Mission Study & Strategic Planning Update

Beginning its work on Jan. 10, the Mission Study Committee reached an important milestone yesterday when it completed its final scheduled strategic planning session.

Over the past several weeks, the work has taken on a new level of clarity and direction, as the ideas and input gathered throughout the process have been shaped into meaningful strategies and sequenced actionable next steps in the 5-year plan.

In the coming weeks, the focus will be on refining the plan, preparing it for presentation to Session for discernment, and eventual review and authorization by the Lake Erie Presbytery. Once fully approved the plan will be shared with the congregation, and the important work of implementation will begin.

At the heart of this project has been the incredible engagement of the congregation. The participation in both the faith formation and mission study surveys, along with the depth and sincerity of the responses, has been truly impactful. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share your experiences, perspectives, and hopes for the future of First Presbyterian Church of the Covenant. Your voices have made a real difference.

What has come through clearly is a deep love for this church. There is a strong appreciation for our welcoming and caring community, for meaningful worship, and for the relationships shared in a church where we grow in faith together. That foundation is something to be grateful for and to build upon.

Alongside that appreciation is a shared sense of possibility. Many of you expressed a desire to grow in intentional ways:

· To create more opportunities for connection,

· To deepen faith formation across all ages in ways that are both spiritually meaningful and relevant to daily life, and

· To expand how the church serves and engages with the broader community.

These insights have been invaluable in directly guiding the work of the Strategic Planning Committee as we defined priorities, shaped a vision for the future, and outlined the strategies that will help bring that vision to life.

As part of this process, the committee drafted a refreshed mission statement and a new vision statement that more clearly reflect who we are today and where we are going.

There is a clear and growing sense of excitement around what lies ahead. The desire to be a vibrant, diverse, multi-generational church, where people feel genuinely welcomed, supported in their faith journey, and inspired to engage, is evident throughout this process. There is also a strong sense of momentum and hope.

Jesus says in Matthew 17: “I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Thank you again for being part of this journey and for helping shape the future of First Presbyterian Church of the Covenant.