A sower went out to sow some seeds.  And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, some on rocky ground, some among the thorns, and others on fertile soil.  Some of these seeds did not take root while others brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.  Let anyone with ears listen! {Mt.13}

Two years ago, Trinity received an invitation to plant seeds in the Amador Community.  Out of this invitation, the Missio:Engage initiative was embraced, beginning with a dedicated team of 8 leaders (now 9).  Over the period of 24 months, they have worked together to plant seeds.  This has included an emphasis on radical hospitality through such efforts as the training of hosts and an expanded coffee hour. It has included reaching out beyond our parish and going into the community "to share the good news in Christ."  It has included working with other committees within the church such as the Charter for Compassion, the Health Ministry Board, and food programs so that we can reach our goal of becoming a more active and visible force in the community.

Under the direction of Tom Brackett of the National Church and the leadership of Ken Pitsenbarger of Trinity, the missio:engage team met twice each month to plan, to listen to a webinar, and to brainstorm ideas on how and where to plant more seeds in our county.  Last Sunday, they completed their 2-year commitment and have agreed to continue with some quarterly outreach.  They are looking for new team members as well as feedback from all of you who long for Trinity Church to thrive into the future and become a stronger force in the Amador Community.

The Missio:Engage expectations of planting seeds over time can result in the following outcomes:

1. A transformed and outwardly-turned faith community.
2. Multiple streams of newcomers and visitors from the surrounding communities.
3. A refined new-member incorporation process leading to a "strengths-based" approach to ministry formation for all.
4. Core leadership development on multiple levels.
5. The critical mass necessary to engage in sustainable missional ministries (i.e. spreading the good news).
6. A real-time, on the ground reconnection (or re-rooting) in the ministry context.

While some of these outcomes have been achieved, others are still in their infancy.  Why?  When it comes to church growth, seeds often take a while to germinate, especially when a congregation is uneasy about evangelism.  It is not yet clear whether the seeds we have planted have hit rocky, thorny, or fertile soil.  Our job is to sow the seeds of good news with abandonment, nurturing the soil as we are able.  It is God's job to make the seeds grow.  Sometimes, it can take many years for seeds to come to fruition.  So I want to encourage all of you to keep on sowing seeds, nurturing growth, and praying that God will bless us with a harvest in the years to come. Take the time to meet, greet, and embrace our newcomers.  With your love, they just might end up joining us.

Joan Brock, internationally known speaker and noted author, will be bringing her inspirational presentation, the Gift Of Hope, to Jackson on Sunday, September 7th. This inspiring, poignant, humorous and uplifting presentation comes to our small town only because a longtime friend, Episcopalian Barbara Wells, invited her.

Get the word out! What an opportunity for us to share this gift with the wider community. Bring your friends, bring the kids, tell your neighbors, and if they fear it will be "too religious", assure them that Joan Brock's story is "spiritual" in the way that courage, hope, and inspiration are spiritual, uplifting and transforming.  

At the age of 32, Joan Brock suddenly lost her sight while working at a school for the blind. Then, at age 37, she tragically lost her husband to cancer, leaving her to raise their young daughter alone. What kept her from dark despair or bitterness? The titles of her best-selling autobiographies give us a clue: More than Meets the Eye and Come to Your Senses. Her story is so remarkable it has been made into a Lifetime made-for-TV movie: More than Meets the Eye, The Joan Brock Story.