The Diocese of New Jersey
April 18, 2015
Presenter: David W. Anderson Hello there.Hello there.
Rev. Dr. David W. AndersonPresenter, Coach and Author
Back to Basics for Discipleship Making
and Outreach
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Back to Basics for Discipleship Making and Outreach
• Five Principles of faith formation• Four Key Faith Practices: cross+generational,
sacramental, experiential, and rooted in a foundational partnership between home and parish
• Resources will be explored that connect the Five Principles and Four Keys with daily faith formation and significant milestones events in our lives.
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Back to Basics for Discipleship Making and Outreach
Q. What is the ministry of the laity?
A. The ministry of lay persons is to represent Christ and his Church; to bear witness to him wherever they may be; and, according to the gifts given them, to carry on Christ’s work of reconciliation in the world . . .
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What assumptions do you hold?
The Milestones Ministry FrameFive Principles to serve as a compass heading for ministry:
1. Faith is formed by the power of the Holy Spirit through personal, trusted relationships-often in our own homes. (John 1:29-49; 4:28-42)
2. The church is a living partnership between home and congregation.
(Acts 2:46, 5:42, 20:20)Hello there.Hello there.
Milestones Ministry Frame
3. Where Christ is present in faith, home is church, too.
(Acts 16:13ff)
4. Faith is caught more than taught.
(Deut. 6:4-9)
5. If we want Christian children and youth, we need Christian adults.
(Malachi 4:6; 2 Timothy 1:5) Hello there.Hello there.
Milestones Ministry Frame
There are FOUR KEY faith practices . . .
“to do the work you have given us to do, to love and serve you as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord.”
(Post- Communion Prayer: BCP, p. 366)
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Milestones Ministry Frame
There are FOUR KEY faith practices . . .
Part of the Episcopal, Benedictine spirituality of
Obedience Stability
Conversion of Life
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Milestones Ministry Frame
There are FOUR KEY faith practices that make up the lifestyle of lifelong faith formation:
1. Caring Conversation2. Devotions3. Service4. Rituals and Traditions
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There are 30+ Child & Adult Milestone Modules:
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What Is Milestones Ministry?
A Meaningful Memorable Moment . . . Marked with the Cross of Christ
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What milestones do you currently celebrate in your parish?
Baptism Mission
Trips?
Bible?
New Member?Blessing of
Backpacks?
Confirmation
First Communion
Others?
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PARISH MILESTONES
What milestones do you recognize and celebrate in your home and daily life?
Birthdays? Baptismal
Birthdays?
Graduation?
Retirement?Driver’ s
License?
First Day of School?
Aniversaries?
Others?
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HOME MILESTONES
What milestones do you recognize in the public world around you?
Fourth of
July?
Memorial
Day?
Graduation?
Thanksgiving?Summertime
at the Park?
Souper Bowl?
Trunk or Treat?
Others?
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COMMUNITY MILESTONES
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• The Design: Consistency of Look
• Four Keys (Caring Conversations, Devotions,
Service, and Rituals/Traditions) are prominent
• The Home Component
• There is a Follow-Up
• Cross+generational
• Focus on Outreach• Mentoring/Soul Friends
What’s New about Milestones?
There are 18 Child-Youth Milestone Modules:
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There are 18 Milestones Modules:
FaithChest® Milestone: Passing on FaithBaptism Milestone: The Beginning Point of Nurturing a Faith Life
Anniversary of Baptism Milestone: Remembering Our Way of LifePrayer Milestone: Relationships with God and Family
Welcoming Young Children to Worship Milestone: An Intentional InvitationEntering Sunday School Milestone: First Steps for a Young Child
Kids and Money Milestone: Good Stewards of God’s GiftsBlessing of the Backpacks Milestone: A Fall Milestone for All Ages
Communion Milestone: Learning More about the Lord’s Supper
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Bible Milestone: Placing Scripture in Hands and HomesBible Camp Milestone: Feeling God’s Comfort in Outdoor Ministry
My Body, God’s Gift Milestone: Sexuality as God’s Good GiftMiddle School Milestone: Created in God’s Image
Beginning Confirmation Milestone: Walking with Youth on Their Faith Journeys
Confirmation Milestone: An Evening of HonorDriver’s License Milestone: Driver’s License as a Rite of PassageMission Trip Milestone: Community Blessings at Home and Away
High School Graduation Milestone: Equipping Graduates for the Journey
18 Milestones Modules continued:
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There are 8 Adult Milestone Modules:
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Adult Milestones
• For Caregivers of Aging Parents
• Return from Military Deployment
• Retirement
• New Home
• New Job
• First Time Grandparents
• Wedding Anniversary
• Empty Nest
• Four More in the Fall
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8 Adult Milestones Modules:Caring for Aging Parents: affirming primary care givers
Return from Military Deployment: reuniting with family and friendsNew Home: Affirming the physical, spiritual, and emotional transition
to a new living space
Retirement: a major life transitionEmpty Nest
Wedding Anniversary New Job
First Time Grandparents
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First Time ParentsJoining a Faith Community
Loss of a Loved OneConnecting with Spiritual Gifts
4 Adult Milestones Modules (in the Fall)
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Introducing the design…
Desired Outcomes
Desired Outcomes
Talk about changes and challenges of new living situation Share memories of previous homes and hopes and dreams for the future in a new home Understand how faith and worship can be practiced in the home Equip those in transition with a ritual/tradition for moving into a new home Provide resources for rituals/traditions that can be consistently practiced in the home Connect ministry of the congregation with the new owners
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What is Milestones
Ministry?
