Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations

In Philippians, the Apostles Paul writes:

I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me...I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. (NLT)

Paul shows us that growing in Jesus Christ is a practice! That is the idea behind Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations. Author Bishop Robert Schnase writes, "By repeating, deepening, expanding, and improving upon the five basic practices of congregational ministry, churches change and grow and learn...They open themselves up to being reshaped by God's Spirit, revived and reformed to serve the ever-changing contexts and needs of people."(Five Practices, p. 125)

Beginning on January 10, 2010, our church will delve into the meaning of the Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations. For five consecutive weeks, Pastor Glanville and the entire congregation will explore the areas of:

(Click on the title for more information.)

· Radical Hospitality

· Passionate Worship

· Intentional Faith Development

· Risk-Taking Mission and Service

· Extravagant Generosity

We will find out what they mean and how God uses these practices in congregations to spread the Good News. We will find out why these practices are so essential that "...a failure to perform them in an exemplary way results in congregational deterioration and decline." (Five Practices, p. 7-8) These practices will draw the creative, committed, and gifted RUMC congregation into excellence in ministry. They will change our perspective.

In February, we will add arms and legs to our energized Body of Christ through the Ministry Fair. Please prayerfully consider how you can use your talents and gifts in ways that will cause our congregation to overflow with fruitfulness.

Important Dates to Remember