THE VISION

Our Vision is to bring Orthodoxy to Greensburg and Greensburg to Orthodoxy!!!

THE MISSION

Our Mission is to renew our church and revive our neighbors to the Glory of Jesus Christ!!!

THE PLAN

The Plan: From now through September 1 (New Years Day) 2015, is to organize ourselves, receive training, and to clarify the "Vision" of our church so that from 9/1/2015 through 9/1/2020 we carry out the "Mission", with "2020 Vision", for the Glory of God, the edification of the Church, and the evangelization of the lost.

THE CORE VALUES

* To Glorify the Holy Trinity, To Edify the Church, To Magnify God's Love for the Lost

*To Always Walk in Love with One Another

*To Have the Heart of the Savior for All People

*To Walk in Agreement, Having the Same Mind

*To Be a Hospital for the Spiritually Sick and Brokenhearted

SPIRITUAL RENEWAL

Jesus asked the Apostle Peter, "Do you love me?"

LITURGICAL & SACRAMENTAL RENEWAL

The need for the people of God to be renewed in their faith and worship is constant. We are in need of being reminded over and over again by way of the liturgical calendar of the Gospel events. And also, we are in need of being reminded of exactly what worship is. We, as Orthodox Christians, need to have an Orthodox mindset renewed in us year by year, so that we don't fall into the traps of meaningless activity, but of meaningful worship. A Scriptural study of the Divine Liturgy would be a great place to begin. This study would build a solid foundation for the priest to guide his flock into a deeper worship experience.

CATECHETICAL RENEWAL

Jesus, the Chief Shepherd, showed us the way of true ministry. "And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people" (Matthew 9:35).

EVANGELISM

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We Orthodox must realize that we are the "Original Evangelicals". The Church that Jesus founded was, and is, Orthodox, Catholic, and Evangelical. The Apostles and their immediate disciples carried the Gospel of Jesus Christ with zeal across the Roman empire and beyond. These early followers of Christ proclaimed the good news, the "Evangel", that swept people into the fold of the Good Shepherd (Evangelical). Then Churches were founded by the Spirit of Truth which fashioned the hearts of God's people in the "Right Faith, Right Worship" (Orthodoxy). The ideal that every local church possessed the fullness of the Trinitarian Christian Faith (Catholicity) was cemented in the consciousness of the people of God through the teachings of the early Church fathers.

May we acquire the "heart of the Savior" for all peoples!!!

"Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15)

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have taught you" (Matthew 28:19,20)

"But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto meboth in Jerusalem, and in Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8)

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear" (1 Peter 3:15)

"Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man" (Colossians 4:6)

"Ye are the salt of the earth...Ye are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:13,14)

SERVING OUR NEIGHBORS - OUTREACH

SERVING OUR NEIGHBORS - OUTREACH

"If you want to be great in God's kingdom, learn to be the servant of all". Let us take Jesus at His words - serve, feed, clothe, visit, heal, teach, comfort, shelter - let us be busy doing the works of Jesus - let us love our neighbors as ourselves. We must seek and save the lost. We must be fishers of men. And it all begins by us being moved with compassion.

SERVING ONE ANOTHER - INREACH

"So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy...ministry...(serving)...teaching...exhorting...giving...ruling...showing mercy...be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another...be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind...be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another...teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs...bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ...we that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification...let us not judge one another...receive ye one another, as Christ also has received us to the glory of God" (Romans 12:5-10; Galatians 6:1-4: Ephesians 4:29-31; Philippians 2:2; Colossians 3:16; Romans 14:13  Romans 15:1,2,7)


As we say in every Divine Liturgy, "Let us love one another..."

LEADERSHIP

The Holy Scriptures inform us that God calls and anoints certain members of His Church with various gifts and ministries. Read carefully Romans 12:4-8, 1 Corinthians 12:27-31, and Ephesians 4:8-16 for lists of these gifts and ministries. Typically you can identify when someone has a gift and calling to a particular ministry because they will be motivated from within themselves by the Holy Spirit who is calling them to serve, or teach, or give, or whatever their gift is. The priest must discern the gifts within his members and guide them to fulfill their calling.

The Parish Council members will serve the church by supporting the vision of the priest who is informed by Holy Tradition and Scripture as to the content of church ministries. Each Parish Council member can and should discern their own gifts, with the help of their priest, and be diligent to pursue the fulfillment of their place in the Body of Christ. The danger for the church is when the Parish Council devolves into a committee that assumes it must agree on every little detail before ministries can be launched. Because people possess different gifts and callings, and bring different experiences and temperaments to the table, they will be hard-pressed to agree completely with 11 other people on anything. Ideally, in my opinion, the priest will provide direction, and the Parish Council will seek ways to implement the vision. This is how the Parish Council will lead the entire congregation to do God's will.

