Chardon United Methodist Church

Bill Easum a nationally recognized church consultant says that a church’s “mission statement” tells who you are, and your “vision statement” should tell everyone where you are going. Both should be short and memorable so that a child could recite them.  Can you now recite our mission statement? I hope so!

Our Mission is to make and mature Disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the World!

How about our vision statement?  If someone outside our church asked you what is the vision of our church could you recite our vision statement?  Do you have an understanding of where our church is headed?  How are we making Disciples?  How are maturing Disciples for Jesus Christ?  What are we doing to transform the world for Jesus Christ?

In Philippians 3:12-15 Paul describes the process for pressing on towards the goal of the upward call of Jesus Christ.  As we continuing worshipping God in the Eastertide season (after Easter and pressing towards Pentecost), I would like to explore with you some of these questions and what it means to be followers of the Risen Christ. I would like to become a community that cheers each other as we press on towards the fulfillment of our mission. Another way of looking at it is to explore the meaning of belonging to the body of Christ – the church universal. At the same time as we prepare to receive our confirmands to explore what it means to belong to the Chardon United Methodist Church, to this part of the bigger body.

Pentecost is coming and so is the celebration of Confirmation and belonging to Christ as one of his disciples.

Then we will move into the summer season we will be going out to the mission field through ASP, and the Masindi mission team. As we close the summer and prepare for the fall season, I will be asking us to look at the mission in our own neighborhoods and our local community of Chardon and Geauga County. That is a glimpse into where I want to lead us in worship and practice of our faith.

Debbie and I are planning to learn first hand about the Masindi mission by going with this year’s work team. We are about 22 people in a co-ed team that is leaving July 6th and returning on July 28th. We hope to better understand God’s world and this particular mission which is a large part of this congregations’ faith journey.

Pray for us and for the vision of our church,
Pastor Dan