Corinthians 4:1-5 states, "Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the Word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every one's conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The ‘god of this age’, the great deceiver, has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel; which is the glory of Christ who is the image of God. For we preach Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as servants for Jesus' sake.” NAV]
Luke 10:1 tells us that, “Jesus appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of Him in pairs to every town and place where He Himself intended to go.” These disciples did not go instead of Him but ahead of Him to announce His coming and thus prepare hearts to receive Him. As workers in God’s kingdom, we must understand our job-description. We are sent to announce the good news of Jesus. We are not sent to convict or to convert anyone. That’s the Holy Spirit’s job. So when people embrace the good news we cannot take the credit. And when they reject our message, we have not failed. Only the Holy Spirit can change hearts so the results are not our responsibility. Our responsibility is to be faithful witnesses to the gospel. The Lord says in Isaiah 43:10 “You’re my witnesses, my servants, whom I have chosen.” As His witnesses, “our testimony” according to I John 5:11 “is this: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.” He is the Way, the Truth and the Life.(John 14:6) We witness with HIS-story of the Way to God, the Truth of God and the Life of God.
To reinforce our witness in this Ministry of Hope, the bible tells us of a Fivefold Ministry in Ephesians 4:11-13. “The Lord gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to prepare God’s people for works of service; so that the Body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God.”
Third - Evangelism is a Message of Love: John 3:16 proclaims, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.”
We believe God’s Word is alive and active in us. Each one of you are uniquely gifted and called to serve God. Believe that each one of you and all of us together, are called to be a holy people in communion with a Holy God. We all are one in Christ Jesus (Gal.3:28) and are members of the Body of Christ (I Cor.12:27).
Evangelism as a Message of Love shows us that: We can paraphrase Jeremiah 1:1-10 to read "God does not choose the qualified, He qualifies the chosen.” To regain the attraction and excitement of people sharing their faith one needs to remember that in Christ they are new creations (II Cor. 5:17) and they can do all things through Christ who strengthens them (Phil. 4:13). Second Corinthians 5:19b-20a says, "God has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us." This message of reconciliation is really a message of Divine Love and Mercy. We each need to realize that revival means to bring others from the kingdom of darkness into new life of the Kingdom of Light. An ambassador is appointed and sent with authority. [Use Bible: First Peter 2:9+10 declares, “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people He claims for His own; to proclaim the glorious works of the One who called you from darkness into His marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people. Once you had not received mercy but now you have received mercy.” NIV]
First Corinthians 3:16 tells us that “we each are a Temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwells in us.” The Holy Spirit captivates us to be truly converted and changed. The Holy Spirit will convict us and challenge us to accept the Great Commission of Christ (Matthew 28:18-20 paraphrased) “to make disciples of all the nations, baptize them, and teach them everything He commanded.” To encourage you as an ambassador and a witness for Christ; I have a handout of Encouraging Scriptures that you can personalize by saying “your name” where ever it says “you”.
The two greatest commands are to Love God and love others. With the Spirit of God dwelling in us we are able to love others with His Love. The Holy Spirit empowers us to utilize the Five Positive Points of Love described in I Cor. 13:4-7. 1) Love is patient and kind. 2) Love bears all things. 3) Love believes all things. 4) Love hopes all things. 5) Love endures all things. With His Love in us we can go forth to tell our story and THE greatest story ever told.
Let’s listen to a song by Don Francisco (1980’s) retelling the gospel story in Luke 8:40-56.
SONG: “Gotta Tell Somebody”. Listen to Jarius story of encountering Jesus. http://songoffaith.com/mp3s/Albums/He ... Somebody_DonFrancisco.mp3 (Discuss song by Don Francisco about the physical healing of Jarius’ daughter)
Evangelism is telling our personal story of what Jesus has done for each one of us. Like Jarius we’ve got to tell somebody. A quote from James Barrie says, “Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves." Our new quote for today says, “Those who bring S-O-N shine into the lives of others cannot keep it from shining only on themselves.” We want to spread the good news of our relationship with Jesus and of our encounters with Jesus in our own personal life and our family’s lives.
