Mission and Vision
September: Worshipful Preparation for Ministry at Millian
Here we are in September already! Where did the summer go? As a boy, I always had mixed feelings about September. Though I was sad to see those carefree days of summer come to an end, I always experienced a sense of anticipation, eagerness, some anxiety from the unknowns that lay ahead, and the need for preparation as the new school year was at hand. As for the latter, I recall in the early school years the excitement of having a new pencil box and anticipating a new teacher. By high school, having the “right clothes” to wear seemed important, as did deciding the extra-curricular activities in which I planned to participate that year. And, when the college years came around, the challenge of a new set of courses in the curriculum seemed to be the major focus of my eagerness, anticipation, anxiety, and preparedness.
Now, many years later, I envision September through another lens, one equally replete with a sense of anticipation, eagerness, some anxiety, and the need for preparation. The lens through which I peer is one of worshipful preparation for ministry at Millian in the coming year. I use the metaphor of a worship lens for our ministry preparation for two reasons. First, we should be in a worshipful attitude throughout our ministry experience, not simply during that time each week we define as a worship service. Second, the liturgical organization of our worship service offers a model for ministry through Jesus Christ. Put simply, as noted weekly in our church bulletin, it is: (a) preparing for the Word; (b) hearing the Word; and (c) responding to the Word through commitment. As the benediction concludes our worship service each week, it also signals the purpose of our gathering, that of preparing us to go forth into the world with the Word as witnesses for Jesus.
The worship service is meaningful to each of us in many different ways, bringing us together as community from our different life paths to strengthen our relationship with God and to one another as believers. Its meaning doesn’t end there, however; for at the same time at which it brings us together from out in the worlds in which we live, it is intended to prepare us also through God’s word to go forth back into those worlds in mission for Jesus Christ. Bishop Robert Schnase, whose book Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations has been the focus of study by our Mission and Vision Council over the past several months, speaks of “passionate worship” as one of those practices. To paraphrase Bishop Schnase, in churches that practice passionate worship, the congregation comes to worship with a sense of eagerness, anticipation, expectancy, and deep commitment to be open to God’s grace, to hearing and doing God’s word, and to becoming a part of the Body of Christ. They leave the service challenged, sustained, and led by the Spirit of God. Worship changes how they view themselves and their neighbors.
Although each week at Millian affords us opportunity to engage in passionate worship, sending us forth into the community to witness to God’s word, this September’s ministry highlights at Millian afford a special analogy to the worship service lens model:
(1) Preparing for the Word: Congregational retreat on September 10-12;
(2) Hearing the Word: Bishop John Schol preaching on September 19; and,
(3) Responding to the Word: Millian’s Fall Festival and Health Fair on September 25.
Whether you are able to participate in any of these special events or not, my prayer is for all of us at Millian to welcome this September as an opportunity to renew our relationship with God through worshipful preparation for and engagement in His ministry through Jesus Christ.
Paul D. Nelson, Chair
Mission and Vision Council
