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THE MEASURE OF CHURCH by Greg Schlueter
JACK NICHOLAS' CHARACTER in "A Few Good Men" said it: "You can't handle the truth!"
If you're contented with feel good, self-satisfied, spiritual softballs from the church, and the ever-declining state it's paving, stop here. If, however, you're challenged by the prophetic tradition of our faith, punctuated this Advent season by the resounding call to prepare the way the Lord, to make every valley straight, to repent... particularly in this Year of the Eucharist:
THE SUCCESS OF A PARISH is measured more by transformation than by population. More by what's filling those in the pews than by what's filling pews.
IF YOUR PARISH is not intentionally pastoring people into ever greater transformation, the Eucharist is being reduced to a religious ornament. And validating much of the world's conviction that matters "faith," "religion," and even "Jesus Christ" are impotent. Why bother?
IF WE ARE NOT JOYFULLY, INTENTIONALLY, ACTIVELY evangelizing in all we do, as a way of life, because we can do no other, because we know Whose we are, particularly in our marriages, homes and other places God has entrusted us, it's likely we ourselves have not been evangelized.
FIRST AND FOREMOST:
"Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction." ~ Pope Benedict XVI
GOOD PASTORS & THEIR PEOPLE strategically, intentionally, and actively journey with parishioners in:
1) Cultivating authentic, committed, vibrant daily prayer lives,
2) Fostering greater, personal knowledge of Jesus Christ in the fullness of our Catholic faith, informing the totality of our attitudes and our actions,
3) Leading homes in becoming saint-making cultures of ever deeper encounter with Jesus Christ,
4) Creating contexts of missioned friendship, discipling/mentoring, spanning from one-on-one to the entire region entrusted to a pastor, people and their parish.
"CROSS METRICS" is the measure of every successful church, where the vertical beam of ever-deepening encounter with Jesus Christ holds up and is the basis for the horizontal beam of ever-greater multiplication.
GOD'S VISION FOR HIS CHURCH is that the Holy Communion we receive corresponds to a Holy Community we live.
LORD JESUS CHRIST,
You appointed and anointed me to participate in Your Very Life! You are the essence of my being. You hold me in existence. (Col. 1) There is no more worthy pursuit. Nothing greater! Awaken me to my nature in You! Transform me. Heal me. Revive me. Flood me with Your Holy Life to overflow! May I bear Your Presence through words, signs and wonders... may I be Your all-in instrument in building Your Kingdom! I love you. Help me to love You more! I trust You. Help me to trust You more!
OUR MISSION: We're about uniting families in building the Kingdom. We help families make their homes places of saint-making, culture-building, and territory-taking disciples of Jesus Christ. Over the past ten years, thousands have been blessed by a "family roadmap." We've been united in gathering in our respective homes on a weekly basis to talk and pray using a fun, meaningful "Live IT Gathering Guide" based on subsequent Sunday readings. Get your free LIT Guide at ILoveMyFamily.us or the Live IT App at MassImpact.us/APP. Commit right now to the Seven Week Challenge and, getting ready for 2024, a special Rescue Mission: Home Edition, plugged into Fr. John Riccardo's tremendous, nine-week series beginning the week of January 21 up till Holy Week.
Right now we are in particular need, and would be so grateful for your prayers, engagement, and Partnership.
Holy Spirit, come!
Greg Schlueter
Mass Impact | Image Trinity
Greg@MassImpact.us | (814) 449-8808
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