Liberti Church Fairmount is the first congregation of the Liberti Communion of Churches and is also a congregation of the PCA.

Liberti Fairmount Playbook

(Updated October 2023)

1. Why Do We Exist?

(underlying reason for being Liberti Fairmount; our core purpose)

We exist to live out the freedom we have in Jesus Christ and to offer that freedom to others.

Listen to a sermon on freedom in Christ here


2. How Do We Respond to the Freedom that We Have?

(the ultimate guide for behavior at all levels of involvement at Liberti Fairmount; principles that guide our behaviors and decisions over time)

Existing Values

(a few -just two or three- behavioral traits that are already inherent in Liberti Fairmount)

We are free in Christ to be…

1) Hospitable - we are hospitable to each other and welcoming those who have yet to embrace Christianity but are willing to have their questions, doubts, and struggles both honored and addressed.

2) Communal - we cultivate community where people are called to see themselves and each other not as consumers of “church" but as present members in the body of Christ.

3) Encouraging - we encourage one another in our lives and faith

Aspirational Values

(characteristics that Liberti Fairmount wants to have, wishes it already had, and believes it must develop)

We aspire in our freedom in Christ to be…

  1. Honest - we admit that we are broken in our faith and depend on the Lord through His People

  2. Bold - we admit that we are set aside for God and are unafraid to live life in a manner worthy of Him.

  3. Discerning - we challenge one another to grow in our faith

Cultural Values

(the minimum standards that are required in Liberti Fairmount)

Our freedom in Christ means...

  1. Participation - we contribute to the life of the church with our time, talent, and treasure.

  2. Balance - we are casual but intentionally engaged

  3. Diversity - we are comfortable in relationships across different life stages.

  4. Liturgy - we narrate the movements of the Gospel and benefit from the riches of historic Christian worship

  5. (that we are) Winsomely Reformed - we are led by pastors and elders that embrace the Reformed articulation of the Christian faith while seeking to live with humility and gratitude as we learn from other faithful traditions in the body of Christ.

Accidental Values

(traits that are evident in Liberti Fairmount, but have come about unintentionally and are not necessarily good for the church; behavioral tendencies that have developed over time because of history, or because staff with a similar background have been hired, etc.)

  1. Lack of punctuality - we are late to everything

Listen to a sermon on our values here


3. What we do

(a clear and straightforward answer to “what?”)

We worship God, live in community throughout the week, and serve neighbors in need.

(“Live, speak, and serve as the very presence of Jesus”)

Listen to a sermon on what we do here


4. How will we succeed?

(Strategy, or simply put, Liberti Fairmount’s plan for success; a collection of intentional decisions the elders make to give the church the best chance to thrive; every single decision, if it is made intentionally and consistently, will be part of the overall strategy). 

Strategic Anchors:

(Boil down the plan for success to two strategic anchors that will be used to inform every decision the church makes and provide the filter or lens through which decisions must be evaluate to ensure consistency; provide the context for all decision making)

Long-term anchor: God’s Presence

We are strengthened with power through the Holy Spirit in our inner beings.  We have Christ dwelling in our hearts through faith.  We are rooted in, grounded in, and comprehend the breadth, length, height, and depth of God’s love for us, and know his love personally because we are filled with all the fullness of God’s presence.

Ephesians 3:16-19 

16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Short-term anchor (Objective): Invitation

We develop a culture of invitation through using our gifts well together

Romans 12:6-8

6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

  • (Key Result): Clarity and Cohesion is developed among the new Coordinating Teams so that the teams operate effectively

    • (Key Result): Easy for current members, attendees, and visitors to participate by using their gifts for the ministry of Liberti Fairmount

Listen to a sermon on how we will succeed here

5. What is most important now?

(For Liberti Fairmount to create a sense of alignment and focus, it must have a single top priority within a given period of time; for something to be the top priority, it has to be more important than everything else; even if there are multiple big priorities, ultimately one of those has to be at the very top.)

Top Priority - God’s Presence

God fills us fully with his presence and we are built up, encouraged, consoled, with anyone joining us able to declare that is really among us.  

