Fresh Waters

A United Methodist Community

Fishing For Life

“God's kingdom is like a fishnet cast into the sea,

catching all kinds of fish.”.

Matthew 13:47 – The Message 

A Five Year

Strategic Ministry Plan

(SMP)
 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

           Letter from the Pastors………………………………………………...…………page 3

Executive Summary……………………………………………….……………..page 4

Our History……………………………………………………………………….page 6

Vision, Mission, Tagline, Core Values, Scriptures, Focus on Future …………..page 8

Church Profile……………………………………………………………………page 9

Key Initiatives, Outcomes and Annual Plans….…………………..………..…..page 10

Role of Administrative Board and Ministry Directors Team….………………..page 11

The Changing Role of the Leaders and Pastors………………….……………..page 11

Faith Formation and Worship Suggestions and Staffing Suggestions ………….page 12

Financial Information……………………………………………………………page 13

What happens if we say yes?.................................................................................page 14

ATTACHMENTS……………………………………………………………….END

·         Organizational structure for FRESH WATERS UMC for the fall of 2009

·         Ministry Map

August 26, 2009

STRATEGIC MINISTRY PLAN FOR FRESH WATERS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

LETTER FROM THE PASTORS:   

To the Congregations of Blessed Cross, Princeton and Spencer Brook:

            The last year we’ve lived together has been an experience we will never forget. Since we first started to meet as pastors, then as small groups, then as leadership teams from each church, and finally as church representatives in consultation with Kay Roberts, we have seen a dream bigger than any of us. The dream brought so many questions; it brought more and more persons into the process, and started a cooperative ministry among us that has been unparalleled for any of us.

            From the experience; we decided to experiment. Often this experiment has brought bumps in the road. Often it has left all of us scratching our heads saying, “I don’t know”. There have been challenges of scheduling; there have been questions of process. Other times this experiment has brought us phenomenal worship; great fellowship and an opportunity to know each other more personally. We have shared with each other’s fellowship times. Fund raising dinners, fishing trips, flea markets, and women’s fellowship times, a shared youth ministry and youth events among the three of us and district wide have opened our eyes to each other, our hands in cooperation, and we have had some just plain fun together.

            This booklet represents the next piece of the journey. Now that we have experimented a bit, what would it be like if we took this journey of faith all together? What would it look like if we reached out not only to our own congregations but to a regional ministry that was so much bigger than any of us as individual churches? So, under Kay’s leadership; the individual teams have met numerous times. We have prayed often; we have dreamed together. We have looked at common history, and looked at the history we want to shape and form together in the future. All of us are keenly aware we will need to fine tune it. All of us know we will have to communicate our energy, excitement, and onward, our dreams of ministry from here.

            That’s why each family or individual will get a copy of it. That’s why we want you to react to it. That’s why we want you to pray about it. That’s why we want you to help us refine it. So that, the next time we present it, it will form a plan and a common vision for us as churches in the years ahead. We want you to know the joy we have had in the journey, and ask you to join us in the next step. We know God has something ahead for all three churches that will be so big; none of us can imagine it now. But when we see it, together we will say “Yes! That’s it! This is what God has in mind for us as the people of God.” For all of the persons in each church who have worked so long and so hard together to produce this, thanks. For all of the inspiration, direction, and peace God has given us thus far, we give God the glory. We are convinced that the future for us is just as bright as the promises and possibilities God has shown us. To God be the glory, great things have been done. To God be the glory, greater things God will do as we journey, walk, worship and work together.

                                                                        Because we want to be, continue to be faithful;

                                                                                    Dan Hair, Diane Nelson

                                                                                    and with great thanks for

                                                                                    Bescye Burnett who inspired all of us

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

We present a five-year plan for the growth and development of Fresh Waters United Methodist Church, to our members, and friends.  At its heart, the plan defines processes for equipping members and friends to accept God’s call to serve our families within our community, the counties we serve and touch and beyond.

This plan starts by defining a Vision and a Mission that calls for us to be a church of Christ that will go out and make disciples by “Going Fishing” for new members as well as wading more deeply into our own spiritual lives. Each member of “Fresh Waters Church” will be called upon to promise to work towards this vision and mission.

Additionally the congregation and Strategic Ministry Planning teams developed Key Initiatives to grow our church we will find faithful and exciting ways to live out our vision and mission through the following key initiatives over the next five years: (They are often referred to in this document, also called our core values and our “Full Fishing Guide”.)

