Faith Alive! Strategic Plan Kicks-Off

The five year plan begins with a concentrated effort to be grounded in Christ Jesus and the Biblical story. There will be opportunities to connect in person at gatherings. There will be an attempt to increase our use of video and other social media to reach as many as are interested in participating.

This Fall there will be gatherings where we will learn about Biblical storytelling, tell some stories and create plans on how your congregation can incorporate Biblical storytelling into worship, faith formation and more. The first gatherings will be on Saturday, October 27. This event will be held in three locations simultaneously. There will be different leaders for each event, but the content will be the same. The scripture focus will be on the Advent texts as a way to begin integrating the work into your congregations. Hopefully that will help many people begin (or continue) to learn Biblical stories by heart. Keep an eye on the Upstate Update and the website for more details, including the location of these storytelling events.

In addition, beginning with this article, each month a bulletin insert will be offered that can be used in your congregation and homes. These half sheet inserts will include a Bible memory story, resources, faith practices and actions. On the reverse side there will be stories of how folks are living their faith stories as people grounded in Jesus.

In the Spring we hope to release some curricula that can be used in faith communities. There is also conversation about production of an application for your phone that encourages the sharing of how your faith is alive in the world.

How you can participate:

-- attend the gatherings offered. These gatherings are for members of congregations and rostered leaders. They are appropriate for anyone who wants to learn and grow in faith.

-- send your own faith stories to Pastor Lori Kochanski (assistant to the bishop for faith formation) at lkochanski@upstatenysynod.org

-- help us write some curricula. Again, contact Pastor Lori Kochanski, lkochanski@upstatenewyorksynod.org for more information

-- keep saying "yes" to God's work in the world.