Walnut Hill Identity and Mission
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As followers of Jesus, we value:
- the Anabaptist tradition - an active Jesus-shaped faith - participatory worship - caring relationships - learning experiences - seeking God’s shalom for all the earth |
Mission Statement
Walnut Hill Mennonite Church is an Anabaptist congregation that supports an active Jesus-shaped faith by providing regular opportunities for God’s Spirit to form us through participatory worship, caring relationships, learning experiences, and seeking God’s shalom for all the earth |
We value the Anabaptist tradition
- Support efforts of peace and justice
- Practice believer’s baptism
- Read Scripture through the lens of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection (Christocentric)
- Active member of Mennonite Church USA and Indiana Michigan Mennonite Conference
- Engage Anabaptist/ Mennonite resources through MennoMedia curriculum, library books, and Voices Together Hymnal
- Shared, collaborative leadership (priesthood of all believers)
We value an active Jesus-shaped faith
- Take Jesus’ teachings seriously
- Christianity is a combination of believing, belonging, behaving, and experience
- Sermons reflect a faith that affects our whole lives: decisions we make, how we use our money, how we spend our time, etc.
We value participatory worship
- Worship is led my many voices within the congregation
- Worship happens among the gathered community
- The Bible guides worship preparation and content
- Seek a grace-filled/ mistake-friendly worship environment that gives space for experimentation
- Engage the Word of God through preaching, singing, silence, the Bible, etc.
- Our hymnal helps us explore a variety of Biblical images/ words for God
- Invite regular participation of children and youth in worship
We value caring relationships
- Provide numerous opportunities for meaningful relationships, including having fun and eating together
- Pray for, support, and encourage one another
- Offer mutual financial aid through our Compassion Fund
- Nurture and value children
- We implement a Safe Church policy to create an environment free from abuse, especially for children
- Allow space for differing thoughts and beliefs
- Seek healthy communication and conflict resolution
- Regular inter-generational interactions
- Give space to tell and hear each other’s stories
We value learning experiences
- Regular times for learning: Sunday School, Sharing and Learning Together (SALT) trips, church retreat, local learning experiences
- Learn from non-dominant voices/perspectives and oppressed peoples
- Engage social justice issues
- Generously support Walnut Hill youth who attend Bethany Christian Schools
We value seeking God’s shalom for all the earth
- Caring for our earth home
- Offering our building for free to beneficial groups
- Sharing money from our budget with organizations that seek to make God’s shalom on earth as it is in heaven
- Support those in the congregation who have a vision for joining the work of God
- Supporting partner for Chamberlain Elementary School
- Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity
- Support the work of Mennonite Central Committee including hosting a food booth at the Relief Sale
Walnut Hill Programs/ Activities
- Peer groups for children and youth
- Meal, fellowship, and sharing groups
- Older Adult gathering for learning and discussing
- Nursery care during worship
- Annual Sharing and Learning Together (SALT) experiences
- Annual church camp-out at Amigo Campground
- Annual church retreat at Amigo Centre
- Serving in congregational leadership roles (Gifts and Services)
- Support efforts of peace and justice
- Practice believer’s baptism
- Read Scripture through the lens of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection (Christocentric)
- Active member of Mennonite Church USA and Indiana Michigan Mennonite Conference
- Engage Anabaptist/ Mennonite resources through MennoMedia curriculum, library books, and Voices Together Hymnal
- Shared, collaborative leadership (priesthood of all believers)
We value an active Jesus-shaped faith
- Take Jesus’ teachings seriously
- Christianity is a combination of believing, belonging, behaving, and experience
- Sermons reflect a faith that affects our whole lives: decisions we make, how we use our money, how we spend our time, etc.
We value participatory worship
- Worship is led my many voices within the congregation
- Worship happens among the gathered community
- The Bible guides worship preparation and content
- Seek a grace-filled/ mistake-friendly worship environment that gives space for experimentation
- Engage the Word of God through preaching, singing, silence, the Bible, etc.
- Our hymnal helps us explore a variety of Biblical images/ words for God
- Invite regular participation of children and youth in worship
We value caring relationships
- Provide numerous opportunities for meaningful relationships, including having fun and eating together
- Pray for, support, and encourage one another
- Offer mutual financial aid through our Compassion Fund
- Nurture and value children
- We implement a Safe Church policy to create an environment free from abuse, especially for children
- Allow space for differing thoughts and beliefs
- Seek healthy communication and conflict resolution
- Regular inter-generational interactions
- Give space to tell and hear each other’s stories
We value learning experiences
- Regular times for learning: Sunday School, Sharing and Learning Together (SALT) trips, church retreat, local learning experiences
- Learn from non-dominant voices/perspectives and oppressed peoples
- Engage social justice issues
- Generously support Walnut Hill youth who attend Bethany Christian Schools
We value seeking God’s shalom for all the earth
- Caring for our earth home
- Offering our building for free to beneficial groups
- Sharing money from our budget with organizations that seek to make God’s shalom on earth as it is in heaven
- Support those in the congregation who have a vision for joining the work of God
- Supporting partner for Chamberlain Elementary School
- Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity
- Support the work of Mennonite Central Committee including hosting a food booth at the Relief Sale
Walnut Hill Programs/ Activities
- Peer groups for children and youth
- Meal, fellowship, and sharing groups
- Older Adult gathering for learning and discussing
- Nursery care during worship
- Annual Sharing and Learning Together (SALT) experiences
- Annual church camp-out at Amigo Campground
- Annual church retreat at Amigo Centre
- Serving in congregational leadership roles (Gifts and Services)