What Happens Tonight

Tonight is the second half of the Blue Sky Workshop with the team from Visioneering Studios.

Sunday, the team worshiped with us at all four services and spent time talking to lots of different people at St. Paul's.

Monday, the team spent most of the day out in the community, getting a feel for our ministry context. We spent time on campus, in Willimantic, around Mansfied, in old Coventry, Evergreen Walk, Blue Back Square (West Hartford), Tolland Town Green, the future "Storrs Downtown", looking at rock walls and plantings, as well as design elements, etc. All part of the process of not just learning about our church, but more importantly learning about the community we are trying to reach.

Monday night was a listening session. Over 40 gathered to listen as Mel McGowan shared some insights and vision for church facilities, building philosophy, etc. This was so that we can understand their approach, vision and philosophy. Then they listened to us. We talked about our mission, vision, and purpose. Our community. Our dreams. Our strengths and weaknesses and our opportunities and threats.

Tuesday was a "Big Idea" day. The team worked with everything we gave them and all the information they had gathered, and began to develop the "story" that would drive the master design plan for each property.

Wednesday is a drawing day, adding flesh to the Big Idea.

Wednesday night they will present the master plan to the same group that was here Monday.

It is a pretty cool process to say the least and pretty amazing to watch them work. What they are developing is really a comprehensive 20-year master plan for us encompassing two different properties.

Having seen the basic idea (they have now locked us all out of the room, lol) I can tell you I think they got it right on both properties. I think we people will be excited and stretched!

And remember, this is a 20-year process... a bit crazy to think about when you are only four years old, but pretty sweet indeed!

Should be fun tonight!