NOW we will look at our formula E=mc2. This is a technical scientific formula that I have taken the liberty of using as a theoretical spiritual formula. (E = mc2 in physics and in religion is also printed in the Convention Booklet.)
E = mc2 In physics, mass–energy equivalence is the concept that mass and energy are the same thing, so that every mass has an energy equivalent, and vice versa. This relationship is expressed using the formula .
• E = energy
• m = mass
• c = the speed of light in a vacuum (celeritas), (about 3×108 m/s)
In other words: energy equals mass multiplied by the speed of light squared. Because the speed of light is a very large number in everyday units, the formula implies that any small amount of matter contains a very large amount of energy. Some of this energy may be released as heat and light by nuclear transformations.
E = mc2 In religion or “the faith”, a spiritual equivalence is the concept that my efforts and evangelism are the same thing, so that my effort has an evangelistic equivalent, and vice versa. This spiritual relationship can also be expressed simply in the formula .
• E = Evangelism
• m = me (my efforts)
• c = church (Body of Christ or a group of believers in Jesus)
In other words: Evangelism equals my efforts multiplied by and in the church as a group of believers “squared”. Because the body of believers is a very large number in everyday units, the formula implies that any small amount of my efforts contains a very large amount of Evangelism. Some of this Evangelism may be released as grace and mercy by spiritual inner transformations for salvation.
The “E” of E=mc2 is EVANGELISM
Some times people think Evangelism means "Converting others to the Christian Faith" and to some people it is interpreted as “converting to MY or OUR Faith” from no faith or another faith or even another church. This treats "faith or church" as direct objects of the verb "converting". Conversion is really to a Person. It is personally encountering our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This is where my faith story of "What Jesus has done for me" takes on a whole new meaning. Sharing our faith story of Jesus' intervention, healing and forgiveness in our life is what it is all about. We must remember that Evangelism is not membership in a "faith or church" it is a personal relationship with Jesus.
The “m” of E=mc2 is all about MY efforts for Evangelism.
MY effort and each of your efforts are all about telling our stories. It is very important to listen to other people’s stories and share your faith story with other people. Remember you are the messenger and not the message. Avoid ‘pitching’ or overselling. Listening is the far greater discipline. We combine genuine listening skills with effective dialogue to determine any commonality. Be a positive person, even if they are negative. You can regret their previous experience and then invite them to this new experience. Remember they have come seeking answers. We have the best answer; it’s Jesus.
The Bible is my prayer book, storybook, and operations manual. An appropriate acronym for BIBLE is “Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.” So many people are searching for answers. They have unmet needs, unresolved issues and unhealed hurts. They seek to be restored and healed. They desire to forgive and be forgiven. People want and need a bold proclamation of a persuasive gospel in order to meet and greet a personal God. Focus must be on God-centered theology not self-centered therapy. Churched and un-churched people may know the Word of God. They want be shown, or taught to know, the God of the Word. Then they can be more effectual persons and become more engaged Christians.
SENARIO: Now we will practice listening to someone’s story and observing the storyteller. We will break into groups of three. You will each take turns: telling a story, listening to the story, and observing the story. We will use the “greeters” model from the Magnetic Church workshop offered earlier this year. It is printed on the yellow papers I have provided. We allow up to five minutes for each story scenario and ten minutes for each discussion.
(Explain the process.) Look at the Greeter Training #1 and #2 handouts at the end of this workshop lesson. Read “Your Mission” and role play the “Greeter Practice Script” with emphasis on listening skills. Evaluate the role playing and discuss the scenario. Note: James 2:1-9 is guidance for greeters.
The “c” of E=mc2 is for the CHURCH’S efforts for Evangelism.
The Greek word for church is ecclesia. It went from the early meaning for “a group of believers” to the modern meaning of “a place for believers”. The early church believers started meeting in homes, around a table, to participate together in worship. The modern church brings believers into a participatory worship at the table or altar with Eucharistic Prayers in The Book of Common Prayer. (Aka: BCP). Today the greatest tool for participatory worship is Total Ministry. I'm all for total ministry not only for necessity but in relation to the "priesthood of all believers."
