Mission Hall Update
On Sunday, Feb. 3 Anna Jullien presented the following report about planning for the Mission Hall:
Report from the Mission Hall Task Force
As Mission Hall began taking shape over the summer and fall, many of us began to think concretely about how it will be put to use. We know that Logos, which continues to be a vibrant intergenerational program, will use the space to its fullest every week, and various committees of the church have envisioned uses of Mission Hall to expand and strengthen their own programs.
But from the beginning, part of the plan has been to use Mission Hall as its name suggests – in the local mission field, as part of our ministry to this community beyond our own membership. So a task force was formed in October to revisit the question of how to do this – what kinds of new programs to start, what community groups to involve, which segment of the population we might serve.
We began with the two ideas that were in discussion three years ago when the capital campaign began: a day center for elderly folks who need assistance, and an after-school center for middle school youth. Our research indicates that there is not a great enough immediate need for either of these programs in this location. Fairfax County has increased services for both of these groups in the past three years, and we have concluded that neither of these would be viable at this time.
We are therefore looking at a wide range of ideas – currently 16 to 20 programs of various types (and we’re open to additional ideas). Some of the most exciting are:
o SPARC – daytime program for young adults with cognitive and physical limitations
o Volunteer legal and/or financial literacy assistance program
o Computer skills training for the unemployed
o Hosting supervised visitation sessions for families under court supervision
o Shepherd Center – social and educational program run by and for active senior citizens
o Providing a new, accessible, large space with multimedia capability to other community organizations like Special Olympics, the ARC, Tax Counseling for the Elderly, the Red Cross.
These are ways we can use our space to serve the community and put our faith into action. Most of them would provide opportunities for you to volunteer your time and talents.
Crucial to the success of any new program is a hero – someone who is passionate about that mission, has a vision for the program, and can draw others into participation. We’re looking for heroes now, and we know you’re out there. Ask yourself:
o What are you passionate about?
o What human need hits home for you?
o How do you envision Providence at work in the world?
The members of the task force are Kathy Hermann, Mary Lee DiSpirito, Hank Schlenker, Bruce McCall, Todd Withington and Anna Jullien. When you’ve realized that God is calling you to be a hero, give one of us a call and start sharing your vision.
Report from the Mission Hall Task Force
As Mission Hall began taking shape over the summer and fall, many of us began to think concretely about how it will be put to use. We know that Logos, which continues to be a vibrant intergenerational program, will use the space to its fullest every week, and various committees of the church have envisioned uses of Mission Hall to expand and strengthen their own programs.
But from the beginning, part of the plan has been to use Mission Hall as its name suggests – in the local mission field, as part of our ministry to this community beyond our own membership. So a task force was formed in October to revisit the question of how to do this – what kinds of new programs to start, what community groups to involve, which segment of the population we might serve.
We began with the two ideas that were in discussion three years ago when the capital campaign began: a day center for elderly folks who need assistance, and an after-school center for middle school youth. Our research indicates that there is not a great enough immediate need for either of these programs in this location. Fairfax County has increased services for both of these groups in the past three years, and we have concluded that neither of these would be viable at this time.
We are therefore looking at a wide range of ideas – currently 16 to 20 programs of various types (and we’re open to additional ideas). Some of the most exciting are:
o SPARC – daytime program for young adults with cognitive and physical limitations
o Volunteer legal and/or financial literacy assistance program
o Computer skills training for the unemployed
o Hosting supervised visitation sessions for families under court supervision
o Shepherd Center – social and educational program run by and for active senior citizens
o Providing a new, accessible, large space with multimedia capability to other community organizations like Special Olympics, the ARC, Tax Counseling for the Elderly, the Red Cross.
These are ways we can use our space to serve the community and put our faith into action. Most of them would provide opportunities for you to volunteer your time and talents.
Crucial to the success of any new program is a hero – someone who is passionate about that mission, has a vision for the program, and can draw others into participation. We’re looking for heroes now, and we know you’re out there. Ask yourself:
o What are you passionate about?
o What human need hits home for you?
o How do you envision Providence at work in the world?
The members of the task force are Kathy Hermann, Mary Lee DiSpirito, Hank Schlenker, Bruce McCall, Todd Withington and Anna Jullien. When you’ve realized that God is calling you to be a hero, give one of us a call and start sharing your vision.
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