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILTY OF GOD'S PEOPLE

We love to adorn our churches and homes with the icon of dear saint Nicholas. Saint Nicholas transcends time and ethnic boundaries, this ever popular Russian saint is truly a saint of all the peoples of the earth. Nicholas of Myra was at the first Great Council at Nicea where he withstood the heretic Arius. He was a wonderworker of miracles. And he died a martyr for the Faith. But he is most famous for how he served the poor and how he sacrificed his enormous wealth for the cause of Christ's little children. Upon every sighting of this saint we should remember his example of sacrificing his wealth for the cause of Christ in meeting the needs of those all around him.

Bible Note: The Rule of Doing Alms
www.mikesbiblenotes.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-rule-of-doing-alms.html

THE NECESSITY OF FAITH

Besides love and compassion for our fellow man, the greatest need of Christians is faith. Faith that dares to trust God for what seems impossible. Faith that will not fear the giants that dominate the landscape, but who know their God and are willing to go on the offensive and have compassion on the lost, making the difference, pulling them from the fire. For faith is energized by love. Oh, that we would have mountain moving faith, faith that subdues kingdoms, establishes righteousness, obtains promises, stops the mouths of lions!!! Faith that is lead by the Holy Spirit,

2020 VISION and BEYOND

2020 Vision & Beyond with Mission Strategies

The Vision of Our Church - Our Vision is to bring Orthodoxy to (name your City) and (name your city) to Orthodoxy.

The Mission of Our Church - Our Mission is to renew our church and revive our neighbors to the Glory of Jesus Christ.

The Plan - From now through September 1 (New Years Day) 2015, is to organize ourselves, receive training, and clarify the Vision of our Church so that from 9/1/2015 through 9/1/2020 we carry out the "Mission", with "2020 Vision", for the glory of God, the edification of the Church, and the evangelization of the lost.

The Core Values of Our Church:
+ To Glorify the Holy Trinity, To Edify the Church, To Magnify God's Love for the Lost
+ To Always Walk in Love with One Another
+To Have the Heart of the Savior for All People
+To Walk in Agreement, To have the Same Mind
+ To be a Hospital for the Spiritually Sick and Brokenhearted

The Strategic Plans of Our Church (The Roadmap)

1. Tend the Sheep - Spiritual Renewal
A. Visit and/or contact every person on membership rolls, every person associated with our church, every person referred to us by our members (Have members create a list of at least 10 people to visit or contact).
B. Generate a Master Contact List and Specialized Contact Lists.
C. Create Plans for "Reaching Out" to all active members, regular attendees, and the half-way committed, the Easter/Christmas visitors, all lapsed members, the lost sheep, and friends of members.
D. Create a 5 Point Questionnaire, Opinion Poll, Census to use as a guide when contacting people. Sample Opinion Poll: 1) What do you think is the greatest need of our church? 2) Why do you think people are not attending church? 3) What kind of things are you looking for in a church? 4) What could I/we do for you? What advice can you give to a minister who really wants to help people? 5) What are your concerns?
* Remember that the purpose of these questions are to solicit the person's feelings and thoughts about church and their spiritual needs.
E. Raise up "Visitation Teams" to contact all the people on the various contact lists.

2. Lead the Sheep - Liturgical and Sacramental Renewal
A. Create an Orthodox Mindset throughout the parish. Educate the people on the uniqueness of Orthodox Worship and Praxis.
B. Provide a Scriptural Study of the Divine Liturgy. Make use of "The Bible and the Liturgy" by Fr Constantine Nasr.
C. 2 Minute Liturgy Spotlights - The priest can provide continuous, bite-sized, nuggets of liturgical understanding at strategic moments; as a prelude to the sermon, between Matins and Liturgy, during announcements, or a mini-sermon at Vespers.
D. Renewal of "Icon Veneration". Additional Icon Stands if needed. Give thought to location of Icon stands with "space management" in mind. Start with Parish Council members, teaching them how to reverently venerate the Icons throughout the church when they arrive for Matins/Liturgy. Require them to "set the example" as leaders of the parish by insisting that they venerate fully.
E. Create a "Church Handbook" on church behavior, encouraging that everything be done decently and in order (1 Timothy 3:16, 1 Corinthians 14:30).
F. Imagine a truly "Orthodox Worship Space" as opposed to a hybrid Orthodox/Protestant worship space that many churches have now. Pews are Protestant, and communicate a sense of spectatorship, of theatre, rather than an atmosphere of participatory activity accomplished by the people, the royal priesthood. Seating can be provided within the nave in creative ways; lining the walls with existing pews, monastery chairs, benches and cubes. Check out this article which includes many links on this topic: www.belief.net/columnists/roddreher/2010/02/pews-vs-standing-an-orthodox-controversy.html
G. Envision an "Orthodox Cemetery". Educate the people on the significance and uniqueness of the "Orthodox Funeral". Make use of Dn. J. Mark and Elizabeth Barna's  book "A Christian Ending - Rediscovering Ancient Christian Burial Customs for the Modern World". Dn. Mark's Podcast: www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/christianending

