Mancelona, Michigan
2020
To foster integration between worship and science by connecting worship practices with the mission to serve, protect and restore God's earth.
Provide a brief summary of the purpose and goal of your grant.
Encourage college students participating in a summer environmental field courses to intentionally practice liturgies of restoration—habits that point us to our true identity and calling, and tell us God’s story.
What are two questions that have generated reflection on worship and helped shape your project?
1. How do our habits shape who/what we love, and thus who/what we worship?
2. What are the barriers that keep Au Sable students from being formed into a worshipping people of restoration?
What impact has your project had on the worship life and habits of the congregation?
We have spent the last six month identifying five liturgies of restoration and writing a workbook that students can use this summer. The students arrive in one week, so the true impact remains to be seen. In response to our planning period, we are intentionally incorporating new opportunities into our daily schedule this summer, such as opportunities for small groups.
What have been your greatest challenges (or challenging opportunities)?
We had originally planned for in-person meetings to discuss and plan the project. Moving the meetings to Zoom allowed us to involve more people who otherwise would not have been involved.
What would you like to share with other Project Directors?
Don't measure success based on numbers of people who actively support or are involved in the project. The people in the room are exactly the right people that need to be involved in the project
