Epworth United Methodist Church

Dream Sessions bring new ideas, enthusiasm, and an expectation that

Great Things Await EPWORTH

What is God’s dream for Epworth in the next 2-5 years?  This question was the basis for Dream Gatherings that were held in homes and church throughout October and November. It was a great time of fellowship where people had a chance to get to know one another and to dream together about Epworth’s future. So what is next?

Those who facilitated the Dream Gatherings will be sharing all the dreams with the congregation in January. Through a prayerful process of discernment, priorities will surface seeing where there is synergy and consensus from all our Gatherings. These priorities will be presented to the Church Council in late January and, after consideration and approval, will be presented to the congregation as the “Emerging Ministries” component of our Capital Campaign that will be launched later in 2012. 

Many dreams/ideas will be immediately referred to our Pathways that have responsibilities for various areas of ministry and resources where they can put these into their planning for the future. Some dreams are already being addressed by our Pathways so they can share the status of their work.
So watch for the “dreams”. Great things await Epworth through God’s grace and our faithful response!

September 21, 2011

Great Things Await—
Through God's Grace and Our Faithful Response

Salutation, God has graciously blessed Epworth United Methodist Church in recent years. An increase in membership, the expansion of our ministries and pastoral services, and the community's growing appreciation of our presence all bear witness to the depth of our faith and the strength of our love as a congregation devoted to Jesus Christ in this time and place. One very tangible achievement is the completion of our new building, a facility that not only serves our needs but also those of the larger community.

Although we feel “successful,” we must be open to new visions for ministry, to raise questions about what God is calling Epworth to accomplish in the days ahead. We are at a point when we want to look at our spiritual and financial “capital” for doing God's work today and tomorrow; in other words, to measure our willingness to exemplify the Kingdom of God through the investment of prayer, talents, time, and fiscal resources.

A special representative committee is working on a “capital campaign” that will begin with an audit of expectations of ourselves as God's people. Think of it as an opportunity for us to dream individually and as a congregation about where we think God would like Epworth to be in three to five years. Epworth's courage to embark on the relocation of our church building began with such dreaming, enriched by a sense of God's guiding Spirit.

We would like for every member and participant in our congregation to take part in this process, which has the endorsement of the church council and has the enthusiastic support of the pastoral staff. The leadership is anxious to hear the visions of all the people.  Toward that objective, small “dreaming together” groups are being organized for the Fall to consider where and how God's extreme generous grace is leading us into the future. Some groups will meet in homes and others at the church. Information about registration for these groups is on the back of this letter.

Thoughts about the financial component of the campaign will come after we take a look at our ministry expectations and opportunities.

You can help to launch the campaign now by beginning to pray for Epworth and its ministries.  As you pray, dream in faith about our future as a community of God's people, with a vision filled with the hope of transforming the world by living as disciples of Jesus Christ.  

Great things await Epworth—through God's grace and our faithful response.


In hope and love,

Jeff and Jen Joseph
Capital Campaign Co-Chairs

1. Sign up to attend a Dream Gathering during the months of October and November.

            The targeted dates are:

            October 9, 13, 16, 20, 27, 30

            November 3, 6, 10, 13

Sign-up is possible online: Email your request to greatthingsawait@epworth-rehoboth.org

PLEASE make sure to include your name and phone number when emailing.

Or:                                                                                 Use the sign-up sheets in the church narthex

Each session will last approximately 90 minutes and will be available on week days, nights and week-ends.  Some will be in homes; others at Epworth Church.

Each Dream Gathering, regardless of where it meets, will have a host and a facilitator.  Factual information about Epworth that may be helpful in your “dreaming” will be provided in advance but the important thing to bring is your thinking about what God is calling us to do in ministry and mission as a congregation over the next three to five years.

2.  If you cannot take part in a Dream Gathering, send a letter or an email about your vision for Epworth or call the church office if you want to schedule a time to talk with a member of the campaign team or a facilitator about your dreams.

“God will do great things”

                                                            Joel 2:22