Vision
First Congregational UCC creates opportunities for face to face mission with people who represent increasingly diverse parts of society. This increases the likelihood that we will be transformed, consistent with our belief that mission is a two-way street. We actively seek out ways to be generous and to assist individual members in using all of their gifts in mission work.

First Congregational UCC values mission and outreach as key aspects of our identity and central to what it means to follow Jesus Christ. Mission activities are local (e.g. St. Paul community meal program) and global (e.g. our Chiapas, Mexico, mission and relationships). In recent years we have also highlighted our church’s celebration of the personal mission activities of members, for example member donation of personal tax rebates and $20 bills from the church to personal mission priorities. Within the last two years we have become participants in the Second Chance Apartment program and have committed to establish and staff a prison ministry. Mission and outreach activities attract new members and energize current members and friends of our congregation.
Members are strengthened for mission by Sunday worship services, where the connection between faith and mission is continually underscored. This occurs through scripture, sermons, identification of how offerings are used, and discussion of how members and friends of our church use their time and talents for mission. Prayer groups and partners also support mission activities.

Five Year Planning Possibilities
◦ Prepare and share mission fact sheets to help members/friends understand and articulate the faith basis for mission.
◦ Create mission support teams to support our Outreach Board’s work and other church mission priorities (building on informal networks that already exist) to facilitate personal invitations to join mission activities. Personal invitations should be extended to all members and non-members.
◦ Create more opportunities for people to talk about their transformative experiences in mission. Explore and promote ways to witness that are comfortable for us.
◦ Promote and evaluate the “seed fund” that supports individuals’ mission priorities, and invite the congregation to write down personal mission work that would then be collected and placed on the communion table during the offering time in worship.
◦ Incorporate mission into regular Sunday worship – more than the “minute for mission” at offering time. Perhaps devote the sermon slot on a regular basis to a mission theme (e.g. describe what the St. Paul community meals mission is and how it is transformative, do the same with Second Chance and other mission activities).
◦ Explore ways of combining fellowship with a personal invitation to mission. One idea is to create potluck groups (rotating /changing groups) of 8 people, where people have a chance to get to know each other and also invite each other to participate in mission. Another is to connect new members with others who share their mission interests.
◦ Include in the Tower each week a list of “10 minute mission” opportunities: quick actions that member and non-members can easily fit into busy schedules.
◦ Expand use of the Time, Talent and Interest survey results to match individuals to mission needs.
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Staff – at least one staff member who has a strong focus on mission
Budget
Measurement -(should be regularly shared with congregation as feedback and motivator)
Percent of budget to mission
Time/hours to mission
Outcomes of mission (e.g. backpack program – what difference has it made for kids?)