wfn.org | [ENS] Groundwork II: Digging Deeper for Change and Growth

["Matthew Davies" <mdavies@episcopalchurch.org>]

Daybook, from Episcopal News Service

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

Groundwork II: Digging Deeper for Change and Growth

ENS112905-02

[Episcopal News Service] It may be the beginning of Advent, but many
program planners in Episcopal congregations are already thinking ahead
to Lent.

One resource is "Groundwork II: Digging Deeper for Change
and Growth," a book of study guides and lesson plans for Lent
2006, which was posted November 29 on the church's website at
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/groundwork One printed copy of "Groundwork
II" will be mailed to each congregation in December.

Based on the Year B readings for the five Sundays in Lent, the 2006
edition invites congregations to reflect on how they invite people into
their midst and into the Episcopal Church.

Each chapter of "Groundwork II" begins by setting the theme of the
Sunday's readings and then offers reflections from various voices on those
readings.  Activities based in three tracks round out each chapter. The
tracks can either be used continuously or mixed and matched week by week
as seems appropriate to the congregation and its context.

The tracks are:

*  Track I - Welcome and Incorporation - offering processes for engaging
the mission of evangelism. This is primarily material from the first
edition of "Groundwork" in 2005 slightly re-cast so it may be used by
congregations that were not able to use last year's resources.

*  Track 2 - Congregational Advertising - providing materials for the
design and implementation of an advertising strategy for the congregation.

*  Track 3 - Covenant and Commitment - taking a new approach to
congregational mission and vitality focusing on the covenants and
commitments that people of faith fulfill for effectiveness and
faithfulness.

"Groundwork" hopes to assist individuals, congregations and their leaders
in engaging Holy Scripture and the mission of God's Church. These
activities till the ground of prayer, learning, reflection, and
conversation so that people can learn together.  The book's goal
is to encourage personal and congregational transformation.  It asks
congregational members and leaders to dig deeply into the soil of their
mission so that they may do serious and joyful learning about the Gospel
and their community of faith.

"It is a practical and theological resource for Lenten reflection and
congregational development and transformation," said the Rev. James
Lemler, director of mission for the Episcopal Church.

Considering congregational development as the basis for a Lenten series
makes sense, Lemler said, because it is a natural time for gathering to
learn and to pray.

"Lent is a time when, in the Episcopal Church, we take stock and go into
a mode of reflection," he said.

While many people practice individual Lenten disciplines, such as giving
something up or taking on some new activity, Lemler said it is essential
for congregations to reflect together on their mission and evangelism
efforts.

The "Groundwork" effort is part of a proactive strategy begun by
General Convention in 2000 to strengthen local congregations and to
counter membership declines experienced in recent years by all mainline
denominations.

Last year's "Groundwork" book led the members of many congregations to
on the meaning of the Gospel among them and in terms of how they relate
to the world around them, Lemler said.

"For some, it was the first time they had taken steps in intentional
evangelism strategy," he said.

"Groundwork II" is offered in an atmosphere of "urgency and hope,"
he said.  It encourages congregations to engage with Scripture at this
"important moment" in the life of the Episcopal Church when invitation
and evangelism are essential, Lemler said. And "Groundwork II" is
rooted in "the hopeful reality" that "God is blessing us for mission"
in this moment.

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