Vision - 2024 to Present
Last fall (2024) we embarked on an exciting new Visioning journey at Bethlehem:
Click below for updated pages on our vision and mission, starting with:
God's Work, Our Hands Sunday (September 7, 2025)
to
Our most recent vision updates (click a "Core Team below)
New VISIONing - Fall 2024
This is the page for members to check on the work we have done thus far - as a Vision Team and as the larger congregation.
(This is also a page that's "under development" and thus probably not in its final form.) We have made this an unlisted page, for now.
Listening for God Series: October and November (a 3-part, set of 3 Sunday forums)
The 3-part process of working with Pastor Roger Hardy on Visioning this fall is similar to our journey with his shepherding back in 2012, with one big 2-part exception: the world of 2024 is a different one, and so is Bethlehem:
1. Listening for God in Scripture (Oct. 6th)
We started our journey looking at passages in the Bible, and how they influenced our fait
h - personally and together. Here is the handout we worked on as we gathered that first Sunday after worship, w
hich also contains the overview of the whole 3-part Listening for God series of forums.
A couple notable quotes from this handout:
"Through reading and reflecting on portions of scripture we hear what God is calling BLC to BE and to DO. We call this framing the process. We move from ‘being’ to ‘doing’ with God."
"The scriptures often make the reference to ‘walking with God.’ Notice the pattern of Jesus’ life: with people and away to pray, together in crowds, and alone with God. I believe that you are called to ‘walk with God’ in this Vision/Mission planning process, and beyond..."
2. Listening for God in the Congregation (Oct. 20th)
We continued in our second session by recalling our experiences of being together and with God in the community of Bethlehem. This is where we go from whose and who we are, to how we might reach out (in Session 3) to the community. Here is the handout for that Sunday session, along with a few other resources (listed below):
Please join us for a Zoom or in-person training if you are one of our volunteers going out into the community "2 by 2" between now and November 17th. The two meeting dates and times are:
- Thursday, October 24th at 7pm - in person in the Youth Room or via Zoom
- Monday, November 4th at 7pm - in person in the Youth Room or via Zoom
Zoom link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85335927554?pwd=VjlYMnFlbkRFajhwZllob3BlKzIvdz09
3. Listening for God in the Community (Nov. 17th) w/pre-meeting materials below:
Prior to our meeting on Sunday, November 17th, 2024, we asked whoever was willing and able to go out, like Jesus' disciples back in the day ("2 by 2" into the community), to gather input from individuals and organizations alike. Here is what we've gathered thus far:
- Talking to Safe Harbor (by Betty Rutila and Diane Cunningham) - click to download.
- Talking to Generations Ahead (by Sherri Helman and Pastor Paul) - click to download.
- Talking to Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency ((NMCAA), by Nancy Ammann and Carolyn Mann) - click here to download.
- Talking to Before During and After Incarceration ((BDAI), by Tom and Jana Rockne) - click here to download.
- Talking to individuals in the Front Street/Alleyway and Anderson Rd. community near the church (Sherri Helman, John Halstead and Pastor Paul) - click here to download.
- Talking to GT Regional Community Foundation (by Sherri Helman) - click here to download.
- Talking to the Au Sable Institute (by Pastor Paul) - click here to download
- Talking to the Department of Health and Human Services ((DHHS), by Gail Goldsmith and Kathi Ivany) - click here to download
- Talking to the Grand Traverse Baby Pantry (by Cindy Monroe) - click here to download
- (NEW!) Talking to SEEDs (by Jim and Cindy Monroe) - click here to download
