Be Part of Wesley’s Future! Help Us Capture
THE HEART OF WESLEY
Sunday, October 13 during Coffee Hour
As part of our church's ongoing efforts to deepen our connection to both our community and our mission, our leadership team has been working on an important project: creating a "message map." This tool is often used by churches and nonprofit organizations to ensure that their communication—whether it's in person, in print, or online—reflects the heart of their mission.
A message map helps us align everything we say and do with our core values. It’s like a compass, pointing us back to our true north: the heart of who we are and what we stand for. It includes three key elements:
Our Core Message: the central statement that reflects our mission.
Supporting Messages: key points that support our core message.
Proof Points: stories and examples that illustrate our work and our impact.
We have strong supporting messages and proof points. We named many of these themes during our Cottage Groups in the summer and fall of 2023:
Inclusivity and welcome
Intellectual depth and spiritual engagement
Action and justice
Student and family focus
What we are still seeking is our core message – the single, unifying statement that sums up who we are as a congregation. This is where you come in. As a church that values the collective wisdom of our congregation, we want to invite your ideas, perspectives, and feedback.
On Sunday, October 13, we will be hosting a time at our Coffee Hour after the service for you to share your thoughts and help us shape this core message together. We believe that our message should be one that reflects the voices and values of our entire congregation.
To help spark your creativity, on the next page are some of the ideas shared with Church Council, with an assist from ChatGPT. Remember, “never bring an umbrella to brainstorm.”
Pastor David shared some examples from congregations he has come across. Hyde Park UMC in Tampa, FL, uses “Making God’s Love Real” as their core message. First UMC in Charlotte, NC, uses “Practice Inclusion, Pursue Justice, Promote the Arts.” And many of us will remember the slogan from The UMC nationwide marketing campaign that was launched in 2001 – Open Hearts, Open Doors, Open Minds – which remains one of our denomination's most recognized and widely embraced statements.
Turning to AI, Pastor David inputted the points of emphasis from our Cottage Groups and other ideas discussed by Church Council. None of the core messages generated truly capture the essence of Wesley, but they give us some ideas to consider leading up to the session on October 13.
Welcoming All, Engaging Deeply, Serving Boldly
Rooted in Love, Growing in Faith, Committed to Justice
A Community of Open Hearts, Thoughtful Faith, and Bold Action
Building a Loving Community Through Faith, Thought, and Action
Inclusive, Engaged, and Empowered
A Home for All: Learning, Growing, and Serving Together
Welcoming All to Worship, Learn, and Serve
A Welcoming Community of Faith, Thought, and Action
And one final idea generated by our Fall worship series: Growing Deeply, Embracing Widely, Loving Actively, and Serving Impactfully. You may have a favorite among the ideas generated or be inspired with your own ideas for how to capture the heart of Wesley. Or perhaps you are just curious to learn what others are thinking. Either way, we hope you will participate in our brief session on October 13.
Comments