Link to Mission Study PDF
Mission Statement
Presbyterian Church of Barnet, August, 2024
The Presbyterian Church of Barnet is committed to the preaching of the Word, providing Christian fellowship and education, and encouraging an intimate relationship with God through prayer, welcoming everyone to participate in its life and ministry.
In Barnet we are looking for a minister/leader who will:
The Presbyterian Church of Barnet is a strong, healthy, growing congregation. We are educating our youth in Christian values and nurturing the faith of all of our congregants. We welcome all that approach our doors. We are a vital piece in the community makeup, and a tie that binds us as Christian Vermonters.
- Lead us in Sunday worship (and occasional special worship services) and administer sacraments for members and the community at wide.
- Encourage our growth in faith and church leadership.
- Want to become part of our community and spearhead our outreach to
neighbors. - Support our Sunday School Teachers who lead and teach our active children;
and who will lead our current adult Bible study. - And:
- Someone who will like visiting our elderly, sick, and shut-ins, by themselves or with a church member.
- Someone who will share our joys, concerns and sense of humor.
Mission Study
1. Identity
The Presbyterian Church of Barnet is a family oriented community church with doors open to all. We are a 200 year old Scottish heritage congregation. We share our time between two historic church buildings following our merger of the Barnet Center Church and the West Barnet Church in 1989. We are a friendly, pragmatic, tolerant, hardworking neighborly folk. Church membership is currently 65, with an average Sunday attendance of 50 according to the 2023 records. Our congregation is comprised of many different religious backgrounds. Theologically the Presbyterian Church of Barnet appreciates a traditional style of worship, and we have achieved a harmonious balance of both conservative and liberal views
2. Programs
The Presbyterian Church of Barnet strives to educate through Bible study, adult and youth Sunday school, and vacation bible school taught by teachers and leaders who volunteer their time and skills. In addition to worship and communion services, our monthly healing and wholeness services continue to draw congregants for prayers. Of special importance in worship is the sharing by congregants of joys and concerns.
We participate in local supportive ministries such as the Senior Meal Site and church thrift store, community food bank, Facebook Live for shut-ins and those unable to attend in person, and a variety of charities for families in need. We also support world-wide missions such as the Heifer Project, One Great Hour of Sharing, and others as offered by the PCUSA.
We also are involved in activities that build community bonds, such our Annual Church Auction, 4th of July BBQ, and other community dinners. Our buildings provide meeting space for a variety of community functions.
Coffee Hour after worship services provides additional time for congregants to share their lives with each other and build a feeling of family.
3. Process
Our church is communicating well among regular attendees through newsletters, emails, and worship announcements. Perhaps we could communicate better to the community outside church about our programs and activities. The church uses its Website and Facebook page for a social media presence and for spreading the Word of God. Videography (since February 2019) brings the weekly worship service to home devices via live streaming and archiving for later viewing.
Even as we are a diverse group, conflict comes and goes, and seems to get resolved. Session, Trustees, and Deacons, meet on a regular basis, and their decisions are generally trusted. The size of our congregation requires duties of many individuals to overlap. Individuals often acquire a responsibility and maintain that for years. With the Lord’s help everything seems to get quietly accomplished.
4. Context
Barnet is a small town with a population of 1,663 comprised of five small villages. I-91 is located five miles from the West Barnet Church. With only fifteen miles to St Johnsbury, Barnet has become a bedroom community to other nearby towns. Nearby Harvey Lake introduces a big increase in summer population.
The Presbyterian Church of Barnet owns five buildings; the Center Church and Green Mountain Retreat, the West Barnet Church and Church Store, and the pastoral Manse. In the last ten years there have been a number of changes to our community. Stores have changed their services and some have closed. Our schools have consolidated into a modern central facility, and families have local choice for high school with 90% using the St Johnsbury Academy, a private boarding and day school.
Young people tend to leave the area for post-secondary education and employment with a resulting trend toward an older population similar to the rest of the state. Fewer working farms exist, but the area hosts a number of small businesses with small numbers of employees. The median family income of $65,000 is slightly higher than the county average.
The closest Presbyterian Church is about eight miles away, with a number of other small membership churches of various denominations, and two Buddhist Meditation centers. There is not much mixing or shared activities among them.
Conclusion
The Presbyterian Church of Barnet is a strong, healthy congregation. We are educating our youth in Christian values and nurturing the faith of our congregants. We welcome all that approach our doors. We are a vital piece of the community makeup, and a tie that binds us as Christian Vermonters.
Goals
- We will continue to grow Worship attendance, including all age
groups with an increased focus on involving the youth of our
community. - We will continue to support a full time pastor.
- We will improve our visibility and service to our community.
- We will maximize the use of our buildings in service to the
community. - We will expand ways to increase our community and world-wide
mission outreach. - We will continue to update and expand our use of technology.