1.       Faith formation through education for all ages (F in fishing)

2.       Creating an invigorating worship experience that speaks to young families and the relevant issues of their lives (First I in fishing)

3.       Service and Mission projects that meet the needs of our extended communities  (S in fishing)

4.       Radical hospitality (H in fishing)

5.       An ‘invitation’ plan for reaching out and inviting young families and youth (Second I in fishing)

6.       Nurturing relationships in many ways including small groups (N in fishing) 

7.       Creating an overflowing spirit of generosity in the area of stewardship (G in fishing)

The key initiatives will help focus the church on our mission and vision as they are implemented by our new ministry directors’ team.

While God’s love is infinite, we as a congregation have finite human and physical resources. Therefore, we have decided after knowing specific demographic information that our focus should be on young families and young adults. The spiritual, emotional, and physical health of families within the community is essential to assure the well-being of our community. All of us are called upon to share our abundant gifts to serve this focal group. This focus implies that energy and resources will be concentrated on this key audience; it does not mean that the strategic plan calls for the exclusion of others groups. All constituencies within the church are vital to accomplishing the goals set forth in the strategic plan through the use of their time, talents and experiences. The equipping of these constituencies is a cornerstone of the Strategic Ministry Plan.

We can put these together with our common Beliefs:   What is a United Methodist?

The United Methodist tradition began with John Wesley, a priest of the Anglican Church in England. 

He was deeply concerned that the church needed an awakening, a deeper spirituality, not unlike where much of the church is today.  Wesley, along with some friends, developed a very disciplined approach to living out their faith.  They believed that accountability was important as well as support from others, to follow and seek to be like Jesus.  The term “Methodist” became a derisive name because they were so organized but stuck because it was a system that was motivational, supportive, and powerful.

A United Methodist is one who knows the importance of faith and is willing to commit time and heart to God, nurturing that relationship so that our heart grows ever closer to God’s.  We seek to reach the point where our will is the same as God’s will for us and all of creation.

We believe that salvation is offered to all of creation.  We believe that God has covenanted with us in unconditional love to restore our relationship, to transform our hearts, so that we can live abundantly: renewed, and refreshed.  We worship together, singing and praising our God, for this gift.  We seek to learn as much as we can about our God, opening ourselves to the movement of the Holy Spirit, sharpening the gifts that God has blessed us with, and sharing those blessings with the world.

A United Methodist follows the principles laid out by Wesley to do no harm, to love others and to love God.  Put another way: we seek to wholeheartedly love God and our neighbor.

A United Methodist is one who chooses to follow the model Jesus gave us.  That model includes welcoming strangers and those on the edge of society.  It includes caring for those who are down and out, and seeking justice for those who are oppressed.  Our tradition has grounded us in the need to be active in living out our faith through feeding and clothing those who are poor, seeking health for ourselves and others, seeking to be hospitable to all so that none are excluded from our fellowship, nurturing those who have no faith, and developing those who do, into a more mature faith.

We are open to all God sends across our paths.   Those who have different opinions are respected, those with questions find a safe place to ask them, those with hurting hearts find a place to experience God’s presence and healing.  A United Methodist is a temple of the living God.   We are carrying God’s presence with us wherever we go and to whomever our lives touch.

Open doors, open hearts, open minds, we really want to live that model: that is a United Methodist.

Your partners in ministry,

The Strategic Ministry Planning Team:

Betty Barrett, Rosanne Beattie, Connie Skillingstad, Clarice Harman, Frank & Darla Scouten, Dee Hemgren, Elizabeth Anderson, Gene Aufderhar, Gene Stoeckel, George Walkley, Gloria & Bernie Wesloh, Jennifer Hardy, Jim & Alma Burvee, Jim & Juanita Laskowski, Ken & Tammy Swing, Linda Anderson, Lylias Hodgson, Nick Scouten, Nita Lyngen, Phil & Sue Lingle, Rene Hoversten, Shirley Dettmer, Tami Miller, Jess Tomsche, Tom Schreiner, Verna Jenson, Vic Anderson, Josh Sawyer, Pastor Dan Hair and Pastor Diane Nelson

Chronological Development

Princeton, Spencer Brook, Blessed Cross

PRINCETON

Beginning: 1856

Circuit Rider John Hooper

Organized: 1857

Met in homes

First Church: 1858-Dunham’s Meeting House and a parsonage were built by William Dunham.

