Mission and Ministry Conference

What is the “ Mission and Ministry” Conference?  The M&M is an annual conference that brings together speakers and workshops designed to offer each person in each parish within the diocese a chance to grow their spirituality, enhance their chosen ministry area, and/or to explore where they can serve within the church.  This conference is not just for your vestry and clergy, but for everyone in the church.  It is also an opportunity to allow each person a chance to see the vastness and richness that exists within our diocese, to help each person to learn more of the Episcopal Church outside of their own parish.  This year keynote speaker will be the Rt. Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton, Bishop of the Diocese of Maryland.

There are workshops for the Wardens, Vestry members and Finance Committee members of each parish to assist them in fulfilling that ministry role or to offer them ideas and suggestions to assist their parish.  There are also workshops for educational areas that all ministry leaders ought to take, and Vestry and staff are required to take, such as Dismantling Racism.  But there is also a lot more.  These workshops range from offerings for new Episcopalians to looking at ancient spiritualities; from looking back at our ancient history and tradition to how to capture the history and tradition of our parish; from looking at ancient prayer practices and practices of other religions to ways to enhance our own prayer life and explore our daily spiritual life. 

·         Are you new to the Episcopal Church?  Or, have you been away from the Episcopal Church for a while and just coming back?  Then perhaps you would like to attend workshop “The Episcopal Church Welcomes You.” 

·         Do you want to know more about the history of St. Francis?  Or, perhaps, you want to know what lies behind some of the traditions of St. Francis, in which case you should consider learning how to help us collect our oral histories.  There are two workshops to help us capture that history.  “Repairing the Breach: Tools for Researching Your Parish’s History” and “Repairing the Breach: Collecting Oral Histories”. 

·         Are you curious about the changes that have taken place in the church in the last few years?  Do you wonder how the church can change to exist in the 21^st Century?  Then perhaps you would be interested in “The Church is Dead: Long Live the Church” workshop.

·         Are you curious about other belief systems?  Have you ever wondered about the interrelatedness betweens cultural myths and Christianity?  Then maybe you should consider the workshop “Christianity, Mythology and Reconciliation.” 

·         Do you wonder about the relationship of Judaism and Christianity?  Would you like to know about the “Judeo” side of being “Judeo-Christian”?  Then the workshop “Jewish and Christian Reconciliation: Possibility and Promise” might be just the workshop for you.

·         Are you curious about the early church fathers and mothers?  Do you enjoy dramatic presentations?  Then perhaps you would enjoy the workshop on “The Spirituality of Hildegard of Bingen”? 

·         Are you curious about your dreams?  Do you wonder if there is meaning behind them?  Then perhaps you would find value in the workshop entitled “Dreams: Inner Wisdom of the Invisible Realm.”

·         Are you looking to make changes to your prayer life?  Would you like to explore different prayer traditions?  Then perhaps you should consider exploring Celtic Prayer with the Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Canham.

·         Think you ought to being doing more in your life spiritually?  What to explore ways of enhancing or modifying your Rule of Life?  There are two workshops you might want to explore, both focus around the diocesan tool, “Daily Practices for God’s People”.  One will help you know more about this tool; the other will focus on the chapter on Virtue, looking specifically at Repentance.

·         Reconciliation - it is a term spoken frequently these days.  Would you like to have a better idea of what it means and how it pertains to you?  Then perhaps you would like to attend “The Spirituality of Reconciliation” workshop.

·         Are you concerned about healthcare?  Do you wonder how the church can play a part in the healthcare of our community?  Then the “Healthcare in America : Do We As a Church Have a Role to Play?” might be the workshop for you to take.

·         Are you getting restless in your current ministry area and thinking that perhaps it is time for a change?  Are you new to St. Francis and wanting to explore involvement but are not sure what ministry areas to pursue?  Then you might want to consider attending the “From Discernment to Ministry” workshop. 

·         Do you work with our Christian Education program, especially with our younger children?  Do you think you would like to?  Then you ought to consider the workshop “Children’s Chapel: It’s a Sin to Bore a Kid with the Gospel.”

·         Or perhaps you work with our youth and would like to know what is working in other churches to keep youth involved in the church, or would like to know what opportunities for our youth are available within the diocese and beyond.  Then you might want to take the workshop “Ideas in Youth Ministry Worth Sharing”.

Plan on attending the Mission and Ministry Conference on June 5 in Asheville .  More information about the conference itself and registration is at the back of the church.  If you would like to look at the descriptions of the conferences or pick up a registration form, they are available in the Parish Office.