The concept of Total Ministry is a response to the truth that every congregation is a "ministering community". It recognizes the combined leadership and ministry of the clergy and the laity. It is a bold look at how to affirm and encourage congregations to take seriously individual gifts and call people from their flock for public ministry.
Wesley Frensdorff (1926-1988) was the Seventh Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Nevada. He developed the Total Ministry concept of missionary Rollin Allen into a flourishing expression of Christian ministry in Nevada. He traveled the state and made a way for small congregations to share God's call and provided them resources, support and encouragement. The Frensdorff story is chronicled in a book by Stewart Zabriskie.(Out of print:ISBN 1-56699-155-2) I have a Total Ministry #1 handout for you that I printed for St. John’s Vestry. It is titled “Let Us Dream of Church” with sermon excerpts of Bishop Frensdorff at the end of this workshop lesson.
Total Ministry recognizes that, as baptized persons, we each have a ministry to share with others. At St. John’s we open our Vestry meetings with a prayer based on the Baptismal Covenant. The prayer leader recites the "Will you" questions and we answer with the response "I will, with God's help". We conclude with thanking God for calling us to His Service at St. John's in Total Ministry and continue the prayer with "Renew us and Send us forth, to perform the service YOU set before us; through Jesus Christ. Amen". I also have a Total Ministry #2 handout of St. John’s Vestry opening prayer at the end of this workshop lesson.
The first key to Total Ministry, I believe, is in helping every member of the congregation recognize that they have a ministry. We can even expand our thinking with the thought that every ministry has a minister and vice versa. All too often congregants or Laity view ministry as the job of ordained persons such as the Clergy. The second key to Total Ministry is encouraging the Laity to exercise their individual ministry to the fullest extent possible; based on their unique talents and gifts. The value of prayer here is in helping ourselves and others recognize gifts and maybe even callings to the Deaconate or Priesthood.
We can form committees or ministries by focusing on people's areas of giftedness for example: music people in worship, hospitality people in fellowship, detail people in finance or vestry. Parishes provide basic training for working in ministries as a lector, acolyte, chalice bearer or greeter. Some workshops are offered by the diocese, and each individual is encouraged to take EFM or CALL classes. Many parishes have a written Mission Statement and a few have written goals. Parishes are filling in the communication gaps with their websites. Even “Twitter” can be a tool to spread the good news.
Now we will look at the final element of our spiritual formula.
The 2 or “squared” part of E=mc2 is for POWER.
In Matthew 10:1 Jesus gave the disciples power (here the Greek word is exousia meaning ability or authority). Jesus called His twelve disciples and gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every infirmity. He authorized or empowered them with His Holy Orders by giving the disciples the ability to declare, “The reign of God is at hand! Cure the sick, raise the dead, heal the lepers, and expel demons.” (Mt.10:1 and 7-8) If these ministry holy orders were good enough for the first century church, then they are good enough for the twenty-first century church. Jesus said we would do what He did and more. (John 14:11-12)
John the Baptist proclaimed that Jesus would baptize in the Holy Spirit and in fire. At His Ascension, Jesus told the disciples to wait a few days to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. In Acts 1:8 Jesus said the Holy Spirit would give them power (here the Greek word is dunamis meaning dynamic ability or mighty force). Jesus taught the disciples that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came down on them. At Pentecost tongues of fire appeared on them, they were filled with the power of the Holy Spirit in a “dynamic way”. They spoke in foreign tongues, and made bold proclamations about Jesus as the Spirit prompted them even though they were uneducated men. With the “mighty force” of the Holy Spirit they performed many miracles with signs and wonders. (Acts 1+2)
We have the “exousia” power from our Baptism with water and we can have the “dunamis” power with the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. I Corinthians 4:20 says that, “The Kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.” We must pray for a fresh fire from heaven to come down on us so that we receive power to speak boldly and proclaim the Gospel. With the dynamic power of the Holy Spirit we, in the church, will be shaken with holy dynamite and the fires for Revival will be ablaze.
