As part of the process of transitioning to our next pastor, the council has refreshed our statement of values and our mission statement. When the council took up this task, we asked ourselves what our existing values and mission statement were. No one on the council could correctly state either, but many could suggest places where they could be found (and suspect the congregation would have given a simple answer). As these are statements of how the council and congregation go about doing God’s work in the world, they should not be something we have to look up, but, instead, something that is at the front of any questions we are addressing. As a reminder, the following are the values that the council developed last September, including the Bible verse that supports the value (with much thanks going to David Simpson, who led this effort).

Grace: We seek to proclaim God’s promises of love, grace, and salvation for all humankind. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Welcome: We seek to welcome all to walk with us in Christ’s love, hope, and joy; we strive to include others, especially those who have felt excluded or rejected in the past. (Matthew: 22:37-40)

Music and Worship: We seek to gather in worship and song–to celebrate with those who rejoice, to mourn with those who sorrow, and to share together in God’s love. (Psalm 95:6)

Service: We seek to serve our community and the world, offering up our time, talents, and treasures to bring about God’s healing and justice in the world. (Matthew 25:35-36)

In January, the council revised our mission statement to encapsulate these values. Our new mission statement follows (with much thanks going to Virginia Hancock, who led this effort).

Mount Tabor is a welcoming, compassionate community, living God’s love through faithful worship and active service in the world.

There will be a dedicated effort to make these values known to the new council and the congregation by keeping them prominent (and consistent) in bulletins, the Tabor Trumpet, and signage.

Dave Warren, President