Thanks to all those who came to our meetings during February, March, and April 2008 to seek God's direction for the future of our congregation:

February 24, 6:30-8:00pm: "Sads and Prouds"

March 2, 6:30-8:00pm: "Hopes and Dreams"

March 9, 6:30-8:00pm: "Seeking God's Direction"

April 27, 5:30-7:30pm: "SVLC's Vision for 2008-2011"

Results from the meetings are posted below.

Finish basement
**Restart the preschool/day care program
Double in size within three years
*Emergency services for disasters
Acoustic drums
Narthex becomes a more useable fellowship space
Broadcasting services live on Internet
Online giving
Evening services
***Remodel/upgrade kitchen
Multi-media in basement large room
More variety in music
More drama opportunities for adults and youth
More adult fellowship opportunities
**More small groups
*Make space available for AA, Alanon, Celebrate Recovery, etc
Permanent sign on Hwy 169
*Internal crisis/counseling support—grief, divorce, lost job, etc.
Higher evangelism focus
Prayer team for after services
Growth in new membership from unchurched, not transfers
**More aggressive advertising for church
Getting more than the usual suspects to volunteer
Better follow-up with new members
*Build a gymnasium/sport court/skate park
**Purchase adjacent property
*Start transportation for shut-ins to and from church
Purchase a church bus
Zipline/ropes course/rock wall
Plant a new church
More interaction with other local churches
*Church picnics/events
*Have a presence at Maple Valley Days
Inflatable jumpers/toys for kids
Sunday school and VBS size explosion
After-school programs for school age children
After-school hangout for youth
*Remodel Tollefson hall
Second pastor, specializing in outreach
Youth ministry take off
Outdoor chapel refurbished and used more
Grow so much we'll have to expand parking lot
Clear forest, trail through woods
Community programs
Exercise classes
More work with Boy Scouts
Get rid of orange chairs
Wednesday night have "something for everyone"
Lunch after Sunday services
**Coffee stand with barista
Evening worship service for young adults
Summer program for college kids
Update library
Short-term dinner groups
*Permanent property maintenance/groundskeeper
Stained glass windows

Fix lights on exterior sanctuary cross
Sign space, advertising
Welcome committee
Nametags
A college
Van to pick up kids for after school
Deliver CD's to community groups
Internet broadcast of sermons
Fix playground
*Make Youth group/Sunday school more of a draw for kids
Family fun night
Bigger focus on local mission
Define difference between mission and evangelism
Family and children's ministry director
Marriage mentoring program
Participation in "Make a Difference Day"
Better communication
Information about church resources
Computer lab
Website that can be updated by individuals
More focus on youth
Service in Tollefson Hall
Daytime adult Bible study
*Provide weekly/monthly lunch at Maple Valley Community Center
Paging system for the nursery
Sabbath day for whole church
Wine cellar
Sky bridge to golf course
Start a Lutheran school
Church full of people more than once a week
Echo program for transportation/needy
Groups for young singles
Couples groups
Local retreat location
Financial stability
Early morning service with breakfast for people on ski busses
Prayer group
Box in narthex for prayer requests
Church to be more visible in Maple Valley
Use 10% of budget for advertising
Headphones for the hearing impaired
Keep the website more current
Experimentation with worship (dance, etc.)
More pastoral staff
Youth mentor program
Community-wide youth activities/dances
Coffeeshop-style tables in narthex
Kneeling pads
Pastor's message on radio
Make recordings of services that people can take with them
Operate on 10% of budget and give 90% away
More and larger missions
Bell tower

* = listed by multiple groups 

What We're Proud Of

*Our pastor
*Our staff
*New building and facilities
Biblically-focused
Welcome people to share their gifts in ministry
*Women's GIG
Congregation steps up to meet a need
Can-do attitude
Variety of age groups
This is "our" church, not "pastor's" church
Embrace technology—video, etc
During transition people helped pitch in
Flexible
Open to being challenged
Creative in use of space
Attendance didn't drop during transition
Genuinely care about each other
*Youth and kids are a priority
We make building available to community
*Work that's been done on basement
Held together during transition
Willingness of people to give time
Growing again
Unity of people here
*Sunday school program/teachers—small but cohesive
Feelings of fellowship
The whole package
*Aesthetics of building
Call committee
*Mission outreach, worldwide and local
Troops ministry
Loving spirit
Not many divisive people
Progress church has made over the years
Staff works hard, has fun
People come together and make things happen
Take care of hurting when in need
Corner of Love container project
People who serve in any capacity—no hierarchy
People who take initiative to start new ministry
Fantastic people
We take care of each other
We stayed together during transition
Transition Team
Fantastic kids
*Diversity and involvement in music program/Ron
Warm and inviting
Heritage—honoring Pastor Wes
How much we've grown
Connection to other churches and community events (e.g. Thanksgiving Eve service)
Chapel in Nicaragua named after Pastor Dave
*Volunteers that we have
Outdoor sanctuary
Bell choir
Youth Praise Band
 
* = listed by multiple groups

What We're Sad About

Same people always involved: 80/20 rule
Poor landscaping on street
No playground
*Struggling Sunday school/children's ministry
Sunday school not concurrent with service
*Poor financial situation
Wish stewardship team was larger
Attendance not as high we had hoped
Lack of visibility/involvement in community
No small groups/home Bible studies for adults
Wish we were more welcoming to first time visitors
Nothing for young adults or couples without kids
*Not quite finished with basement
Traditional service is changing
People have left the church
As church has grown, each individual loses importance
Lost intimacy
*Youth ministry has lost momentum
Stagnant during transition
No name tags
*No more soup suppers/fellowship
No family camp last year
No athletic teams anymore
Less Scripture reading during service
No youth Mexico trip this year
Miss specific people that are gone
Miss chatty/newsy e-mails from Pastor Dave
Miss seeing people from different services
Not hearing news about troubling things in people's lives
Transition has had negative impact on youth/children
Miss holding hands during the Lord's Prayer
Not a bigger choir
Choir doesn't sing more often
Maple Valley's best-kept secret
We don't advertise as much as other churches do
No Sunday school for adults
No more preschool
No greeters at front door
*Not enough volunteers
Cross on top of building isn't white/lit up
Don't use A/V equipment to full potential
No more men's fellowship breakfasts/events
Pastor Bill hasn't been able to move to Maple Valley yet
No longer using hymnals
Not many baptisms, esp. adult baptisms
 
* = listed by multiple groups