"Reveal Jesus, Encounter Christ, Live His Word"

 

Hello brothers and sisters in Christ,

Over the past year, Parish Council has been studying a book called Simple Church by Thom S. Rainer and Eric Geiger. The book encourages churches to have a clear and simple mission- one that everyone can remember, one that guides our decisions, and one that helps us stay focused on what truly matters. When a church knows its mission, it can reduce unnecessary complexity, and give its energy to the things that actually form disciples of Jesus.

After prayer, discussion, and reflection, Parish Council has arrived at our mission statement:

"Reveal Jesus, Encounter Christ, Live His Word"

Here is what we mean by each part:

Reveal Jesus: 

this answers the question, “Who is Jesus?” This can be symbolized by the head: learning, understanding, seeing Jesus clearly. Who is Jesus and what is the life he invites us into? This is about learning the story of Jesus and the kingdom that he brings to us. It's about the head and the imagination being awakened to Jesus and his teachings.

We reveal Jesus when we study Scripture, listen to preaching and teaching, and learn about our faith. Jesus is also revealed through the lives of the saints who show us what Christlikeness looks like in real people. Their lives give us a vision of the transformed life that Jesus invites us into- a life of holiness, courage, mercy, and joy. This is about catching the vision of a Lord who loves us more than we can imagine and the transformed life He wants for us. This is the vision that captures our imagination and our desire.

Encounter Christ:

 This answers the question, “How do I experience Christ in my life?” This can be symbolized by the heart: formation through experiencing his presence and his power. This is about meeting Jesus personally and communally through the practices that open us to his grace. This is about spiritual formation and the holy habits that lead to this.

The word “Christ” is the Greek translation of the Hebrew “Messiah”. To encounter Jesus as Christ means to encounter him as the Lord of my life. This means committing to his teachings. This means saying "yes" to the spiritual formation he invites us into. We encounter Christ through the spiritual disciplines, such as prayer, worship, silence, solitude, confession, scripture meditation, and Christian friendship. These practices open us to his grace and shape Christ-like character within us. We are transformed by encountering Christ in this way.

Live His Word:

This answers the question, “How do I live as an apprentice of Jesus Christ in Red Deer?” This is symbolized by the hands: This step is about embodying the teachings of Jesus in daily life. This is the mission step.

Living His word means being a Christian for others. At the end of the service, we hear the words: "Go in peace to love and serve the Lord." How do those around us benefit because we follow Jesus? How does Christ bless others through us? Part of our spiritual formation is learning about our spiritual gifts, which are used to build up the body of Christ and to serve the world. We live His Word through acts of service, pastoral care, mercy, justice, and witness. We live His Word when we serve our church community- greeting at the door, preparing coffee, setting the altar, cleaning the building, caring for one another, and supporting outreach ministries. The blessing that Abraham receives in Genesis 12 says, “In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed”. We inherit that blessing through our spiritual father, Abraham. That blessing comes to its climax in Jesus Christ, and we are the body of Christ, filled with the Holy Spirit to carry his blessing in the world.

Our hope is that every member of St. Leonard’s will be able to remember this mission and see how their life fits into it. This mission statement is a pathway. It moves from learning about Jesus, to living under his direction, to committing to carry his blessing into the world. It's a pathway that gives our church clarity, unity, and purpose as we seek to follow Jesus together.

Reveal Jesus. Encounter Christ. Live His Word.