The Diocese of New Jersey April 18, 2015 Presenter: David W. Anderson
Back to Basics for Discipleship Making and Outreach Rev. Dr. David W. Anderson Presenter, Coach and Author danderson@milestonesministry.org www.milestonesministry.org
Back to Basics for Discipleship Making and Outreach Five Principles of faith formation Four Key Faith Practices: cross+generational, sacramental, experiential, and rooted in a foundational partnership between home and parish Resources will be explored that connect the Five Principles and Four Keys with daily faith formation and significant milestones events in our lives.
Back to Basics for Discipleship Making and Outreach Q. What is the ministry of the laity? A. The ministry of lay persons is to represent Christ and his Church; to bear witness to him wherever they may be; and, according to the gifts given them, to carry on Christ s work of reconciliation in the world...
What assumptions do you hold?
The Milestones Ministry Frame Five Principles to serve as a compass heading for ministry: 1. Faith is formed by the power of the Holy Spirit through personal, trusted relationshipsoften in our own homes. (John 1:29-49; 4:28-42) 2. The church is a living partnership between home and congregation. (Acts 2:46, 5:42, 20:20)
Milestones Ministry Frame 3. Where Christ is present in faith, home is church, too. (Acts 16:13ff) 4. Faith is caught more than taught. (Deut. 6:4-9) 5. If we want Christian children and youth, we need Christian adults. (Malachi 4:6; 2 Timothy 1:5)
Milestones Ministry Frame There are FOUR KEY faith practices... to do the work you have given us to do, to love and serve you as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord. (Post- Communion Prayer: BCP, p. 366)
Milestones Ministry Frame There are FOUR KEY faith practices... Part of the Episcopal, Benedictine spirituality of Obedience Stability Conversion of Life
Milestones Ministry Frame There are FOUR KEY faith practices that make up the lifestyle of lifelong faith formation: 1. Caring Conversation 2. Devotions 3. Service 4. Rituals and Traditions
There are 30+ Child & Adult Milestone Modules:
What Is Milestones Ministry? A Meaningful Memorable Moment... Marked with the Cross of Christ 13
What milestones do you currently celebrate in your parish? Mission Trips? Others? New Member?
What milestones do you recognize and celebrate in your home and daily life? Baptismal Birthdays? Others? Retirement?
What milestones do you recognize in the public world around you? Memorial Day? Others? Thanksgiving?
What s New about Milestones? The Design: Consistency of Look Four Keys (Caring Conversations, Devotions, Service, and Rituals/Traditions) are prominent The Home Component There is a Follow-Up Cross+generational Focus on Outreach Mentoring/Soul Friends
There are 18 Child-Youth Milestone Modules:
There are 18 Milestones Modules: FaithChest Milestone: Passing on Faith Baptism Milestone: The Beginning Point of Nurturing a Faith Life Anniversary of Baptism Milestone: Remembering Our Way of Life Prayer Milestone: Relationships with God and Family Welcoming Young Children to Worship Milestone: An Intentional Invitation Entering Sunday School Milestone: First Steps for a Young Child Kids and Money Milestone: Good Stewards of God s Gifts Blessing of the Backpacks Milestone: A Fall Milestone for All Ages Communion Milestone: Learning More about the Lord s Supper
18 Milestones Modules continued: Bible Milestone: Placing Scripture in Hands and Homes Bible Camp Milestone: Feeling God s Comfort in Outdoor Ministry My Body, God s Gift Milestone: Sexuality as God s Good Gift Middle School Milestone: Created in God s Image Beginning Confirmation Milestone: Walking with Youth on Their Faith Journeys Confirmation Milestone: An Evening of Honor Driver s License Milestone: Driver s License as a Rite of Passage Mission Trip Milestone: Community Blessings at Home and Away High School Graduation Milestone: Equipping Graduates for the Journey
There are 8 Adult Milestone Modules:
Adult Milestones For Caregivers of Aging Parents Return from Military Deployment Retirement New Home New Job First Time Grandparents Wedding Anniversary Empty Nest Four More in the Fall
8 Adult Milestones Modules: Caring for Aging Parents: affirming primary care givers Return from Military Deployment: reuniting with family and friends New Home: Affirming the physical, spiritual, and emotional transition to a new living space Retirement: a major life transition Empty Nest Wedding Anniversary New Job First Time Grandparents
4 Adult Milestones Modules (in the Fall) First Time Parents Joining a Faith Community Loss of a Loved One Connecting with Spiritual Gifts
Introducing the design
Desired Outcomes Talk about changes and challenges of new living situation Share memories of previous homes and hopes and dreams for the future in a new home Understand how faith and worship can be practiced in the home Equip those in transition with a ritual/tradition for moving into a new home Provide resources for rituals/traditions that can be consistently practiced in the home Connect ministry of the congregation with the new owners
1. Name it 2. Equip it 3. Bless it 4. Gift it 5. Reinforce it
1. Naming Identifies a moment as significant to one s life and faith 2. Equipping Provides support, modeling, and resources to help people experience a milestone in life as an opportunity to again embrace the grace of God in Christ
3. Blessing Offers a prayer in a worship service, cross+generational event, and/or the home to embrace people s lives with the grace, mercy, and peace of God in Christ. 4. Gifting Provides a gift to help the participants recall a particular milestone in their lives with faith, hope, and love
5. Reinforcing Offer a follow up event to help deepen the faith formation impact of the Milestone Ministry event. Encourage and support faith practices recommended at the initial Milestone event and, when helpful, explore new ones. 5 Part Structure These five component parts work together to link individuals and cross + generational groups with a faith community and a way to promote lifelong faith formation.
FOUR KEYS For Practicing Faith 1. Caring Conversations 2. Devotions 3. Service 4. Rituals and Traditions
Blessings in home and congregation with intention to do outreach Four Keys
Four Keys
Appendix
Candle Four Keys Mat Blessing Bowl Milestone Stones
Options
Sometimes Overlooked We tend to limit milestones to parent and child Importance of Follow Up and Re-Connect Opportunity to invite whole community (not just the faith community)
Sometimes Overlooked Outreach Outreach into the community is a major gift of Milestones Ministry. It is a lifelong faith formation ministry that can serve and bless other people besides congregational members.
Blessing of the Backpacks Driver s License Middle School High School Graduation Aging Parents Deployment Friends and neighbors are invited!
Milestones Ministry for Home, Parish, and Digital World Resources for the Ministry
Three Stages of Milestones Ministry Stage 1 - Program
Three Stages of Milestones Ministry Stage 2 Life Cycle
Three Stages of Milestones Ministry Stage 3 Way of Life
Remember The Key Elements: Naming Equipping Blessing Gifting Reinforcing The Challenge: More than parent and child Importance of Follow Up Invite whole community
Discipleship Making and Community Outreach Equipping leaders and all the laity.
Back to Basics For a PDF of this presentation: Go to www.miletonesminstry.org Click on Our Team Tab Find PDF under David s Bio