Now is the time to talk about a Vision statement.
According to Proverbs 29:18, “The people perish without a vision.” Well, I have a Vision. I envision FIRE coming to the churches as Revival for the new believers and as Renewal for the old believers. Jeremiah 23:28-29 says “Let him who has my word speak it truthfully…Is not My Word like fire, says the Lord?”
Jesus said, In Luke 12:29, “I have come to light a fire on the earth and how I wish the blaze were ignited!” In Luke 24:13-15 the two disciples, on the road to Emmaus that first Easter day, said that their “hearts were burning inside” them as they recalled Jesus explaining the prophetic messianic scriptures to them.
The “FIRE theme” to me is F for Faith, I for Intercession, R for Repentance, and E for Evangelism. It has a dynamic, powerful message. I would like to note that last November Billy Graham’s School of Evangelism had a Church Leadership Conference with the theme of “FIRE up your church and to let God rekindle your passion”. It was promoted as “a chance to reconnect with your calling.” (Reference - www.billygraham.org/SOE)
A new Revival is beginning now. Through Evangelism the signs are showing. People are hungering and thirsting for a relationship with God. People are seeking something by redirection to revival and they discover Someone. They personally meet the Resurrected Jesus and are resuscitated with His saving grace. People are chasing something that turns out to be Someone, and we, along with them, can be apart of this era of God Chasers. The Kingdom of God is here. The Holy Spirit is touching people now.
Let’s listen to another song by Don Francisco. As Easter
people, we too, meet the Risen Lord …
SONG: He’s Alive. Listen to Peter’s story on that first Easter. http://songoffaith.com/mp3s/Albums/He ... HesAlive_DonFrancisco.mp3
(Discuss Song by Don Francisco -Newpax Records 1980- of Luke 24:12+34 and John 20:1-10)
The description of the Risen Lord is given in the first chapter of Revelation verses 13 to 16. There we see John’s vision of the Lamb seated on the throne with a sash of gold about His breast, His hair as white as snow-white wool, and His eyes blazing like fire. The Lord commissioned me to paint Him with “His hair as white as wool” and here is my simple effort to convey a small essence of His Glory. (See photo next page of Rev.1:12-14 painting.)
My scripture oil paintings are apart of my faith story as well as my Bible Study teaching aids. HE is the painter and I am His paintbrush. I try to visually capture a scriptural concept on canvas. I have a dozen scripture paintings that I use to tell HIS-story.
As Easter people we can tell the “good news” story that our Savior lives! He is not a deaf and dumb statue. Just like Peter, I tell others; “He’s alive, I’m forgiven, and heaven’s gates are open wide.” I love to tell the story of what Jesus has done for me. You each have a story to tell of what Jesus has done for you. Today in the two songs we heard Jarius’ story about the physical healing of his daughter and Peter’s story about how he received spiritual healing through Jesus forgiveness.
Now let us think about our collective story. Jesus says that, “where two or more are gathered in His Name that He is present.” (Matthew 18:20) Well, I want to say, “Look, here in this class, as we gather in his Name, He IS in our midst.” Cast your eyes upon Jesus and see His marvelous face. Reach out and touch Him. He created you for Himself. Oh, how He loves you with an everlasting love. He makes you worthy to come before Him.
He is the Lamb of God who died on a cross for your salvation. He rose from the dead and He is alive forevermore. He alone is the Holy One, The Lord. He is the Most High, Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Worship Him. Praise His Holy Name. Amen
Revelation 1:12-14 by Teresa Schroeder (Photo)
HANDOUT for E=mc2 Workshop – Encouraging Scriptures
God does not choose the Qualified;
He qualifies the Chosen.
(Paraphrase of Jeremiah 1:4-10) by Teresa Schroeder
For personal reflection insert your own name where ever “you” would appear in these verses.
