MISSION, VISION, AND VALUES

Listening for the Spirit. Dreaming boldly together.

SECOND Installment: WHAT WE HEARD - What the Survey and Listening Process Revealed

Over the past several months, hundreds of you have participated in listening sessions, interviews, our parish retreat, and the Mission, Vision, and Values survey. Together, these conversations painted a remarkably consistent picture of both our strengths and the places where we sense God inviting us to grow.

Perhaps most encouraging was the tone of the responses themselves. Again and again, people expressed gratitude for this community, trust in one another, and hope for what God is doing—and will continue to do—through St. John's.

As we listened, a picture of St. John's began to emerge.

Welcome, Belonging, and Care

At its heart is a community where people experience genuine welcome, belonging, and care. The survey reinforced what we heard throughout the listening process: people value authentic relationships and a place where they can grow in faith alongside one another.

Worship at the Center

At the center of that shared life is worship. Across every form of listening, people spoke about worship, preaching, music, online worship, prayer, and Eucharist as places where they encounter God and find strength for daily life. The survey confirmed that worship is not simply a cherished tradition; it is central to how many people encounter God and are formed as disciples.

A Longing to Deepen Our Faith

The conversations also revealed a longing to deepen our life of faith. People expressed a desirefor meaningful faith formation, thoughtful conversation, spiritual practices, and opportunities to connect faith with the realities of everyday life. They spoke of wanting to deepen relationships, participate more fully in the life of the parish, and discover meaningful, sustainable ways to share the gifts God has given them. They also expressed a desire to continue nurturing an intergenerational community where people of every age grow in faith together and learn from one another. That hope is reflected in the congregation's strong appreciation for our children and youth ministries and a shared commitment to investing in the next generation.

Faith Lived in Service to Others

Another theme that emerged was the conviction that our faith is lived not only within the walls of the church, but in service to our neighbors and the wider world. Service, hospitality, justice, partnerships, and care for our neighbors are not seen as separate from our spiritual life, but as expressions of it. When asked what role St. John's should play in the wider community, people most often pointed to providing direct support for those facing hardship and offering a thoughtful, faith-grounded public voice, alongside a strong conviction that partnering with other churches and faith communities strengthens our mission. Most who weighed in feel our public voice today is calibrated well, neither too cautious nor too outspoken. Together, these conversations reveal a congregation that longs to follow Jesus by participating in God's healing work in the world.

Where God May Be Inviting Us to Grow

Listening carefully also revealed places where God may be inviting us to take our next steps. While many people experience deep belonging, we also heard a desire to help newcomers more easily find their place, strengthen pathways into ministry and leadership, continue investing in children and youth, and care thoughtfully for our congregation through every season of life, including the changing needs of many of our long-time members. These are not problems to solve as much as invitations to become more fully the community God is calling us to be.

The Practical Side of Listening

Beyond these larger themes, the survey also gave us practical, on-the-ground information that will help staff and ministry leaders plan well. We learned more about when people are available to participate, which channels of communication actually reach people, what gets in the way of participation, and where people are most eager to lend their gifts. This data won't shape our mission and values directly, but it will directly shape how we schedule, communicate, and structure opportunities to get involved in the months ahead. Over the coming months staff will be sharing some of these insights with ministry leads.

Where We Go From Here

This is where the work of the Mission, Vision, and Values Team begins. The question before us is not simply, "What did we hear?" It is, "What is God calling us to do with what we have heard?" Our task now is to prayerfully discern how we will steward the gifts, relationships, ministries, and resources entrusted to this community—so that who we are at our best becomes more intentional, more sustainable, and more fully shared.

Everything we share in the weeks ahead will grow directly out of what we have heard together. We'll begin introducing drafts of our proposed mission, vision, and values, and we look forward to continuing this discernment with you.