Dear Members of COS:

COS has been involved in a significant period of self-reflection. We engaged in surveys and focus groups towards the creation of the parish profile and topics with which the search committee would later engage with candidates. We have explored worship service options and done significant funding raising to support our new building. Now, it is time to start thinking forward, exploring what life will be like in our new building and with our new rector.

The key word in that last sentence is “our.” We, the COS community, want to start to assess what is important to us to do and what skills we have to do it. We hope that you will be willing to engage in some new conversations around the things that are most important for us moving forward and to generate ideas for how to proceed from there.

We want to center these conversations in four areas:

1. Mission: Your overarching purpose or the impact you aim to make in the world. It often aligns with a sense of service or contribution to a greater good. Examples could be: "To promote environmental sustainability" or "To help others find healing and hope."
2. Passion: What excites or inspires you; the activities, ideas, or causes that give you energy and fulfillment. Examples could be a love for teaching, playing music, or advocating for social justice.  
3. Profession: The career or job you pursue to earn a living. It often involves specific training, skills, or qualifications.  
4. Vocation: A deeper sense of calling or purpose in your work or life, often tied to your values, faith, or spiritual beliefs. It transcends simply earning a living and focuses on meaning.

These four areas interrelate and build upon each other. Passion can fuel your energy and enthusiasm. Your profession provides the structure and means to use your skills in the world. Your sense of mission gives your work a broader sense of purpose or contribution, and your vocation is what you feel God is calling you to do. We feel these four can serve as the foundation of the new emergent COS, and so we want to hold conversations with as many of you as are willing to share. We want to provide varied ways of engaging that can meet your needs/strengths.  

1. You could complete a digital survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfc8uyaH0gK5IUtp7FlbZnUNRrivU8vS_TLCUzmundIzO4hcw/viewform?usp=sharing
2. You could complete a paper survey, which you can then turn into us. There will be copies available on the piano at Salvatore's for the next two Sundays.
3. You could have one-on-one (or group) conversations with one of us. To do so, please email Peter at peter@chicagocos.org stating some dates and times that work for you. He will coordinate with our team and get back to you!

It is our plan to gather together these strengths and ideas for our future to help us present to Charlotte and the Vestry the areas in which we are eager to explore as a community.

Sincerely yours,

Deacon Jess Elfring-Roberts, Peter Civetta, and the Community Engagement Team