This Spring, after much prayer and discussion, we adopted this statement as the vision for our community: following One, serving all. "Following" signifies that we are disciples, we are learning, we are being shaped. In the words of John Wesley, we are "going on to perfection." "One" is the one we follow, Jesus Christ, the revelation of God to us. As Christians, we are called to become "little Christs." The first two words are about being nurtured and formed; we first must take in before we go out.
The next two words start the process of looking beyond ourselves and moving out into God's wider world. "Serving" states our posture as disciples. We follow Jesus who came not to be served but to serve. "All" has plenty of challenge to it. We are stretched to go beyond our comfortable boundaries and groups to reach all whom Christ loves. Jesus hung out with the least, the last, and the lost. These are the ones that we are called to serve, too.
These four words, easy enough for anyone to remember, contain our vision of what we are and what we do. The form of the verbs shows that we have followed and served, continue today, and will be doing the same as each day unfolds. I am excited about what our vision calls us to be and to become.
Faithfully,
Lynn
