VALUE STATEMENTS AND VISION INDICATORS

Whole-life worship involves a commitment to individual and corporate spiritual practices and disciplines in the way of Jesus. It allows us to “pray without ceasing” by allowing ourselves to be transformed by God’s love through the Holy Spirit in the image of Christ.

Vision Indicators: We are experiencing personal transformation through a commitment to individual and corporate spiritual practices. We are seeing growth in our ability to enjoy God’s presence, “hear” God’s voice and respond with creativity and boldness. Our acceptance of others and willingness to risk and act in the world is also increasing. John 15:1-5; Romans 12:2; Jeremiah 16.

Communion goes beyond community. It is more than fellowship; more than hospitality; more than bread and wine. It is the care and feeding of souls. Communion with God leads to genuine communion with one another. It is a life-altering process that enables us to become who we were created to be and relate with one another as God intended.

Vision Indicators: We are experiencing the blessing of increased humility, honesty, vulnerability, and courage that comes with developing committed, formational relationships as we share our spiritual journey with others. This is also resulting in an authentic hospitality that radiates out into our community, our lives, and our world. Philippians 2: 1-8; John 13:1-38; Luke 22:1-38.

Vocation is about is about becoming who we were created to be in Christ, making what we were created to make with the gifts and talents we’ve been given and doing what we are called by God to do in our daily lives. We share the common call as members of the Body of Christ to make disciples and to participate in the activity of God’s kingdom. We are also each uniquely and wonderfully made and loved by God. It is our joy and responsibility to live out our passion and calling in the world.

Vision Indicators: We are experiencing an enhanced sense of freedom to act and be in the world as we develop a deeper understanding of God’s calling on our lives. We feel we are doing the work of God through our personal calling as well as our shared calling as a community. Genesis 1:26-31; Mark 16:15; Matthew 25:14-30.

Storying is about being a witness to the way in which our stories intersect with the larger story of God and God’s people throughout the ages in all lands. Storying is a process of listening to the stories of the Bible, Christians throughout history and sharing our own. In committed Christian community there is an expectation of and value to a certain level of intimacy and accountability that can only come when people “show up” for one another and allow their stories to intertwine.  

Vision Indicators: We are finding ourselves more open to sharing how our stories are interacting with God’s story. We are more willing to be vulnerable in confessional and celebratory sharing with one another; recognizing the essential importance of hearing and sharing the stories of God’s people from the Bible, the larger Church through the ages and our own. This is showing up in the way we create, our daily work and the way we relate to the world as individuals and as a collective. Psalm 136; Psalm 117; 1 Corinthians 11:24; The Bible.

Discipleship is a life-long process for those who follow in the Way of Christ. An important part of that journey is being generous in our willingness to encourage others along that path. 

Vision Indicators: We are becoming more available to authentically help others connect their story with God’s and to empower them to feel confident in sharing their stories. God’s story is increasingly integrated into our own story. We are becoming more thoughtful, disciplined and spiritually mature. Our work in the world is increasingly responsible, involved, visionary and prophetic. Luke 10:1-24; Acts 2:47.

Stewardship is the act of responsibly caring for and managing the resources of another. As Christians, we recognize that all our finances, time, gifts, talents, abilities, opportunities, relationships, etc. were given to us by God for our use to celebrate and highlight the incredible beauty and love of the Creator and to continually draw us back into relationship with God and one another. The first commandment in Genesis 1:2 was to create, make and cultivate in the image of the one who created us.

Vision Indicators: We are committed to “make something of our world;” To act creatively and generatively in all aspects of our lives and to intentionally curate our lives according to God’s vision and intention for humanity. We are intentional about the way we use our gifts and passions and about developing our capacity in these areas. We are more committed to using our resources in ways that reflect these values. Genesis 1:2; Matthew 25:14-30; Exodus 35:1-29.

Creativity is an essential part of who we are as followers of Christ. Being created in the image of God, we were born to create, to make, to be joyful co-workers with the Holy Spirit seeking earnestly to embody Jesus’ prayer: “May God’s Kingdom come; may God’s will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.”

Vision Indicators: We are free in our capacity to engage God’s Word imaginatively and creatively in our lives. We are conscious of our responsibility to curate and cultivate the world around us and employ our creative gifts in whatever context we find ourselves as a way of glorifying God and experiencing God’s love for us. We actively seek out and encourage others to mature in their creativity as part of their spiritual formation. Genesis 1:2; Exodus 35:30-35; Isaiah 64:8; Exodus 35:25; Proverbs 22:29; Psalm 104:24; Colossians 3:23; Ephesians 2:10; Romans 12:6.