It can sometimes be easier to think about our work together as a community in more concrete ways: We donated XX number of quilts and kits through Lutheran World Relief! We spent XX number of volunteer hours at Snowcap last year. We spent XX number of dollars fixing a needed safety update on the building. And so on.
But some of the work we do in relationship with one another is just as valuable and is the foundation upon which we MOVE and DO all those other things in the world!
This fall, we’re engaging a two-month long Listening Season to help us live into our value of Building Trusting Relationships. The Season began on Sunday, September 21st as we gathered for a community forum to talk about what builds trust and about how relationships and viewing relationships as sacred might possibly open us up to more trusting relationships.
If you missed the forum, no worries! Here’s how you can engage this season of listening and sacred encounter between now and November 23rd:
1) Check out this video we watched to ground ourselves in a visual that helps us think of encountering other humans in relationship differently. Joey Ager is a friend and colleague of Pastor Sara’s who is on the staff of the SW Washington Synod.
2) Check out the bulletin board in the Narthex that highlights our Harvest of Relationships! This is where we will track our listening work with one another and where you can find paper copies of the Guide to One to One Conversations and a Guide to Sacred Land Encounters!
3) Consider engaging in a one to one conversation with someone from the congregation. OR… consider saying YES if someone asks you! These conversations are meant to simply hold space for listening and receiving one another’s stories and to uncover our shared hopes, values, and fears in the world around us. If you have questions beyond the guide, ask Pastor Sara!
4) Consider engaging in a Sacred Land Encounter. If you aren’t quite ready for a conversation with another human, you can absolutely do some listening to creation! Those meditative encounter guides can be found on the bulletin board as well! (Or above in this post)
Our goal is FIFTY one to one conversations between now and November 23rd. Let’s see what we learn about one another, our community and ourselves if we slow down to get deeper into relationships and communion with one another!
