As I watched the opening ceremonies of the Olympics, I could see the effort that the city of London was exerting to make the event "epic." The pomp, the traditional elements and the pageantry all were designed to give this Olympics the feel of both timeliness and timelessness. There seems to be a yearning in us humans for epic-scale stories, from the ancient Greeks (and earlier) to modern tales like the Lord of the Rings or the Hunger Games. I think part of the appeal of modern video games is being able to participate in epic-scale quests or battles. These stories have the ability to weave the smallest of actions into a larger tapestry of meaning. When we field staff folks work with congregations on creating mission statements, we help them to discern their transcendent shared values, then use those values to inform their mission work. A good mission—articulated gracefully and served faithfully--can help the members of your congregation feel like they are part of something epic.