Ephesians 3:19…that you may be filled with all the fullness of God

1 Cor 14:3-4, 12, 24-25 … 3 ...the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 4 ...the one who prophesies builds up the church... 12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church...24 …if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, 25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.

Key Result: God Is Tangibly Present In Our Lives, Both Individually And Corporately

We, along with others from our neighborhood community, regularly experience God’s presence and love, both corporately as well as individually; we are built up, encouraged, and consoled by the Holy Spirit.  We are a community where anyone joining us is able to declare that “God is really among you.”

Listen to a sermon on what is most important now here.

6. Who is doing what?

Worshiping God

Before Sunday Worship

Setup Team - Scott Baber

  • Open Church, Playground, and Locked Storage Closet

  • Ensure volunteers are scheduled, setup chairs, curtain divider, signs, roll out music storage cabinets and gear, hospitality cart, Liberti Kids check-in station and classrooms

  • Order Uber Wave for Mike and assist with wheelchair entry

Preaching, Teaching, Liturgy - Scott Crosby

  • Prepare sermon, liturgy and notes for liturgists, finalize slides for worship, recording equipment ready capture the service; develop teaching notes for slides; prepare one page outline of teaching notes for person advancing the slides during service

  • Get announcements and teaching notes to Samantha for Slides

Music - Josh Marsh

  • Gather musicians, select songs and update slides, rehearse musicians, setup music gear 

Liberti Kids - Samantha Kuiper (Liberti Kids Coordinator)

  • Gather volunteer leaders for each of the classes, organize yearly scope and sequence for curriculum and distribute lesson guides and materials ahead of time, train setup team on setting up the check-in station and each classroom, obtain and monitor volunteer safety clearances, communicate updates and the Big Ideas of our lessons with parents and volunteers

Liberti Youth - Samantha Kuiper (Liberti Kids Coordinator)

  • Coordinate with Scott for sermon notes and create a youth-friendly notetaking guide for the sermon

  • Gather volunteers and distribute materials and lesson guides for a once a month gathering during the Sunday service

  • Communicate with volunteers and families about any upcoming events for the youth outside of Sunday morning

Hospitality - Christine Abshire

  • Gather volunteers, including greeters, coffee station baristas, and others to help setup.  

  • Prepare communion supplies for the service and set out

  • Gather particularly gifted people to welcome newcomers and get their information so that we can reach out to greet and welcome them directly

During Sunday Worship

Setup Team - Scott Baber

  • Setup more chairs, as needed (e.g., the room should always have at least 20% more room to welcome others)

Preaching, Teaching, Liturgy - Scott Crosby

  • Preach the Word, Officiate Lord’s Supper

  • Elder or other member assigned to distribute the bread and cup

Music - Josh Marsh

  • Lead Musicians and Congregation in Responsive Praise through Music

Liberti Kids - Samantha Kuiper (Liberti Kids Coordinator)

  • Liberti Kids Classes Conducted By Volunteers

  • Check-in station manned and providing a welcoming and safe environment for our kids

Liberti Youth - Samantha Kuiper (Liberti Kids Coordinator)

  • Once monthly gathering conducted by volunteers

  • Guide opportunities for youth to serve in the church during the service

  • Provide note taking sheets for youth who are attending the service

Hospitality - Christine Abshire

  • Coffee Served, Newcomers greeted and information gathered for future follow up and contact

After Sunday Worship

Setup Team - Scott Baber

  • Close Church, Lock Playground, and Storage Closet

  • Gather volunteers from among the congregation to tear down chairs, take down and store curtain divider, signs, roll music storage cabinets and gear into closets, hospitality cart into the kitchen

  • Order Uber Wave for Mike and assist with wheelchair exit

Preaching, Teaching, Liturgy - Scott Crosby

  • Edit recordings of service and upload, along with weekly announcements; send links through Slack and Email; update website with most recent video, and overview of the next week

Music - Josh Marsh

  • Music review (roses & thorns), tear down music gear and store

Liberti Kids - Samantha Kuiper (Liberti Kids Coordinator)

  • Checkout Liberti Kids, breakdown check-in station, breakdown each classroom and return to original state for teachers at City School, store equipment for following week in storage closet

Liberti Youth - Samantha Kuiper (Liberti Kids Coordinator)

  • Return any used classroom to original state for teachers at the City School

Hospitality - Christine Abshire

  • Gather volunteers, including greeters, coffee station baristas, and others to help tear down.  

