X      Inspired by Christ: Paul writes that, "As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ." (Galatians 3:27) Paul also encourages us to, "Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 2:5)  It is our vision for Lake of the Isles that all of us come to understand more deeply what it means to be "clothed" with Christ and what it means to have the "mind" of Christ as we live our lives both in the church and in the world. 

X      Living and growing in faith: Our prayer for you is the same as Paul's prayer for the Christians in Colossae: "I have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God's will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God." (Colossians 1:9-10)  It is our vision for Lake of the Isles that every one associated with this community of faith grow in the depth of their faith that they might live more fully and joy-fully out of their faith. Toward this end, we will provide numerous opportunities in the coming year for you to learn spiritual and devotional practices/disciplines that can deepen your experience of God, strengthen your faith, and under gird your relationships, your family, your personal and professional lives.  We encourage everyone to participate in at least one educational opportunity in the coming year to grow in your faith and faithfulness. 

X      A loving and open community: The Christ who calls us to follow him was radically inclusive and radically compassionate; he welcomed all and cared for all with an undiscriminating love.  Our vision for Lake of the Isles is that we be a mirror of Christ's openness, love, and compassion.  We will focus on creating structures in this community that ensure that nobody falls through the cracks, but that everyone is known and cared for. More fellowship opportunities and affinity groups will be offered.  Our motto will be that love is proactive, not reactive. Our goal is to be a genuinely welcoming community where all who walk through the door are embraced as fellow children of the God who created and loves us all. 

X      A community of worship: Worship is the core of our community, the beating heart that keeps us alive.  Without worship we cease to be a community of faith for it is in worship that we foundationally encounter and are encountered by God. Worship is for you, not God.  It is a source of strength and  comfort,  of understanding, encouragement, growth, and assurance. Our vision for Lake of the Isles is two-fold: (1) excellence in worship so that music, preaching, and sacraments truly facilitate, and in no way distract from, the encounter with God, and (2) more regular worship attendance by all who identify with the church as members or friends.  We encourage everyone to worship weekly, whether at Lake of the Isles or at another congregation if you are traveling. We take worship attendance as a benchmark of our ministry and as a benchmark of this community's faith vitality. 

X      A community of witness: Jesus told his followers: "You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8)  He also commanded them to: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:19-20)  Our vision for Lake of the Isles is that we be a community of faith that takes seriously this mandate from Christ.  Evangelism, reaching out to the un-churched and under-churched with the gospel and inviting them into a relationship with God, will move to the top of our priority list.  This is a task that cannot and should not be done by the pastor.  As some wit once said, "Shepherds don't make sheep; sheep make sheep."  Our vision for this community of faith is that all of us who follow Jesus will learn to be witnesses to Jesus and that through our witness more and more people will be drawn into the circle of God's love. 

X      A community of service in God's world: You cannot read the gospels without quickly coming to the conclusion that Jesus cared for all people but most especially for the poorest of the poor, the neediest of the needy, the least of the least.  As the "body of Christ," as the presence of Christ in the world, we can do no less.  Our vision for Lake of the Isles is that of a community of faith whose faith is active in love, active in justice, active in advocacy, active in peacemaking. We have reached our goal to give 10% of our income to social service agencies that serve the poorest of the poor outside our congregation. Our goal is also to provide you with opportunities and encouragement for volunteer service both within the congregation and within the larger community.  We also provide volunteer opportunities with such organizations as N.I.P., Community Emergency Services, Feed My Starving Children, Habitat for Humanity, and Our Savior's Homless Shelter.  Faith calls us to commitments larger than ourselves, and our vision for Lake of the Isles is that we truly become a "church for others" as well as being a church for ourselves. 

It is a large vision, but one worthy of the God we follow, the God who lives in and through us.  It is our hope and our prayer that you will all share the vision and find your place in turning vision into reality.