Inviting YOU to a Book Discussion during Lent!
Yesterday, I officiated at a Memorial Service for a woman I had never met. Following the service, there was a reception for the friends of the woman, who had no biological family present to celebrate her life, or to mourn her passing. The woman had been supported, for at least 45 years of her life, by an organization that works to meet the needs of people who are impacted by a variety of intellectual, or other disabilities.
I had expected the service to perhaps be very sparsely attended, and I was somewhat concerned about the service being very personal at all, since I didn’t know the lady, and no actual “family” would be speaking for her.
I was incredibly buoyed, when I arrived at the venue, to learn that five people who had known this lady for a variety of lengths of time, wanted the opportunity to speak about her. As I walked to the front of the room, I was delighted by the amazing display of photos, and objects from her life, that the people who had lived with her, and who had provided her care over the years, and who had been administrators of the social services agency had gathered, and so carefully curated and arranged in her honor and memory.
Everyone who spoke brought laughter and tears to the LARGE crowd that had gathered for her Celebration of Life. In the reception that followed, people stayed for HOURS, and didn’t seem to want to leave. I connected with two ladies at my table who were also quilters – and one, the wife of a man I had gone to school with, more than 40 years ago.
When I left that gathering, I felt like something inside of me had changed. I didn’t feel the same way as when I had arrived. I felt “strangely warmed,” in the way that John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, had described, way back in 1738. I knew I had been in the presence of the Spirit of God, in a way that brought an indescribable joy to my heart.
I think we can each recall a gathering we’ve attended – perhaps for you, it was a holiday event with family, or even a conference with colleagues, where, perhaps surprisingly – when you left, you felt particularly uplifted, perhaps even transformed, in a way. Conversely, I think we’ve each been at a gathering – perhaps a family Christmas or Thanksgiving celebration, where all the “right” people were there, and all of the meaningful traditions were kept, and all the same favorite foods served, but when you left, you felt drained, empty, left wanting for something more – something deeper.
I think that gatherings aren’t just meant to be “enjoyable,” but at their best, they nurture our souls, and deepen our most important relationships. They feed our needs for a true sense of belonging and community. Yes, there is something organic that develops in those sorts of gatherings that can’t really be “created,” but there are simple things we can do intentionally, that can provide the soil and climate for that organic experience to take root and flourish.
Lately, I’ve been giving a lot of thought to all of the new opportunities and ventures our congregation is embarking on to invite people from our community to participate in our church life in a variety of ways – whether it’s through our new youth group, or through outreach to new residents in East Longmeadow, or through adding a new energy to some of our existing events and activities – and I’ve been considering how I might help to equip you to do that well.
One of the ways I can equip you is to help you to consider really intentionally how and why people gather, and the ways we can create together really meaningful opportunities for people to come together in ways that are truly transformational. I believe that what I want to share with you will be helpful whether you are planning gatherings at church, or with family, or friends, or with colleagues for business meetings or conferences. So, I think EVERYONE who joins us will find this opportunity for conversation on this important topic to be tremendously worthwhile, no matter what your current situation.
Please plan to join me after Fellowship Time, from 11:30 – 12:15, in the youth room (beside the kitchen!) on the six Sundays during Lent – beginning Sunday, March 9th, and continuing through Palm Sunday, April 13th, for a lively discussion of the book “The Art of Gathering: How We Meet, And Why It Matters,” by Priya Parker.
In “The Art of Gathering,” the author argues that many of the gatherings in our lives are lackluster and unproductive–which they don’t have to be. We tend to rely too much on routine, and the conventions of gatherings, rather than focusing on distinctiveness and the people involved in the gathering. At a time when coming together is more important than ever, Parker sets forth a new approach to gathering that can help all of us create meaningful, memorable experiences, large and small, for work and for play.
Drawing on her expertise as a facilitator of high-powered gatherings around the world, Parker takes us inside events of all kinds to show what works, what doesn’t, and why. She investigates a wide array of gatherings–conferences, meetings, a courtroom, a flash-mob party, an Arab-Israeli summer camp–and explains how simple, specific changes can invigorate any group experience. The result is a book that’s both journey and guide, full of exciting ideas with real-world applications.
I would love for you to join us, and to sign up on the sign-up sheet in the breezeway at the church, or by calling or emailing the church office by next Wednesday, February 26th if possible. You can let us know when you sign up, if you will acquire the book on your own, or if you’d like us to order one for you. Books will be available, for those who requested one, to pick up in the church on or after Sunday, March 2nd.
To best be prepared to join the conversation on March 9th, please read the introduction and the first chapter of the book.
Looking forward to sharing the season of Lent with you all!
Denise