3. Feed the Sheep - Catechetical Renewal
A. Establish a culture of catechism in your church.
B. Plan an 8-week Advent Catechism Series www.saintandrew.net/catechism.html for ideas.
C. Plan an 8-week Lenten Catechism Series
D. Provide regular Bible Studies - Verse-by-verse through an Epistle, like Philippians, or teach through a section of the Gospel such as Matthew 5-7, The Sermon on the Mount.
E. Provide Spiritual and Theological Studies going through books such as "Thirty Steps to Heaven" by Fr. Vassilios Papavassiliou, or "The Philokalia - An Introduction to Orthodox Spirituality" by Fr. Anthony Conairis. (Preferably Orthodox Christian Sources Only Please).
F. Establish a Re-Catechism Program - Encourage every adult member to be re-catechized.
G. Host Orthodox Speakers (Bishops, Monastics, Authors) www.orthodoxspeakers.com *Humbly request that when your Bishop visits your Church that he teach a seminar on the Scriptures or some aspect of Holy Tradition (2 Timothy 2:15).
H. Introduce the Antiochian Village Library to your members - Free Library cards - An amazing resource.
I. Strengthen our church schools - Provide training for teachers - Establish Adult Church School.

4. Strengthen Our Youth Ministry
A. Visit and/or contact all Youth associated with your church, member's children and relatives. Create a Master Mailing List - email addresses a priority.
B. Create a unique Name for your parish youth ministry.
C. Establish regular meetings for the youth - one for Bible Study, one for community service.
D. Have the Youth create a Social Media Outreach via a "unique website", Facebook, or both.
E. Direct Youth into Community Service Projects www.focusnorthamerica.org/yes/

5. Evangelism - "Do the work of an evangelist" (2 Timothy 4:5) - "Be Fishers of Men" (Mark 1:17)
A. Accept your responsibility to take the Gospel to the people of "Your City" and the "surrounding countryside". "Spread the Word", by Fr. Michael Keiser www.antiochian.org/missions
B. Create in your church a heart for the lost by mentioning often their plight without Christ.
C. Create Local Literature - Have some members write their personal stories of conversion, and of what Christ and His church means to them. This could start with the priest himself writing his personal testimony. These testimonies can be printed in pamphlet form to be distributed.
D. Utilize existing Pamphlets from www.store.ancientfaith.com/brochures/ explaining Church History, Intro to the Orthodox Church, etc.
E. Create a variety "Church Business Cards" that communicate various aspects of your church's ministry that members can distribute. www.vistaprint.com Under the name of your church use the by-lines, "Come and See", Discover the Ancient Faith", "The Original Evangelicals", or "The Full Gospel Church".
F. Engage all forms of Social Media - Websites, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Free Radio Ads, News Releases, Blogs ( www.theorthodoxway.blogspot.com www.mikesbiblenotes.blogspot.com ).
G. Create a separate website from your "Church Community" website that is specifically designed for evangelism.
H. Placement of Orthodox Books in all area libraries stamped with your church info.
I. Establish an OCF chapter on every college campus within your church's reach. www.ocf.net Invite Art Students to an "Icon Tour", Music Students to a "Divine Liturgy", Food Science Students to a food festival, Psychology Students to a lecture/discussion on Orthodox Psychotherapy.
J. Invent a "Mobile Bookstore" to attend Public Events, Fairs, Festivals, seasonal kiosks at the local mall.
K. Develop a small "Traveling Choir" to share Orthodox hymnography with local school music departments, at public events, or as ministry in nursing homes, prisons, wherever God leads.
L. Billboards on highways near your church.
M. Consider the possibility of linking arms with your fellow Orthodox churches in your region to establish an "Agia Sophia Coffee Shop and Bookstore" in the city best suited for this outreach. Check out the websites of the two Agai Sophia Coffee Shops, one in Colorado Springs CO, the other in Harrisburg PA. www.agiasophiacoffeeshop.com and www.agiasophiaharrisburg.com