It was not you who chose Me; it was I who chose you. (John 15:16)
You whom I have called my servant, whom I have chosen and will not cast off, fear not I am with you. Be not dismayed I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. (Isaiah 41:9-10)
For God so loved you that He gave His only Son, that as you believe in Him you will not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
The Lord has formed your innermost being; he knit you in your mother’s womb. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:13)
The Lord says, I will never forget you. I have written your name on the palm of My hand. (Isaiah 49:15)
God has saved you and called you with a holy calling. Not according to your works, but according to His purpose and grace which was granted to you in Christ Jesus from all eternity. (II Timothy 1:9)
You are the Temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwells in you. (I Corr. 3:16)
The God of all grace, who called you to His everlasting glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you who have suffered a little while. (I Peter 5:10)
Because you are God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with one another; …Christ’s peace must reign in your heart, since as members of the one body you have been called to that peace….Whatever you do, whether in speech or in action, you do it in the name of the
Lord Jesus. Give thanks to God the Father through Him. (Colossians 3:12-17)
The Spirit of God that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you; and God makes all things work together for the good of you, who loves Him and who is called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:11a, 28)
Letter from Paul: As I kneel before the Father, from whom His whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name, I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being so that Christ may dwell in you through faith. And I pray that you being rooted and established in love, may have power together with all the saints; to grasp how wide and how long and how high and how deep is the Love of Christ. And to know this Love that surpasses knowledge; that you my be filled to the measure of all fullness of God. Now to God who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within you; to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus through out all generations, for ever and ever. Amen (Ephesians 3:14-21)
HANDOUT for E=mc2 Workshop - Greeter Training #1
HANDOUT for E=mc2 Workshop – Greeter Training #2
HANDOUT for E=mc2 Workshop – Total Ministry #1
Let Us Dream of a Church…
Envisioned by Wesley Frensdorff (1926 - 1988), the
Seventh Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Nevada
Let us dream of a church
In which all members know surely and simply God’s great love,
and each is certain that in the divine heart we are all known by name.
In which Jesus is very Word, our window into the Father’s heart;
the sign of God’s hope and his design for all humankind.
In which the Spirit is not a party symbol, but wind and fire in everyone;
gracing the church with a kaleidoscope of gifts and constant renewal for all.
A church in which
Worship is lively and fun as well as reverent and holy;
and we might be moved to dance and laugh; to be solemn, cry or beat the breast.
People know how to pray and enjoy it – frequently and regularly,
privately and corporately, in silence and in word and song,
The Eucharist is the center of life and servant hood the center of mission:
the servant Lord truly known in the breaking of the bread.
With service flowing from worship, and everyone understanding
why a worship is called a service.
Let us dream of a church
In which the sacraments, free from captivity by a professional elite,
are available in every congregation regardless of size, culture, location or budget.
In which every congregation is free to call forth from its midst priests and deacons,
sure in the knowledge that training and support services are available to back them up.
In which the Word is sacrament too, as dynamically present as bread and wine;
Members, not dependent on professionals, know what’s what and who’s who in the Bible
and all sheep share in the shepherding.
In which discipline is a means, not to self-justification, but to discipleship
and law is known to be a good servant bur a very poor master.
A church
Affirming life over death as much as life after death,
Unafraid of change, able to recognize God’s hand in the revolutions,
affirming the beauty of diversity, abhorring the imprisonment of uniformity,
As concerned about love in all relationships as it is about chastity,
and affirming the personal in all expressions of sexuality;
Denying the separation between secular and sacred, world and church,
since it is the world Christ came to and died for.
A church
Without the answers, but asking the right questions;
Holding law and grace, freedom and authority, faith and works together in tension,
by the Holy Spirit, pointing to the glorious mystery who is God.
So deeply rooted in gospel and tradition that, like a living tree, it can swing in the
wind and continually surprise us with new blossoms.
Let us dream of a church
With a radically renewed concept and practice of ministry
and a primitive understanding of the ordained offices.
Where there is no clerical status and no classes of Christians,
but all together know themselves to be part of the laity – the holy people of God.
A ministering community
rather than a community gathered around a minister.
