Mission Discernment: Dreams In Action
If you were active at St. Philip's in spring of 2008, you no doubt attended at least one dream-catching session. Dream-catching sessions were the initial phase in the Mission Discernment Process, which was initiated to enable the Parish at large to discern what God is calling St. Philip's to do and be. Each session began with prayer and reflection on the answers to two questions: "what is God calling us to do" and "what do we need to fulfill God's call." Dreams were written on sticky notes and attached to butcher paper sheets grouped by ministry areas. About 400 parishioners dreamed more than 900 dreams, ranging from simple ideas to conceptual programmatic concepts to ambitious challenges. The master list of these dreams is accessible on the Mission Discernment page of St. Philip's Web site.
 
It is illuminating, not quite 2 years later, to look at that list of dreams! It included some ideas we take for granted today, such as more support for "green" initiatives. Through the tireless work of the Green Team, progress has been made in providing education and promoting change at St. Philip's, such as having compact fluorescent bulbs installed. St. Philip's Green Team was even featured at the Diocesan Convention in October of 2009. Another dream that appeared multiple times on the list was improved electronic communications. At that time, the social networking site Facebook wasn't generally recognized for its potential, but now more than 200 St. Philippians have Facebook profiles and can stay in touch through posting photos and comments about St. Philip's activities. At the General Convention last June, our Rector posted nightly commentaries about the activities of the day, which helped keep parishioners connected with what was going on in the national church and engendered "buzz" about the issues. Even this all-Parish e-letter that you are currently reading did not exist in 2008! More visibility for St. Philip's LGBT "Phamily" in the Tucson community was on the list. "Phamily" members, along with "Phriends" from the parish, took a first step (literally) by participating in the Pride parade in October. Parishioners dreamed of improved accessibility for those who are wheelchair bound; now automatic door openers have been enstalled, enabling restroom access. The St. Philip's Food Pantry, which has existed for years, now has a highly organized team of volunteers who work together to ensure that it is stocked and that bags are ready to be given out, all because parishioners dreamed and then put those dreams into action by investing time and energy.

Some dreams have been incorporated into the Parish goals and are in
various stages of development. Many dreams included ideas for new or expanded ministries, such as reaching out to neighborhood children after school, providing services for the elderly and those who care for them, or experimenting with alternative forms of worship. Much has been accomplished in these areas, the most visible being St. Philip's After-School Music and Homework Program, which is in its second year.


You will hear about many of these "dreams into action" at the Annual Meeting Part I, on Sunday, January 17, at 10:15 a.m. Don't miss this exciting glimpse into the future of St. Philip's!