COTTAGE MEETING: Building our Spiritual Home
Welcome and Introductions
Opening Devotion
Psalm 127:1 Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.
Reading So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for the Lord. Ephesians 2:19-22
Lord’s Prayer
Sharing Grace Church's Successes
Concord Monitorregularly covers our exciting events: Pork Fest, Ashes to Go,Animal Blessing.
Bishop Rob Hirschfeld tells other churches that we are a model for future ministry and has sent a Deacon Intern, Shawn LaFrance, to prepare for ministry with us.
Take-a-Tote has been reproduced at St. Mark’s-Groveton. Centrepoint Church in Concord will begin delivering 50 bags per week to Christa McAuliffe School in mid-December.
Parish Growth from a “Type 1” to “Type 2” congregation, our first move up in 130 years. NH Episcopal churches are ranked in size from the smallest (Type 1) to largest (Type 5).
Long-Range Hope
Episcopal Service Corps Repurpose Stevenson House to house 6+ young adults connected to social service internships. They commit to simple, communal and prayerful living. The first group could start in 2016-2017 academic year.
Capital Campaign The last major building campaign was over 20 years ago. As our church has grown, we have need to do major maintenance and consider expansion of our facilities.
New MinistriesDeacon Intern Shawn LaFrance is applying to the Roanridge Trust to develop a training program todevelop new ministry in Franklin-Tilton-Northfield after Trinity’s closure.
Short-Range Hopes
Administrator Order supplies, manage building use, manage Stevenson House, meeting reminders, mailings, nametags, directories, event sign-ups and RSVPs, oversee Safe Church trainings and Lay Ministry Licensing, Worship Server scheduling
RectorMidweek worship, Bible Study, youth group, Sunday School teacher training, acolyte training, liturgy planning committee, outreach to NHTI,ESC, Capital Campaign, regular homeboundvisits, develop TAT connections, sermon planning, leadership development
Discussion
From, your point of view, how have you seen God “building up” Grace Episcopal Church as a spiritual homein the past year?
How has God “built up” your personal spiritual life in the past year?
What vision of our future together compels you to offer your best self?
God built up Take-a-Tote from a few conversations 5 years ago. What could God build up among us over the next five years that we can't imaginebeing without?
The Concord Monitor regularly features Grace. What new thing will be so compelling that the Concord Monitor willwant to come back for new pictures?
Closing Devotion
CollectAlmighty God, you have built your Church upon thefoundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himselfbeing the chief cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined togetherin unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made aholy temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord,who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,for ever and ever. Amen.
BlessingMay God the Father, who by Baptism adopts us as his children, grant you grace. Amen.
May God the Son, who sanctified a home at Nazareth, fill you with love. Amen.
May God the Holy Spirit, who has made the Church one family, keep you in peace. Amen.