|
Extending Welcome Beyond Our Walls: Introducing the Community Connections & Collaborations Team
At First Lutheran, we strive to be known as a community where all are welcome—a community where everyone is invited to experience God’s love, belonging and grace. Yet as we’ve reflected on who God is calling us to be, a deeper question has emerged: How do we extend the same spirit of welcome beyond our four walls—to our neighbors, our city and those who may never enter our sanctuary?
That question has been echoed in several important ways over the past year. The Church Council has been studying Leading Faithful Innovation by Dwight Zscheile, Michael Binder and Tessa Pinkstaff. In a recent update, Council President Rod Johnson shared this quote from the book:
“Congregations are facing challenges…. it takes more than a redesigned website, a new worship style or a building remodel to address what’s happening…. congregations must discover new ways to be the church in the twenty-first century…. fresh connections with people inside its walls and outside in the community.”
The newly formed Community Connections & Collaborations (CCC) Team is one way we’re putting that call into action. Created in response to a concept paper presented to the Church Council by lay leaders in August, the team combines two original ideas—an outreach team and an in-reach team—into one collaborative ministry that strengthens relationships within the congregation and builds connections beyond it.
Since August, the CCC team has been meeting monthly, engaging in open and thoughtful conversations about the needs of our congregation and community. Always asking where is God calling us and where God is at work in the neighborhood, community and beyond. The team’s shared goal is to help First Lutheran “discover new ways to be the church” — creating meaningful opportunities for connection, service and shared ministry both inside and outside our walls.
The team’s first major initiative is coordinating this year’s Gifts of Hope Market, coming December 6-7. While the market has not been under any ministry umbrella for several years, it remains one of our congregation’s most beloved and impactful outreach efforts. The team recognized its importance as both a benevolence and relationship-building ministry and has embraced it as a priority — recruiting volunteers, coordinating planning and exploring year-round partnerships with the organizations supported through Gifts of Hope.
Looking ahead, the team is exploring new ways to foster connection and service through fellowship and neighborhood groups, community drives or shared meals to address food insecurity and creative outreach like Friday Night Lights chili feeds in the fall.
The team also plays a vital coordinating role, bringing together ministries at First such as Social Ministry, Fellowship, Stewardship and Church Council, while giving a home to initiatives like Gifts of Hope, Wild Women and First Friday Jazz. Team members include Linda Bogenreif, Cindy Lilleoien, Lisa Culbertson, Terry Kruse, Barb Johnson Frank, Kari Hoeft, Lee Rockwell, Gene & Sherri Cotter, Jim Sandman, Sunni Richardson, Mark Wemhoff and Kathleen Simley—individuals already serving within many of these ministries.
Rooted in the congregation’s Vitality Initiative call to “accompany each other and others” by embracing, partnering, welcoming, discipling and advocating, this team is helping First Lutheran discover new ways to live as God’s people—connected, compassionate and open to where God leads next.
| 