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5 Part Structure
1.Name it2.Equip it3.Bless it4.Gift it5.Reinforce it
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1. Naming
Identifies a moment as significant to one’s life and faith
2. Equipping
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Provides support, modeling, and resources to help people experience a milestone in life as an opportunity to again embrace the grace of God in Christ
3. Blessing
Offers a prayer in a worship service, cross+generational event, and/or the home to embrace people’s lives with the grace, mercy, and peace of God in Christ.
4. Gifting
Provides a gift to help the participants recall a particular milestone in their lives with faith, hope, and love
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5. Reinforcing
Offer a follow up event to help deepen the faith formation impact of the Milestone Ministry event. Encourage and support faith practices recommended at the initial Milestone event and, when helpful, explore new ones.
5 Part Structure
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These five component parts work together to link individuals and cross + generational groups with a faith community and a way to promote lifelong faith formation.
Notes for
Leadership
Planning Helps
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Four Keys
FOUR KEYS For Practicing Faith
1. Caring Conversations
2. Devotions3. Service4. Rituals and
TraditionsHello there.Hello there.
Worship Service
For the Home
Four Keys
Blessings in home and congregation with
intention to do outreach
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Reinforcing
Four Keys
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Milestones Ministry Frame
Appendix
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Resources
Gifting
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Blessing Bowl
Candle
Four Keys Mat
Milestone Stones
Options
Customizable Invitations
BriefcasesToolboxes
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• We tend to limit milestones to parent and child
• Importance of Follow Up and Re-Connect
Opportunity to invite whole community
(not just the faith community)
Sometimes Overlooked…
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Outreach
Outreach into the community is a major gift of
Milestones Ministry. It is a lifelong faith
formation ministry that can serve and bless
other people besides congregational members.
Sometimes Overlooked…
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Blessing of the Backpacks
Driver’s License
Middle School
High School Graduation
Aging Parents
Deployment
Friends and neighbors are invited!
Resources for the Ministry
Milestones Ministry
for Home,Parish,
and Digital World
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Three Stages of Milestones Ministry
Stage 1 - Program
Milestones Manual
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Three Stages of Milestones Ministry
Stage 2 – Life Cycle
For Everything a Season
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Three Stages of Milestones Ministry
Stage 3 – Way of Life
Milestone Blessings Bowl and
Mat
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The Challenge:
• More than parent and child
• Importance of Follow Up• Invite whole community
Remember …
The Key Elements:
• Naming
• Equipping
• Blessing
• Gifting
• Reinforcing
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Equipping leaders and all the laity.
Discipleship Making and Community Outreach
Back to Basics
For a PDF of this presentation:Go to www.miletonesminstry.org
Click on “Our Team” TabFind PDF under David’s Bio
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New Home DevotionsRead Scripture: Proverbs 24:3-4 (CEV)
“Use wisdom and understanding to establish your home; let good sense fill
the rooms with priceless treasures.”
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New Home DevotionsAfter reading the Scripture, finish these sentences:
1.A piece of wisdom I learned in my own home (or grandparents’ home or other significant adult’s home) as a child is . . .
2.A treasure I carry with me from my old home to my new home is . . .
3. When I think about using wisdom and understanding to establish my home, I wonder . . .
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