The ideas listed below are collected from the three conversations we had in church!
If you have not yet shared your Dream for St. Matthew's, please send it to fatherrob@stmatthewsepiscopal.org or the grapevine@stmatthewsepiscopal.org, and your dream will be added to this important list!
Meeting 1.
Christian Bookstore & Gift Shop, Pavilion/Labyrinth for classes & outdoor liturgies & for the Preschool, Freestanding Building for Food Pantry & Clinic with Soup Kitchen, Parish Hall - Multipurpose Meeting Hall, Columbarium, Wednesday Night Meal/Worship/Kids Programs, Children Family & Youth Minister, Episcopal Day School K-8, Abolish the "Gauntlet" (the narrow crowded entrance hall), Pickleball courts for the kids, English As Second Language Classes, Participate in Pride Events, Freestanding Free Medical Clinic, Shrine to Our Lady of Walsingham, Cursillo/Ultreya Meeting Place, After School Programs, Enhanced AV resources and recording booth for podcasts, a Band.
Meeting 2.
Dinner Groups, Connect with other Churches across USA and Raise visibility of our Missionaries in other countries, QR Code for Donations in bulletin or in hallway, Modern ways to Give such as Cashapp or Venmo, Diocesan Youth Events, Open Up Front Door Entrance & Hallway into Worship Space, Folk Mass Music, Praise Music.
Meeting 3.
Meetups for Youth offering Activities off-campus, Drive-through Food Pantry Feature, a Class on how to explain Episcopalian to non-members, Communicating which Scripture our ministries spring from, Cursillio/Ultreya Reunion Groups, Physically Connect the Church Building to the Education Building with a Columbarium, Classes on flower arranging for the altar, Garden on Campus for Fresh Flowers, Make the Kneelers Kneelable, Working with Organizations to Repair Run Down Homes, Praise Music, Card Ministry, Holy Habits in GV, Come Away Class on the Labyrinth.
Ideas Sent By Form
Stay reminded that Luke 10: 9 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." Support sustainable environmental initiatives, be welcoming to LGBTQ Folk in various ways, Plastic Awareness and Reduction Team, Sunday Formation for elementary age kids, Mission activities/trips for teens, Accommodate new members and renewal of existing members by enlarging our worship space, create gathering spaces outside sanctuary that facilitate "holy conversations", makes movement from place to place on campus easier, "eliminate the anxiety-producing entry", expand christian education/formation for all ages, enhance memorial garden with maintenance plus columbarium for the Saints Victorious, create patio picnic area for socialization/education/holy conversation, revisit food distribution process, find ways to make the gym available for youth activities, more ways to add prayer into our lives at church and at home, ask every ministry to get involved in prayer, conduct a capital campaign - look for 100% of people to participate rather than an amount of money, call it St. Matthew's Moving Forward or similar, hire youth/christian formation director, have potluck dinners with lay speakers who give witness to the value of giving and growing the church, visitor outreach at the entrance to the church every single Sunday, be more intentional in relation to visitors, keep these rectors, understand their value, Bible Study groups, someone is willing to lead contemplative and bidding/intercessory prayers, a labyrinth and someone to lead contemplative walks in it, dedicated newcomer/visitor ministry.
Common Themes Not To Be Overlooked
It was mentioned verbally and on the Dream Big Sheets that people were eager to join ministries or to start/helm ministries/classes/activities, AND that people were fully engaged
and regretted saying they could not add more to their commitments.
We hear that!
Please find that sweet spot where your level of engagement does not drain you, but feeds your soul, grows you spiritually and moves you forward in your walk with Christ!
