Session Two: Why Are We?
Recapping Last Week:
Where are we at Spirit in the Hills?
Thirteen Years of Life Together
Moved in 2020 to our own property
Membership, Average Worship
Attendance, Budget leveling out and
holding steady after years of growth
Recapping Last Week:
Where are we at Spirit in the Hills?
In this community and this crazy time
2021, pandemic, political turmoil, heightened racial injustice
Spicewood/Lakeway/Bee Cave
Lake Travis ISD (and Spicewood
Elementary)
Dwelling in the Word:
Acts 2:42-47
Mission & Purpose
While a lot is changing, our core mission and purpose remains the same. Our first step in responding and moving creatively in our rapidly changing context is reminding ourselves of our mission and purpose.
Mission & Purpose
Why does the church exist?
To further the teachings of Jesus and spread the gospel
Follow the example of Jesus within and beyond our circles
Provide a consistent, apostolic message
To fulfill the great commission – to go, teach, and baptize
Because Christ calls
Support for people along their journey of life and faith – so we don’t go it alone
Guard and keep a safe and holy space
A place to resolve differences, to convene conversations
To keep sharing the faith through generations and across time and place
To help meet the needs of the community
Community where we learn and grow in loving God and neighbor
Why does Spirit in the Hills exist?
To be the church serving the Spicewood area
Provides a sense of belonging
To be people diversely centered in Christ, inspired by the Holy Spirit, sent to share God’s love in the world
To be a church where ALL are welcome
Community where people can be who they are
To give a sense of family and belovedness
To proclaim and embody God’s grace
To offer a Lutheran Christian perspective, message, community
Not to be high church stuffy
Question: how can churches in our area do more together?
Why Does SITH Exist? (answers from the survey)
▪
To spread and embody (give an example of) the teachings of Jesus Christ, to include helping our community (internal and external) with outreach and care
▪
To share God’s love and teachings
▪
To preach, teach, and go tell the good news of Jesus Christ
▪
To offer a service to the community.
▪
To be the body of Christ in the world – participating in and carrying out God’s mission
▪
To help people reach spiritual fulfillment through surrendering their hearts to Jesus and to the mission of the church
▪
To provide a community that welcomes all people for worship, guidance, learning, and support
▪
To provide a Lutheran Christian witness between Austin and Marble Falls
▪
To connect a diverse geographic and demographic population in order to form loving, friendly, and holy relationships among a historically disparate area of Western Travis County, Burnet County and Hays County
▪
To be a haven for communities
▪
To love God, love neighbor, and make disciples
▪
To engage in conversation with as many people as possible to share the good news of God’s love for them in Jesus Christ.
▪
Because of God’s call
▪
To help people connect with God and offer fulfillment for deep spiritual longing
Write a Mission Statement for Spirit in the Hills in 8 Words or Less:
Start with a verb
This is the what, the action
Include a target audience
For or with who or whom
Include a desired, measurable outcome
What will change
A couple of examples:
“Save endangered species from extinction.”
“Support local providers serving our community’s vulnerable”
“Nurture our congregation for deployment in Christ’s kingdom.”
“Prepare all generations to impact lives for Christ”
Mission Statements
Impact community with service, teaching, and spiritual guidance
Lead every generation into a relationship with God
Create ways for those in need to find Christ’s love
Share love with everyone to build God’s kingdom
Encourage our congregation to live a Christian life
Share our love for Christ with our community
Share Jesus, love all, without judgment
Agape across Austin
What words
describe Spirit
in the Hills at
our best?
Mapping our
Needs
What do
we need? You / Your Family
Members of our community Members
of Spirit in the Hills
Name some of the
greatest needs for you and your family right now.
Name some of the
greatest needs for our community right now.
Name some of the
greatest needs for our
congregation right now.
What do you think is the greatest need for families, for our congregation, for our community?
• Community gatherings / opportunities to be together with others in-person
• Time to discern and pray about God’s call for the most meaningful use of our resources
• Re-examining priorities
• A reassurance for our congregation that we will make it through this and continue on
• Collective action for a purpose
• Hugs
• Gaining a sense of normalcy
• Supporting the basic needs of our
neighbors – food, shelter, jobs, a sense of connection, sense of safety
• Grieve together
• Healing, hope of future healing
• A sense that the church is moving out of some of its pandemic protocol and/or
adapting to the current situation and
communication about why the church is
operating under its current protocols
Spiritual Needs
For Congregation Members
Strengthened relationship with God
Hope
Peace in the midst of discord
Singing together
Worshiping alongside one another
For members of the wider community
Prayer
Hope
Peace in the midst of discord
Strengthened relationship with God
Physical Needs
For Congregation Members
Meals for those who are sick
Physical contact; hugs
For members of the wider community
Supporting other charitable organizations
Space to be together with others
Food
Housing
Jobs
Emotional Needs
For Congregation Members
Support for grief, anxiety, depression
Support for caregivers
Accompaniment through life transitions
Aging parents
Empty nesting
Retirement
Beginning new families
Graduation
Helping people we are praying for know they are being prayed for
For members of the wider community
Support for grief, anxiety, depression
Support for caregivers
How to deal with depression and anxiety in ourselves and others
Accompaniment through life transitions
Dealing with addiction and substance abuse
Relational Needs
For Congregation Members
Opportunities to be together in- person
Fellowship
Worship
Prayer
Working for peace and justice with regard to race
To be heard and seen
To listen and see
Reaching out to those who have not been connecting with the
congregation over the last months
For members of the wider community
Working for peace and justice with regard to race
To be heard and seen
Support and presence in community events/efforts
Dealing with domestic abuse
Practical Needs
For Congregation Members
A church parking lot
To complete the moving process and unpack and settle into our new buildings and property
Transportation
Financial support
Technology support
For members of the wider community
Transportation
Financial support
Affordable housing
Other Needs
For Congregation Members
Opportunities to engage in singing together and making music
To build relationships with the wider community
Students in need of educational support
For members of the wider community
To build relationships with Spirit in the Hills
Students in need of educational support