  • Pack up communion supplies from the service and store

  • Collect information gathered from newcomers and reach out to greet and welcome them directly, invite to a group throughout the week

Living in community throughout the week

Before Living In Community Throughout The Week

Small Groups - Overseen By The Community Life Team

  • Paul and Haedi: Team Leads

    • Ashley Cocca, Sarah Smoker, Ashley Reiss, Gavi Greenman, Krystal Eason: Women’s Group Leaders

    • Phil Smoker, Thomas Rockett, Josiah Kuiper, Ben Greenman; Everett Reiss, Josh Marsh, Scott Crosby, Paul Thelen: Men’s Group Leaders

Consistent Small Groups

Life Groups This Fall!

Intermittent Groups

  • Liberti Kids - City Kids Club 1x mos

  • Liberti Youth - Hang Out 1x mos

    • Organize monthly meetups, find willing hosts and available spaces, communicate location, dates, and times with families

    • Organize curriculum (New City Catechism) and distribute guides, materials, and pacing to volunteers

  • Men - Fire Nights, 1x mos

  • Men - ‘Basic’ -  3 night retreat in the Spring

  • Women - Retreat in Oct

  • Neighborhood Service Projects (coordinated with the Helping Neighbors In Need section below)

  • Fun - Ball Games, Mini Courses, Other

During Living In Community Throughout The Week

Small Groups - Overseen By The Community Life Team

  • Paul and Haedi: Team Leads

  • Ashley Cocca, Sarah Smoker, Ashley Reiss, Gavi Greenman, Krystal Eason: Women’s Group Leaders

  • Phil Smoker, Thomas Rockett, Josiah Kuiper, Ben Greenman; Everett Reiss, Josh Marsh, Scott Crosby, Paul Thelen: Men’s Group Leaders

Consistent Small Groups

Life Groups This Fall!

Intermittent Groups

  • Liberti Kids - City Kids Club 1x mos

  • Liberti Youth - Hang Out 1x mos

    • Provide space, food, and leadership during our gathering.

    • Guide students through the New City Catechism

    • Disciple students and create a safe space for them to deepen their faith in community

  • Men - Fire Nights, 1x mos *

  • Men - ‘Basic’ -  3 night retreat in the Spring

  • Women - Retreat in Oct

  • Neighborhood Service Projects (coordinated with the Helping Neighbors In Need section below)

  • Fun - Ball Games, Mini Courses, Other

After Living In Community Throughout The Week

Small Groups - Overseen By The Community Life Team

  • Paul and Haedi: Team Leads

    • Ashley Cocca, Sarah Smoker, Ashley Reiss, Gavi Greenman, Krystal Eason: Women’s Group Leaders

    • Phil Smoker, Thomas Rockett, Josiah Kuiper, Ben Greenman; Everett Reiss, Josh Marsh, Scott Crosby, Paul Thelen: Men’s Group Leaders

Consistent Small Groups

Life Groups This Fall!

Intermittent Groups

  • Liberti Kids - City Kids Club 1x mos

  • Liberti Youth - Hang Out 1x mos

    • Help host clean up space (do the dishes, reorder space, etc)

    • Create clear communication of dates/times for next gathering

    • Consider ways to serve together in our community

  • Men - Fire Nights, 1x mos

  • Men - ‘Basic’ -  3 night retreat in the Spring

  • Women - Retreat in Oct

  • Neighborhood Service Projects (coordinated with the Helping Neighbors In Need section below)

  • Fun - Ball Games, Mini Courses, Other

Serving neighbors in need

Before Serving Neighbors In Need

During Serving Neighbors In Need

After Serving Neighbors In Need