1886: 2^nd church was built on land just to our east. Parsonage was erected in 1888-1890.

1903: The present brick church was built under the direction of Rev. W.E.J. Gratz.

Early 1900’s: Five country congregations joined with the Princeton church when cars became available because membership moved and decreased. Blue Hill, Baldwin, Greenbush, Santiago, and the German Methodist Churches closed. Greenbush brought their Bell and German Methodist brought their organ. 1909-Mrs. Christ Larson organized a Sunday school. An Evangelism campaign brought in 80 new members in 1919.

MYF, W.S.C.S., and the Methodist Men were established in the early ‘40’s.

1954: Educational wing was added.

1957: Princeton celebrated their Centennial year.

SPENCER BROOK

Beginning: 1885

Circuit Riders: J.S. Bouch and

L.L. Tower

1896: Rev. James Geer arrived from Canada. Spencer Brook is

1^st church in Isanti Co. to use

English exclusively.

1898: Church was dedicated.

1909/1910: R.F. Roper, Pastor

1910: Church closed. Weddings and funerals were held with clergy from other Methodist

churches.

1920’2-1930’s: Sunday school

classes were held in members’

homes.

1937: Church was repaired and re-opened with Rev. Richardson. 1939: Rev. Gebhard was serving Princeton and Spencer Brook-This sharing continued through the 1940’s. 1953 found only 6 members, but the church survived.

1976- Fellowship Hall was added.

BLESSED CROSS

Beginning: 1903

Rev. W.E.J. Gratz from Princeton preached at the Bean Schoolhouse. 1904-1905- Pastors Henry Gladden & George Galbraith came from Spencer Brook.

1904: Church was built on land purchased by Dist. Superintendent Dr. Robert Forbes.

Ladies Aid and Sunday school were organized. 1907.  First members were accepted into the Congregation.

1909-1910: Shared Pastor R. Roper (Soper?) with Spencer Brook.

1911-1919: Pastors were supplied by Elk River. 1919: 1^st resident Pastor, Rev. T.B. Clark, was appointed, followed by Rev. W.E. Peterson.

1923: Church was destroyed by fire.

1924 saw construction began on a new building. The base was finished and used for all purposes until 1948 when the upper portion was built and dedicated by Rev. Edward McCann on Sept. 19, 1948. 90 new members joined the church between 1951 and 1955, under Rev. Clyde Shattuck.

In 1961 the Central Minnesota Methodist Parish was formed. It was made up of 10 churches and

4 Pastors in the following manner: Zimmerman with Rev. Wm. Mealio; Princeton and Spencer

Brook with Rev. Delton Krueger; Becker, Clear Water and Clear Lake with Rev. Mary

McNichol; Milaca, Santiago, Glendorado, and Estes Brook with Rev. Douglas Norris. The

Pastors and Lay People met twice monthly to talk over problems, prospects, and pitfalls.

On May 27, 1962, a caravan of seven busses visited all the churches and ended with a pot luck at

Princeton. The Bishop, District Superintendent, and Conference W.S.C.S. president were honored guests. Various parish picnics were held over the years.

There were two community workers: Phyllis Neal and Penny Fritze, serving among the churches in such areas as training, advising, etc.

The C.M.M.P. was disbanded in 1985.

1969: All Methodist churches became United Methodist Churches after a merger with Evangelical United Brethren Church.

PRINCETON                                                        SPENCER BROOK                                            BLESSED CROSS

1966: Sanctuary was remodeled with Chancel in center with seating on 3 sides.

2001: Sanctuary was remodeled again; turning it around to face west and air-conditioning was added. The beautiful stained glass windows are now more visible.

2006: Fire destroyed the basement with extensive smoke damage throughout. Insurance provided for rebuilding and an elevator to all levels.

1995: Rev. Pam Barbour was appointed associate Pastor, with Cooper Wiggen.

1996: Spencer Brook celebrated it’s Centennial.

1999: Spencer Brook was unyoked from Princeton UMC.

2000: First full time pastor, Rev. Diane Nelson, was appointed.

1997: Congregation moved to new location and became Blessed Cross United Methodist Church. A small building was built to provide for worship until the larger building could be accomplished. The first phase building is a gymnasium style being used as a multi-purpose area, classrooms, and a kitchen.

2007: Princeton celebrated their

Sesquicentennial.

SPECIAL NOTE:  Princeton, Spencer Brook, and Blessed Cross United Methodist churches have been connected many times in their past as evidenced by their histories.