Leaning Into Our Vision Together

When I think about this community, I think of home—a place of belonging, growth, and grace. Over the past year, our Vision Team has witnessed the Holy Spirit moving among us as we’ve listened, prayed, and discerned who God is calling us to be.


Through every conversation, a shared truth has emerged: our calling as a church is to love as God loves—actively, compassionately, and inclusively. We see that love already lived out in meaningful relationships, in service to others, and in the welcome offered to all who walk through our doors.


Now we are ready to affirm a Vision Statement shaped by the hearts and voices of this congregation—a vision that reflects our deepest hopes for how we will embody Christ’s love in the world.


Our Vision Statement:

A community moved by love through connection with God, creation, and one another.


As we move forward, may we continue to choose together—to show up for one another, to grow in faith, and to trust that the Spirit who has guided us this far will lead us into all that is ahead.


Our next steps involve refining the priorities that came forward in the vision: 

our identity as Love First, 

community relationship building and diversity, land ministry and stewardship, 

stability, safety and risk management, and •leadership development, staffing management, and communication. 


We’ll do this together through intentional conversations with leaders and through a Strategic Planning retreat this winter. 


Janet Satern & Leslie Mulder, Visioning Team

“What are the key priorities & ideas that will shape the future of Love First UMC?”

Spirit-Led



  • Embracing uncertainty in community
  • Contemplative service & prayer
  • Continue to connect Trauma Responsive work to our spirituality

Music



  • Diversify music group offerings
  • Include youth and children in music, service

Nature



  • Develop trails/trailhead to be another path to FUMC
  • Native prairie as community park
  • Community gardens
  • Building nature programming- spirituality center, pre-school, retreats
  • Promote United Methodist camping

Operations &

Systems

  • Funding Infrastructure
  • Funding Miracles 
  • Master Planning for lands & building
  • Centralized directory for volunteer opportunities and groups
  • Activities message board
  • AI translations for the live stream
  • Videotape church folks- preserve institutional memory

Connection to Community



  • Larger community presence- events, bringing others in
  • Build community event (festival) with music
  • Mission experiences - local & distant
  • Queer Prom
  • Becoming brave advocates of values & beliefs
  • Continue practicing welcoming all denominations, the unchurched, and everyone
  • Leverage reconciling model to welcome other groups
  • Research to support legal immigration and a loving way to deal with illegal immigration
  • Outreach to immigrant communities for collaborative social justice
  • Identify a way to support an immigrating family

Welcome, Connection, & Support

  • Expand welcoming and church community integration rituals
  • Customized onboarding- connect people to passions
  • Intergenerational pairing opportunities- project/fun/learn
  • Known as safe space for marginalized groups/individuals
  • Men’s social activities - life skills education
  • Physical activity groups
  • High top tables- points of connection
  • Balancing safety with welcoming & diversity

Learning & Development



  • Volunteer expansion & development
  • Spiritual Foundation learning plan
  • Leadership development opportunities for all ages
  • Adult growth- learning sessions, on-going groups
  • Intentional trainings around healthy conflict & inclusion skills
  • Realm Training