
Congregational Blessings The Stone Church Experience
Selection of the Congregational Blessing Team • Size, gender, background and experience • Schedule and process of meetings and worship • Involvement of evangelists beyond their team role • Coordination and involvement with Pastor and others
Defining The Purpose For the Congregational Blessing • Our Statement of Purpose (handout) • Process for developing our priorities
Sharing Our Team Commitment • Team Commitment Process • Our Congregation Blessing Team Covenant (handout)
Developing a Schedule of Activities Three Components • Pre-Blessing Activities • The Congregational Blessing Event • Post-Blessing The Congregational Blessing Calendar (handout)
Preparing and Distributing Materials • The Congregational Preparation Booklet • Preparation of Booklet and Division of Labor • Distribution and use of booklet
Involving and Preparing Others • Special church school classes • Home visiting • Regular participation of evangelists in worship/other services • Using congregational newsletter • Regular bulletin inserts by different evangelists (handout) • Special prayer services
Priesthood Preparation and Visiting • Monthly priesthood meetings • Visiting assignments and materials • Helps for distributing the Congregational Blessing Booklets (handout) • Special worship and commissioning experience for the priesthood • Prayer responsibilities for the priesthood
Preparing the Blessing Document • Individual assignments to each evangelist • Role of editor and preparing final document • Discussion and refinement of blessing document
Preparing the Blessing Document • Printing the Blessing Document • The Blessing Document Envelope
The Blessing Service • Sample Order of Service For the Congregational Blessing (handout) • Participants and process of developing the service
Distributing the Blessing Document and Other Material • Sending forth statement (handout) • Response to Blessing from Becky Savage • Multiple distribution methods
Acting On the Blessing • Evangelists lead study of blessing document • Using excerpts in subsequent services • Congregational retreat using blessing as focus
Acting on the Blessing …continued • Creating special follow up committees • Evaluation of entire process and experience • Distribution to new members
Acting on the Blessing…continued • Evangelist role in congregational leadership • Ongoing focus • Videos