Where ordained people, professional or not, employed or not, are present
for the sake of ordering and signing the church’s life and mission,
not as signs of authority or dependency,
nor of spiritual or intellectual superiority,
but with Pauline patterns of “ministry supporting church” instead
of the common pattern of “church supporting ministry.”
Where bishops are signs and animators of the church’s unity,
catholicity and apostolic mission,
Priests are signs and animators of her eucharistic life and the
sacramental presence of her Great High Priest,
And deacons are signs and animators – living reminders – of the
church’s servanthood as the body of Christ who came as, and is,
the servant slave of all God’s beloved children.
Let us dream of a church
So salty and so yeasty that it really would be missed if no longer around;
Where there is wild sowing of seeds and much rejoicing when they take root,
but little concern for success, comparative statistics, growth or even survival.
A church so evangelical that its worship, its quality of caring,
its eagerness to reach out to those in need, cannot be contained.
A church
In which every congregation is in a process of becoming
free – autonomous – self-reliant – interdependent,
none has special status:
the distinction between parish and mission gone.
But each congregation is in mission
and each Christian, gifted for ministry;
a crew on a freighter, not passengers on a luxury liner.
Peacemakers and healers
abhorring violence in all forms (maybe even football),
as concerned with societal healing as with individual healing;
with justice as with freedom.
Prophetically confronting the root causes of social, political and
economic ills.
A community: an open, caring, sharing household of faith
where all find embrace, acceptance and affirmation.
A community: under judgment,
seeking to live with its own proclamation,
Therefore,
truly loving what the Lord commands
and desiring His promise.
And finally, let us dream of a people called
To recognize all the absurdities in ourselves and in one another,
including the absurdity that is LOVE,
Serious about the call and the mission
but not, very much, about ourselves,
Who, in the company of our Clown Redeemer can dance and sing
and laugh and cry in worship, in ministry and even in conflict.
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About the editor: From four addresses and sermons by Wesley “Wes” Frensdorff, Charles “Chuck” R. Wilson has “lifted the dream”, distilled them into one version and edited it for print in poetry form, as appears above, rather than in preaching form. Wilson states, “But the flow, the choice of words, the turn of phrase, remains [Wes’].” Wilson is confident that it is an accurate rendering of the Frensdorff dream. The Rev. Chuck was ordained in Idaho and has served in a variety of parochial, diocesan and national church positions. In private practice since 1971, his specialties include church management and ministry development.
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NOTE: This "lifting" of the DREAM of Wes Frensdorff by Charles Wilson is from the book "Reshaping Ministries". In this book Presiding Bishop Edmond L. Browing wrote in the forward, "...Wes taught that all persons were called to share in the ministry of this church through their baptism. By the grace of God, each person was called to ministry within the community of faith."
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Wesley Frensdorff (1926-1988) was the Seventh Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Nevada. He developed Total Ministry into a flourishing expression of Christian ministry. He traveled the state and made a way for small congregations to share God's call and provided them resources, support and encouragement. The Frensdorff story is chronicled in a book by Stewart Zabriskie. (Out of print: ISBN 1-56699-155-2)
HANDOUT for E=mc2 Workshop – Total Ministry #2
ST. JOHN’S VESTRY OPENING PRAYER:
Baptismal Covenant Reaffirming Total Ministry*
“The Lord be with you”….”And also with you.”
We were all baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Total Ministry recognizes, that as baptized persons, we each have a ministry to share with others. Now in reaffirmation of our Baptismal Covenant please answer “I will, with God’s help.”
Will you continue in the apostle’s teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?
ALL: I will, with God’s help.
Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
ALL: I will, with God’s help.
Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?
ALL: I will, with God’s help.
Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?
ALL: I will, with God’s help.
Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?
ALL: I will, with God’s help.
LET US PRAY:
Almighty God, we thank You that You have called us to Your service here at St. John’s in Total Ministry. Renew us and Send us forth, to perform the service You set before us; through Jesus Christ, Your Son our Lord, and the Holy Spirit.
ALL: AMEN
* The concept of Total Ministry has been a response to the truth that every congregation is a “ministering community” through Baptism.
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