Seneca Falls United Methodist Church

Intentional Discipleship Plan

  Searching (Prevenient Grace) Exploring (Prevenient Grace) Beginning (Justifying Grace) Growing (Sanctifying Grace) Maturing (Sanctifying Grace)
Worship   Searching for something more.   Invited by a friend to attend worship.  Attend sporadically.   Begin to Worship regularly: becoming more aware of God each day. Attend regularly and begin to recognize daily moments of worship Begin to honor and worship everyday in work and play; inviting others to worship
  Guests receive a “glad you popped in today” gift from the Nurture and Outreach Committee.   Pastor welcomes, personally greets visitors. Visitors greeted by other members of the congregations   Offering “on-line” worship   Update  church website and FB page regularly   Publicizing opportunities for spiritual development   Bulletin insert with information regarding events and happenings or categories of the things we are doing. Child care and Sunday school is offered so parents can enjoy service   Pastor sends follow- up notes of welcome   Have “Connectors” extend personal invitations to sporadic attendees (by phone, email, or US Mail) and sit with them at worship services   Pastor calls and arranges a time to get together Offer  personal invitations and “blanket” opportunities to take on various roles in worship Pastor incorporates invitations to follow Christ in sermons Explore possibilities for adding: new Choir members; Praise Band; Dance Troupe Expand Public Relations Social Media Youth Group member       Offer prayer retreats or activity retreats   Continue to invite special guests for worship services.     Invite others to worship by sharing online link or in person worship information   Pattern of daily devotions.    SFUMC offers daily scripture via email, weekly spiritual opportunities via Daybreak, Bible study, prayer box,  and monthly prayer groups
Community Searching for genuine community Begin to feel strangely drawn to these followers of Jesus and feel warm acceptance by them. Move from receiving gracious hospitality to offering it to others in everyday life. Begin to look for ways to love, accept, and relate to others in the same way that the church and God lovingly welcomed you Seek to build relationships with others and share with them the life and community that you have found in God.
  Family nights and Youth Group are open to all community members   Church used by other groups such as AA, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts   Soup Ministry   Explore more opportunities for fellowship and publicize them (examples:. Ladies’ Day Out; Parents’ Night Out; UM Night at the Ballpark)   Host free Family Movie Nights   Family Game night Congregation openly shares joys and concerns   Gatherings of congregation members outside of the church (past example – bar ministry)   Church members offering outside opportunities for Bible study   Get acquainted with visitors and newcomers at Fellowship Hour – intentionally sit with new members or visitors.   Hold a “Meet & Greet” Brunch where newcomers can be introduced to church leaders and ministry opportunities   Develop Small Groups organized naturally around common interests (ie. Book Club; Men’s Group; Young Adults’ group; or Hiking/Biking/Boating/Fishing Clubs)yoga or tai chi.      Members of various committees invite newcomers to assist with Fellowship Hour   Hold “Friendship Sunday,” where everyone invites a guest   Offer Greeters’/Ushers’ training again Ask homebound members to take on some Lay Caregiving tasks (eg. notes of encouragement, phone calls)    Set up Secret Prayer Partners for Advent; reveal these at the Christmas Brunch   Advertising in Newspaper for special services. Fingerlakes bulletin Lake to Lake bulletin     Become involved in Imagine No Racism events as a group.   Remain an active participant in Seneca Falls Council of Churches councils meetings and activities (examples are service food pantry coordination and Neighbors Dinner out).   We are a Reconciling Church for LGBTQ   We can showcase this more by placing  Ribbon or  pins at entrances.   Continue to offer weekly bible study or book clubs When a friend shares a prayer concern, offer to pray with them right then   Ecumenical Prayer services hosting both in person and online.   Host Hymn Sing at our church and  possibly get youth involved.  
Spiritual Practices Wonder about the Bible and if there are ways to experience God. Feel drawn to the story of  God’s love and begin to explore scripture. Begin to pray and read scripture regularly: being open to God Move to exploring spiritual disciplines: drawn closer to God on a daily basis Enjoy and practice spiritual disciplines, and begin to show others how to use them to grow in faith and be drawn closer to God.
  Verses or lessons shared at youth group and family nights are good “exposure” to learning about the Bible   Other opportunities are offered by church members and the Pastor for Bible study. Some of these could be on-line. Teen bible study (ex:teens, girls and mom’s etc) Church retreats Camping ministry Small groups for study and support – at various times of the day. Offer digital and print resources for the practice of spiritual disciplines  Start a group for spiritual seekers Conduct a 6-week “Daily Challenge” during Lent where participants record  “God Sightings” Bible study Daybreak/Eventide Drop in prayer   Offer retreats   Continue to offer daily scripture and meditation or prayers. Train retreat leaders Lead/Host retreats Currently hosting weekly and monthly opportunities for small groups.
Generosity & Service Wonder if there is more to life than making money and selfish gain. Begin to give occasionally in worship and try a service project at church. See other people making a difference in the lives of others and seek to be a part of that. Begin to give regularly of money, time and talents; understand Christ’s invitation to serve others and discover how God has gifted you to do this. Try tithing my resources, time and talent to God through the ministries of the church: exploring ways to use one’s gifts, talents and passions Tithe and occasionally give beyond when led by God; begin to restructure life and resources to join Jesus in mission to others.
  Youth Group service dates   Clothes closet   Family night out dinner provided at Trinity church   Chop and chat   Nurture and Outreach for shut-ins, college students, etc.   Invite the community to participate in mission trips and projects (eg. Cleaning Buckets collection)   Involve newcomers in working at church functions (an example is helping with video of services) Smaller one time service days like the Salvation Army or Montezuma for youth group.   Small one time projects like collecting change from the congregation for Nurture and Outreach Committee.   Larger ministries like the Ecumenical food drives.  This gives any person a chance to give or serve.   Invite newcomers to serve in worship (as Greeters/Ushers, Liturgists, Choir Members) Continue including the “Estimate of Giving” cards in the mailing for Annual Stewardship Campaign   Hold “Missions Fair” in September, where various opportunities for service are showcased   Offer Spiritual Gifts Inventory to all who are interested and review the results with individuals Take on regular missions like soup and clothes closet Special tithing opportunities for special funds and scholarships.   Create new avenues for giving by congregation and visitors (online giving, use of square technology, campaigns)
Christ-Like The life and teachings of Jesus are intriguing. Exploring the life of Jesus on my own by reading the Bible and attending my first Bible Study. Accept the call to follow Jesus and commit to the church; seek to become like Jesus and serve others. Begin to daily apply the teachings of Jesus in everyday life. Partner with God and invite others to explore the life and teachings of Jesus.
  Mentor designee who would be available to answer questions in a one to one session.  Bible study Scripture of the day Hold “New Members’” and Confirmation classes annually, as needed   Accept new members into the church during worship services Diversify leadership in the church.   We welcome new members due to community outreach including socio-economic diversity. In depth Bible studies, Adult “Sunday School” style, with a syllabus but not a firm deadline, so that if the discussion takes longer, the class doesn’t necessarily move forward but re-visits it the next week, and finishes in an open time.
  Searching Prevenient Grace Exploring Prevenient Grace Beginning Justifying Grace Growing Sanctifying Grace Maturing Sanctifying Grace