God’s Vision for University Friends
February 5-7
Dear Friends,
As you know, the time for our all-church retreat with Colin Saxton is upon us. For this special time, we will be focusing on this question:
What is God’s vision for University Friends?
Given the continuing pandemic, the sessions will be on online.
Here’s the schedule:
- Friday evening: 6:15 – 8:00 pm via Zoom
More detailed information about this session, including the Zoom link, is in the attached document.
- Saturday morning via Zoom
Topic: Retreat Saturday morning
Time: Feb 6, 2021 09:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
Click for Zoom Link
Meeting ID: 937 7266 2935
Passcode: 363782
Session one: 9:00 – 10:30 am
Break for Brunch on your own: 10:30 – 11:00 am
Session two: 11:00 am – 12:30pm
- Sunday morning worship: 10:00 am live stream
Other matters:
- RSVPs are welcome but not required. If you plan to attend, please respond to the email you received. If you decide you’d like to participate but haven’t let us know, please do attend anyway.
- Sessions on both Friday and Saturday will involve small-group activities. if you and someone else in your household plan to participate and would like not to be in the same small group, you will need to have separate devices, with earphones or in separate spaces.
- As you prepare for the retreat, please ponder these queries:
Who are we called to be?
- What is our mission (unique purpose or reason for existing) as a faith community?
- What values (common commitments by which we will live, work, play tougher) shape and direct our life together?
- What is God’s vision (artist’s rendition of us faithfully living out our mission) for us as a community discerned in light of our understanding of Scripture, the leading of the Spirit, and historic faith commitments?
- How are we communicating/teaching/reinforcing these among our members and with newcomers?
What has God called us to do in our culture context today in our community?
- What is the specific geographic, social, cultural context in which we are located? What are the needs of the people around us? What issues are unique to our community?
- What is going on during this season of our history? What changes/issues/opportunities can we see appearing on the horizon?
- With our mission and vision in mind, to what ministry is God calling us in this time and place? How do our unique gifts, strengths, call and God-given concerns intersect with the needs around us?
In the meantime, please join me in holding Colin Saxton, the retreat, and our church in God’s Light.
Catherine Griffith
Intentional Interim Minister
University Friends Church
Related video:
Walk in the Way: Colin Saxton reflects on being the church in a time when we may not be gathering for worship.