6. Serving Our Neighbors - Outreach
A. Create a local FOCUS www.focusnorthamerica.org
B. Reach out to the poor and needy (Matthew 25:31-46) - Food ministry that provides actual nutritious food - Unique Food Pantry with real nutrition in mind - Meals on Wheels from your church - Locate 10 families to begin to help in a long-term way. Members may adopt-a-family - Plant Organic Community Gardens to feed the needy, and to teach canning as well as build up the food pantry.
C. Reach out to the widows, the fatherless, and the single parents in your community (1 Timothy 5:1-16; James 1:27; Titus 2:1-8).
D. For the "widows" provide visitation, shopping trips, transportation to appointments, transportation to church services, meal prep, house cleaning, yard work.
E. For the "fatherless" create an Orthodox big brothers/big sisters outreach providing mentoring, tutoring, recreation opportunities, and worship experiences.
F. For "single parents" provide counseling on parenting skills, nutritional education ( www.ancientfaith.com/foodfaithfasting ), cooking lessons, babysitting, prayer support.
G. For the "Weak and Feebleminded" (1 Thessalonians 5:14) provide ministry to the physically handicapped and the mentally infirm.
H. For the "Broken and Bound" provide group encounters for those with addictions, dealing with grief, going through divorce, or food and health issues - Create an Orthodox Group Therapy ministry, St George Life Recovery Ministries - Slaying the Dragons in Your Life.
I. Door-to-Door Ministry with a "5 Point Opinion Poll" to help the people in your community discern their need for God and His Church. Train teams to go out two-by-two.
J. Create a Ride-to-Church Ministry - Volunteers willing to pick up people for church.
K. Pro Life Ministry www.oclife.org www.prolifegbg.blogspot.com
L. Prison Ministry
M. Peace Ministry www.incommunion.org
N. Persecution Watch Ministry - Updates on Syria, Egypt, Ukraine, Palestine, etc. www.persecution.org and www.opendoors.org
O. Missionary Outreach www.ocmc.org Have a World Map in your social hall.
P. Support a Mission Church nearest you and one far off that touches your heart.

7. Serving One Another - Inreach
A. Women's Ministry - Long-term Projects, Annual Projects, Community Outreach
B. Men's Ministry - Long-term Projects, Annual Projects,
C. Ushers and Greeters - Create a handbook for ushers and greeters.
D. Altar Servers - Youth and Adult Teams
E. Coffee Hour - Rethink this wonderful time of fellowship. How can we inspire 100% participation?
F. The Clean Green Team - Volunteer Green Cleaning Team - The Green Patriarch will be pleased!!!
G. The Outdoor Team - Volunteer Outdoor Maintenance.
H. Faith, Food, and Fasting Ministry www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/faithfoodfasting
I. Church Bookstore filled with current Orthodox titles. Make it public during open office hours.
J. Church Library in an accessible location.

8. Establish Strong Spiritual Leadership
A. A Parish Council with an Orthodox Mindset I Article by Bishop John www.antiochian.org/do-we-need-rethink-parish-council Resource www.antiochian.org/parishcouncilguidebook
B. Create a separate financial committee of 3 people who can handle these responsibilities so that the Parish Council can focus on the "work of the ministry"(Ephesians 4:11-16).
C. Identify potential candidates to become Deacons, Sub-Deacons, Tonsured Readers, Lay Leaders.
D. Raise up Prayer/Healing Teams to visit and minister spiritual and physical healing to those listed in the church bulletin. Jesus Healing Ministry (Matthew 8:1-17; Acts 10:38), The Healing Ministry of the 12 (Matthew 10:1-15; Mark 6:7-13), The Healing Ministry of the 70 (Luke 10:1-17), The Healing Ministry of the Church (Mark 16:15-20). Book by Paul Meyendorff, "The Anointing of the Sick", www.svspress.com                                                                                   Podcast by Paul Meyendorff www.ancientfaith.com/specials/antiochian_archdiocese_2014_clergy Click on "Liturgical Theology and Healing".

9. Financial Responsibility of  God's People
A. Utilize the Archdiocese Tithing Program www.antiochian.org/givingcampaign
B. Study article written by Fr. Thomas Zell, "The Trail of the Tithe". www.antiochian.org/node/16719
C. Educate church members on the biblical and traditional Orthodox view of how believers are to support the church with their finances according to their ability (2 Corinthians 8 & 9; Philippians 4:15-19; Luke 12:13-21) Provide members with literature, podcast links, and online resources that will help inform the members about Christ-honoring stewardship.
D. If your church has a mortgage, Develop a plan to free the church of this burden, if possible, by 9/1/2015, so that the church will be free to focus on ministry the next 5 years. Request everyone to give a sacrificial gift towards eradicating the mortgage. Sample Plan: Ask 3 people to give $25,000, ask 10 people to give a gift of $10,000, Ask 15 people to give $5,000, ask all remaining members to give a $1,000 gift or the best gift they are able to. The Total is $300,000.

10. The Necessity of Faith
A. Begin with the revelation that "with God all things are possible" and "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes" (Luke 1:26; Mark 9:23). God wants to act in your church, and your synergy of faith is key. (Hebrews 4:1,2)
B. Next begin looking at the things which are not seen, rather than the things you do see (2 Corinthians 4:13-18). Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). "For we walk by faith, and not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7).
C. Now start taking action, taking steps toward the fulfillment of your church's vision. (James 2:14-20). "For without faith it is impossible to please God, for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Hebrews 11:6).