Drama presentation – “Directions from the Upper Room” which will include music by the Choir and Bells.

Vibrant congregations have learned to look outward.  They understand that they are missional entities, not institutions with a mission statement. I cannot stress this too much.  Most congregations at one time or another in their lifetimes, find themselves talking to and listening to only themselves. Self-talk, no matter how loving, soon becomes talk about how to maintain the status quo, how to keep the organization going. They lose track of the world around them, and soon begin to feel helpless to know where even to begin reaching out.  They don’t know their neighborhoods, nor do their neighborhoods know them.  They also don’t connect with other churches, don’t develop any kind of wider connections that give them a mirror through which to look at themselves.  So they usually have inaccurate pictures both of who they are and of the world around them.