Christ the Good Shepherd Church

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Vision Statement

- We Believe

At Christ the Good Shepherd,
we welcome all to share in the mission of Jesus
as we love, serve, and worship together.
How did our Parish Vision Statement come to be?
- Our process began in June of 2022.
- We hosted the Creating A Vision That Creates Action workshop for the parish in February of 2023.
  - Over 40 people attended in person and online.
  - On 10 sheets of newsprint, over 275 ideas were generated concerning our strengths, weaknesses, core values, opportunities, and more.
- The Workgroup spent the next four months digesting, synthesizing and collating the information gathered.
  - In this process, we remained true to keeping the statement based on parishioner input. We did not add extra or extraneous comments of our own.
- At our final formal meeting, in early June 2023, the process unveiled a Vision Statement that we were all very comfortable with.
  - It is important to mention that, in this final step, we, as a workgroup, were unanimous in the text and its implications.
  - As a group, we were all pleasantly surprised at how the statement seemed to unveil itself; truly the Holy Spirit was at work.
- The final version of the Vision Statement was presented to the Parish Council and then to the Parish in October of 2023. A rousing "Amen!" ratified the work.
Important Notes about this Vision Statement
1. “We welcome all…”
A good deal of discussion centered on these three words. All (?) churches say that all are welcome. So why are we any different? Our discussion focused on the feeling that while others may say it, in practice, they do not always follow thru with the sentiment. It was the opinion that was shared by parishioners, and the Workgroup’s feeling as well, that we, in fact, truly mean it and practice it. So, while these words may sound trite, our church actually believes it.
1. “…to share in the mission of Jesus…”
These words also generated much discussion. First, the “Mission of Jesus” is communicated in the Gospels. To love God and to love our neighbor as ourselves first and foremost. Again, these are not empty words for us. Our members believe this and want to live their lives accordingly. But we know that God works thru us and thus we willingly share in this mission of Jesus.
1. “…as we love…”
One of the recurring themes we picked up on from the notes and comments, was our genuine affection for each other and for the stranger. It is felt during Mass, coffee after Mass and in concern for those who are sick and suffering among us. Without this communal affection, we would be unable to authentically mirror Jesus’ life in our world. This affection for “enduring parishioners” and “new found friends” is the heart of who we are and, in truth, why we are.
1. “…serve…”
It is understood and accepted that service is the heart of fulfilling the Mission of Jesus. Although our Workgroup acknowledged that there are many opportunities yet to be realized in this area. That being said, it is not a case of lack of desire to be of service to the marginalized of the world, but resources of time, talent and treasure. These can, and we believe, will be overcome, as time moves on.
1. “…and worship…”
At the heart of all, is our communal prayer life. Mass, Taizé Prayer, the Rosary, Stations of the Cross, and all of the other ways we gather to offer praise to God, bond us together and give us the strength and will to love and to serve. We understand that praying together and receiving the Eucharist is “the source and the summit” (CCC 1324-1327) of our spirituality as a progressive Independent Catholic Church. All that we do is a reflection of gratitude for what we receive from our loving and merciful God.
1. “…together.”
This simple word draws all of this together. Individually, we cannot achieve the Mission of Jesus. Individually, we cannot raise up the marginalized. But together, “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him…” (Rom 8:28) Our clergy are dedicated to working with, and not for, our parish community. Our leadership understands that we need all our members to step forward to bring this Vison to life. This simple, solitary word, encapsulates all that Christ The Good Shepherd Church upholds. It is the anchor of our Vison Statement.

Vision Statement

At Christ the Good Shepherd, we welcome all to share in the mission of Jesus as we love, serve, and worship together.

How did our Parish Vision Statement come to be?

Our process began in June of 2022.

We hosted the Creating A Vision That Creates Action workshop for the parish in February of 2023.

Over 40 people attended in person and online.

On 10 sheets of newsprint, over 275 ideas were generated concerning our strengths, weaknesses, core values, opportunities, and more.

The Workgroup spent the next four months digesting, synthesizing and collating the information gathered.

In this process, we remained true to keeping the statement based on parishioner input. We did not add extra or extraneous comments of our own.

At our final formal meeting, in early June 2023, the process unveiled a Vision Statement that we were all very comfortable with.

It is important to mention that, in this final step, we, as a workgroup, were unanimous in the text and its implications.

As a group, we were all pleasantly surprised at how the statement seemed to unveil itself; truly the Holy Spirit was at work.

The final version of the Vision Statement was presented to the Parish Council and then to the Parish in October of 2023. A rousing "Amen!" ratified the work.

At Christ the Good Shepherd,
we welcome all to share in the mission of Jesus
as we love, serve, and worship together.