Welcome to Elmira's Place at FPC Milton and
the Good News of YOUR ministry as a Disciple of Christ!
In order to understand the ministries of FPC Milton, we think it's important for you to know HOW we decide what ministries to do. It's a long-ish story, but an important read. We hope you will read it and we hope you'll be next to engage your God-given talents for the benefit of those in need.
AND/OR
Read more about the current ministries offered through Elmira's Place, how you might be a part of this Good Shepherd work.
The Story of Elmira's Place
Recently, the governing body of our church (Session) retreated to our Presbytery’s outdoor ministry camp to discern what gospel-driven, focused ministry God is calling us into. We started with the underlying belief that ministry is where our particular gifts meet the world’s pain in our local community and present time.
Then we asked—“So what are our gifts? What does this family of faith have to offer?", and got to marvel again about the artists, healers, advocates and social workers God has brought together in this place.
Next we asked “where is the pain?” and found ourselves answering “imperiled migrants”; “lonely teenagers”; “isolated older adults”; “worn out caregivers”; “the silent grieving”, and the list goes on. We realized there was more than we could name and so many ways our individual hearts had been called to help.
We asked ourselves “How do we decide? “How do we do all of these things?”
And that’s where the idea for “Elmira’s Place” was born, a focused ministry to be located at FPC Milton’s Fellowship Hall dedicated to “bringing Christ’s healing to people, communities, and environments through art, nature, prayer and support”.
Elmira’s Place will be a space where all kinds of healing ministries can be housed, a place that can offer workshops, classes, events, experiences and groups for all kinds of folks longing for deeper friendships, healthier minds and bodies, inclusion and belonging, for those needing advocacy and searching for support.
And it’s more than that too. Our Session also realized that too often the experience of church ministry is reduced to ideas from a Pastor being executed by a few engaged congregants with the purpose of growing the church. We wanted to change that dysfunctional dynamic to how we see ministry through the lens of the gospel. We wanted to empower the whole community to envision and manifest the ministries God calls them to with the support of church leadership for the purpose of making life better for members of the entire local community, for the purpose of healing pain.
So, instead of returning to tell our congregation what ministries we would be launching, we returned to ask them—“What healing ministries will you be starting from Elmira’s Place?”
And now our congregation is buzzing with ideas—“Veterans don’t always know how to get support” someone said. “Teenagers have nowhere to gather,” another said. “The elderly often have no one to check on them.” “Our native species are disappearing”. “Our LGBTQ community is facing hatred and contempt”
So….
Next steps—our congregants, in teams of two, are invited to propose the ministries they want to start while our elders help them develop their ideas, find community partners, and coordinate the spaces at Elmira’s Place where their ministries can thrive.
We started our weekend retreat thinking about launching 2 or 3 ministries. We ended with an explosion of possibilities for healing in our community!!
Have a ministry you feel called to launch or engage? If it has to do with easing hurt or isolation or difficulty for people you know are struggling or searching for more, let us know. We’ve got just the Place!
Fill out the form below so our Session can support all the ways Jesus is working through you to heal those around you. We can't wait to see what you do!
Or maybe you just want to help? Learn about the current ministries offered through Elmira's Place--the ones our congregants have already chosen, the Good Shepherd work of reaching out, and enfolding.
AND/OR
Read more about the current ministries offered through Elmira's Place, how you might be a part of this Good Shepherd work.
The Story of Elmira's Place
Recently, the governing body of our church (Session) retreated to our Presbytery’s outdoor ministry camp to discern what gospel-driven, focused ministry God is calling us into. We started with the underlying belief that ministry is where our particular gifts meet the world’s pain in our local community and present time.
Then we asked—“So what are our gifts? What does this family of faith have to offer?", and got to marvel again about the artists, healers, advocates and social workers God has brought together in this place.
Next we asked “where is the pain?” and found ourselves answering “imperiled migrants”; “lonely teenagers”; “isolated older adults”; “worn out caregivers”; “the silent grieving”, and the list goes on. We realized there was more than we could name and so many ways our individual hearts had been called to help.
We asked ourselves “How do we decide? “How do we do all of these things?”
And that’s where the idea for “Elmira’s Place” was born, a focused ministry to be located at FPC Milton’s Fellowship Hall dedicated to “bringing Christ’s healing to people, communities, and environments through art, nature, prayer and support”.
Elmira’s Place will be a space where all kinds of healing ministries can be housed, a place that can offer workshops, classes, events, experiences and groups for all kinds of folks longing for deeper friendships, healthier minds and bodies, inclusion and belonging, for those needing advocacy and searching for support.
And it’s more than that too. Our Session also realized that too often the experience of church ministry is reduced to ideas from a Pastor being executed by a few engaged congregants with the purpose of growing the church. We wanted to change that dysfunctional dynamic to how we see ministry through the lens of the gospel. We wanted to empower the whole community to envision and manifest the ministries God calls them to with the support of church leadership for the purpose of making life better for members of the entire local community, for the purpose of healing pain.
So, instead of returning to tell our congregation what ministries we would be launching, we returned to ask them—“What healing ministries will you be starting from Elmira’s Place?”
And now our congregation is buzzing with ideas—“Veterans don’t always know how to get support” someone said. “Teenagers have nowhere to gather,” another said. “The elderly often have no one to check on them.” “Our native species are disappearing”. “Our LGBTQ community is facing hatred and contempt”
So….
Next steps—our congregants, in teams of two, are invited to propose the ministries they want to start while our elders help them develop their ideas, find community partners, and coordinate the spaces at Elmira’s Place where their ministries can thrive.
We started our weekend retreat thinking about launching 2 or 3 ministries. We ended with an explosion of possibilities for healing in our community!!
Have a ministry you feel called to launch or engage? If it has to do with easing hurt or isolation or difficulty for people you know are struggling or searching for more, let us know. We’ve got just the Place!
Fill out the form below so our Session can support all the ways Jesus is working through you to heal those around you. We can't wait to see what you do!
Or maybe you just want to help? Learn about the current ministries offered through Elmira's Place--the ones our congregants have already chosen, the Good Shepherd work of reaching out, and enfolding.