Intro to A Light Brightly Visible [video]

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LITURGY

“Liturgy” is like the sun in the sky. It is the source of light and life. In its presence, the vine takes root, grows, and bears fruit. Likewise, the Eucharist is the source and summit of our Christian life of missionary discipleship. Liturgy welcomes, forms, and sends forth disciples to bring Christ to the world.

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WELCOME

God’s Word, the “vine”, must be planted in good soil to take root, grow, and bear fruit. We need to prepare the soil of peoples’ hearts and minds to receive God’s Word through radical hospitality, meaningful community, and reaching out to those on the peripheries. This creates trust, openness, fellowship, and a deep sense of belonging.

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ENCOUNTER

“Encounter” is when the Word of God, the “seed” is planted in good soil and begins to take root. It is God’s Word taking flesh in someone’s heart through a personal encounter with Jesus Christ, an experience of grace, conversion, and the free decision to live as a missionary disciple.

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ACCOMPANIMENT

Planted in good soil and nourished by the sun, the vine grows and flourishes. “Accompaniment” means missionary disciples walking together to grow spiritually and live the faith more fully through prayer, sacraments, and faith formation.

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SENDING

A truly healthy vine always produces good and lasting fruit. As Jesus says, His disciples “bear lasting fruit” when they make new disciples. The goal of “Sending” is what missionary disciples produce as they evangelize through personal witness, friendship, and service.

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MISSION SUPPORT

A vine cannot thrive and produce fruit without a strong and well-built “trellis” to support it. “Mission Support” refers to everything necessary to make the mission to make missionary disciples possible in the real world: finances, facilities, human resources, administration, development, communications, and more.