Ministry Plan: Dwell in the Land : simplebooklet.com

Dear Lamb family,I am grateful to be pastor at Lamb. My family and I are grateful to call this place our home and, withGod’s help, we will do so for a long time. We are committed to you as His people and as our family. Weare committed to the work God has given us at Lamb and at the Abbey.TrustThis ministry plan represents what the Vestry, the staff, and I believe to be God’s call on our church inthe next season. In one sense, it is very practical. To continue to dwell at Rockingham Abbey, to worshipand gather here, we must build the infrastructure reflected in this plan. In another sense, this plan isinextricably connected to our trust in God. While we could relocate our worship service—and we haveconsidered that option—I am convinced it would be an act of disobedience and a lack of trust in God’sabundance. Lamb is called to dwell in the land at Rockingham Abbey. Therefore, we must move ahead inbuilding the elements required to live faithfully here. Do GoodWhat are those things we need to live faithfully here? First, we must care well for people. We need toincrease our care and discipleship for people of all ages. Fabien Pering arrives in July as our newAssociate Pastor. Fabien's skills as a pastor and chaplain will help us grow deeper in our faith and carefor one another. Our children’s ministry is bearing fruit faster than we can tend it. Renee Velker servespart-time as Director of Children and Youth, ages 0–18. Currently we have approximately 60 childrenand youth, and what a gift they are among us! This ministry will soon require full-time attention. Infrastructure is also a way of caring well for others, now and in the future. This year’s infrastructureincludes connecting sewer and water to public utilities at Rockingham Park, which is a crucial milestonein establishing permanent residence here. We will also build a driveway to the northern border of theAbbey, where we will create our permanent parking area. These are essential for everything we do in thefuture. Dwell in the LandIn the middle of this ministry plan is an artistic rendering of Rockingham Abbey in the future. Some willcall this a pipe dream or ask us to be more practical. Timelines and exact details are negotiable. Godrarely reveals His full plan at once, and we must always remain adaptable. That said, this is the vision weare called to pursue. Over the next 5 years, we will pursue a church sanctuary, additional atria for ourchildren, a workshop to serve our youth and our vocational partnership with Redeemer Classical School,as well as rustic hermitages for retreats. These structures will allow us to live into our mission of abidingin Christ. We will use these structures to experience Christ’s rest ourselves, to extend His rest to others,and to share His love. Letter from the Rector11“Trust in the Lord, & do good; dwell in the land & feed on faithfulness.”-Psalm 37:3-

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Feed on FaithfulnessHere is the ask: I am asking you—each of you, each person, and each household—to trust and commitwith us. Why is it important that you trust and commit? The children of Israel bear witness to us thatgrumbling and unbelief spread like an epidemic. They are contagious, and they cripple the community.I believe God wants to use the process of building Rockingham Abbey to bring all of us into a deeperexperience of His faithfulness and abundance. Where do you long to see God provide manna in thewilderness of your life? How can we receive God’s abundance without stepping into that place wherewe must absolutely depend upon it? Will you trust and commit by stepping into that vulnerable placein your own life? Will you trust and commit by helping build Rockingham Abbey? Please take time toconsider this ministry plan, and ask the Lord what trust and commitment look like in your life. Peace of Christ,Kevin WhitfieldRectorMission & ValuesWord & SacramentWe draw on our Anglican tradition to integrate Scripture,Baptism, and Eucharist into our worship and lives.HospitalityWe extend the joyful welcome of the Father shown to us in Jesus Christ.FamilyWe believe that baptism binds us together as brothersand sisters who engage in one another’s lives.BeautyWe revel in the loveliness present in our world, believing it is a door into worship.PartnershipWe work with our neighbors to bless our community and economy.StewardshipWe labor for renewal in our lives and in God’s goodcreation, believing the Holy Spirit works in and through us.—To abide as disciples of Christ: invited to rest & compelled to love.—2

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Letter from the VestryWith the first $1 million we raised since 2021, weaccomplished so much! We bought property, renovated theparsonage and office, constructed a new entrance to theproperty, planted trees, started a coffee business,renovated the barn, and built a new children’s atria, amongmany other projects. 7Dear Church,As an individual living in the 21st century, I consider myself immensely fortunate to be part of achurch with plans for an abbey. There are two aspects of the Abbey in particular which resonate withme. The first is the totality of its requirements and the second is its hopeful nature.As a metaphor for our life in Christ, participating in the Abbey ventures involves our whole selves:mind, body, and spirit. Our minds think critically and creatively on how to best use the land. Weguide and instruct children in spiritual formation. Our bodies labor to plant gardens whilemaintaining the worship area in an accessible condition. We hold parties and share celebratorymeals throughout the year to mark significant points in the church calendar and our own lives. Andlastly, our spirits are formed every Sunday as we participate in the liturgical worship service as wellas attend to the various tasks of maintaining the property. Inviting the whole self to participate inthe Abbey is practice for learning to abide in Christ who requires every inch of our being. The hope which permeates our efforts to invest in quality infrastructure and wise business venturesfor the Abbey is palpable. In pursuing quality that will last generations, we’re sending the messagethat we believe the people who will experience these investments are worth the cost of time, money,and energy to do it right. To me, that’s a beautiful illustration of how Jesus sees us. To Him, we wereworth the ultimate sacrifice. For us to pursue excellency in the Abbey is the least we can do to honorour Lord and love our neighbor. We have an uncommon opportunity to build something incredible here at the Abbey and I hope youare as excited as I am to see what becomes of it!Gail HayesVestry Member

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This ministry plan combines Church of the Lamb’s General budget giving and Abide Campaign(Abbey) giving into one budget. All of our endeavors support one mission; now our finances reflectthat. Consider how God is asking you to participate in his work here.It will take all of our combined gifts to meet our $1.52 million goal.Consider your gifts to the general budget, previous building campaigns, and special giving overthe last 12 months, and combine that as a starting point.Engage with the information provided on this page as you consider your level of generosity from July 2024 through June 2025.If you are not currently giving, take a step in faith and begin. PrayFunding our vision is important, but learning to trust God and commit our lives to him isparamount. Ask God how he wants you to participate over the next 12 months. Seek to surrenderall that you are and have to him. Be confident of God’s power and care as you pray.ReflectAs you pray, the Holy Spirit will guide you. Take some time to reflect on what trust andcommitment mean to you in this season: I trust in _____. I am committed to_____. If you are married, talk with your spouse about where you sense the Holy Spirit leading. If you findyourself in different places, continue to pray and reflect.Take a StepTrust and commitment are two parts of one action. We don’t grow without taking steps of faith. Growing in participation and generosity requires us to take a step of trust. We do this because wevalue Jesus more than any commitment we make, because we know that by seeking his kingdomand righteousness, what we need will be given as well (Matthew 6:33).Next Steps9

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One way our gifts could combine to total $1.52 million*: 10Our ministry capacity is directly proportional to our giving. We have a clear vision ofhow God is leading us to minister and expand, and this takes financial resources topush forward.Consider your current level of giving. Can you be more consistent? Could you take astep in your percentage? Do you have a stored resources gift that could help acceleratewhat God is doing among us? Will you turn in a commitment card on Sunday, June 16?We look forward with anticipation to what God will do at Rockingham Abbey!*An additional $229,000 from Abbey Income and previous campaigns will be applied to coverthe rest of needed expenses. See budget on page 3.

Ministry Plan: Dwell in the Land

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