Table Conversations – “What do we do together?” and “What do we do well together?” 

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Stewardship Notes:  Table Conversations

On Sunday,October 7, 2018 we had 8 table conversations around the questions “What do we do together?” and “What do we do well together?”  One table was heavily populated by children, who had plenty to say for themselves.  And the results are in. I have lumped the responses in categories of my own device (you might want to jigger the categories differently), but the items (including the category headings) are in the words of the tables:

  • Every table mentioned that we eat/socialize/hang out together
  • All but one table had something to say about the Children’s Program. OWL (the children’s sexuality curriculum) was particularly singled out as something we do well, but there were a wide range of activities that were mentioned.
  • Caring for each other, and Serving out in the community, were mentioned by 6 of the 8 tables. Under caring, communicating well with each other, working well together, and providing a comfortable, safe space were identified as particular strengths.  Under serving the community, social justice action and support for the hungry and homeless were singled out as particular strengths.
  • Five tables identified Experiencing/building community as something we do, one singling it out as a particular strength of ours. Other strengths in this category included sharing a sense of spirituality, talking about important issues, and recruiting volunteer labor.  Worshiping Together was also identified by five tables, with singing together mentioned three times and year-round services identified as a particular strength.
  • Half of the tables (4) identified Welcoming People, and Serving Within Our Community as something we do together. Childcare provision was a particular strength of Welcoming, and socializing together (at book club, lunch bunch, etc.) as a particular strength of Serving Within Our Community.

 

Actually, this is a pretty impressive list!   Who knew (of course, we all knew—only, being Minnesotan, we didn’t want to brag)!  The full list is available here.

 

Next Sunday we will again host table conversations.  This time, the focus will be on “What might we do together?” and, “What would it take to do it?”  I hope to see many of you at the table!