For the September 12th Sunday services we celebrated our “Return, Reunite, Reimagine” church year theme with a COVID-conscious Chalk Talk. The UCG version of this exercise was a silent conversation in-person on paper and later remotely via Zoom chat. The participants read and responded in writing to each other’s thoughts and inspirations prompted by provocative and open-ended questions or concepts. Multiple, concurrent silent conversations were encouraged thru free-flowing written interaction in which connections were made between the various comments. We created a spiritual space to share and collaborate on what the “Return, Reunite, Reimagine” theme means to all of us.

The detailed written ideas and thoughts from the table papers and Zoom chat have been collected and will be displayed to become the seeds of inspiration for our church year theme and beyond.

Full credit and appreciation for the below summary goes out to Barb Gibbs, our Moderator-Elect, who tirelessly reviewed the Chalk Talk table paper writings and Zoom chat entries. She transcribed all the responses into a detailed document found here. Barb also found common and/or repeated themes and categorized them into the below results. Additionally she highlighted certain comments that expressed these themes and others that contained new suggestions or different ideas.

 

What are the ingredients of the secret sauce that will inspire our wider UCG church family (however known) to further reconnect and “join as a spiritual community”?

Inclusion, Community

• Our connection with the community (inclusivity) (diversity)
• To reach out to others
• To include those standing apart (kindness)
• Bond with all in spirit of human friendship with God’s grace
• Many ideas, opinions-not just one approach
• Friendly open; Buddhism, feminism, social justice threads-however known; Keep God and Bible to a minimum; Focus on real-life experiences

Spiritual Focus

• Continuation of meaningful worship experiences
• Be more inclusive of other traditions, including personal growth, rather than God and Bible
• Spiritual nurture that leads to community engagement
• Be a “light” to those in despair

New Ideas, Flexibility

• Spice – continue to add variety of opinions on how to approach this new age of remote interaction
• Ways to reach people where they are comfortable, which may include social media, online services, community outreach, etc. Plenty of opportunity on Instagram especially. I think we could work on “branding” UCG as a safe place to connect in person with health/safety minded people.
• Perhaps when we are able to meet in the sanctuary again, we could encourage people to reach out to contact 3 or 4 people they have missed seeing and tell them they would love to see them again in person!

Miscellaneous Comments worth Noting

• We bring a keen awareness of social justice issues and strive to bring our faith to drive those understanding(s) of social justice
• This has been a time to reconsider spending time outdoors. I think continuing to be in nature as a community will help us connect more with each other and the natural world.
• Grace for each person’s process with trauma and stress (Caring for one another)
• Song and fellowship through shared tasks. The more you give, the more you get

 

Which UCG traditions are so sacred that we should ensure their return without change? If we could transform one tradition of the church, what would it be and how should it be reimagined?

Keep Lessons and Carols

• For change and tradition: Keep Lessons and Carols but consider adding readings that are more inclusive—there are other lessons of value

Keep Retreat

• UCG Retreat with re-imagination
• Transform: Look at ways to change retreat-closer to home?
• Retreats are sacred. I hope we can find ways to resume them safely in 2022

Keep Gathering of Waters

• Transform gathering of waters (less show and tell?)
• I’m liking the way the Gathering of Waters service evolves over time. For instance, I appreciated the suggestion of blessing oneself with water when leaving the sanctuary that Andy gave this year. Also being able to adapt our traditions to changing times has been especially challenging and nurturing this past year. I hope we can always do this.

Keep Labyrinth

• The labyrinth is a sacred tradition that we should preserve

Keep Youth and Children Programs

• Time for children
• Youth work tours
• Keep: Senior Sunday speeches but alter with more “fun” celebratory activities/outdoor picnic
• United tribes could use more Biblical and other sacred text education

Keep Arts and Music Programs

• Continue strong music and arts in services
• Invite musicians of all races and religions
• Singing together, both from the hymn and the songbook.
• Singing “Alleluia” at the end of the service!

Miscellaneous Comments worth Noting

• Enhance recording
• Live streaming abilities for special effects with backgrounds/lighting, etc
• Communion could be reimagined
• Once or twice a year would make it more special than every month
• Nothing is so sacred that it can never change but the most enduring aspect to me is the Compact which embodies our most important values of tolerance and inclusion
• Services have been and can be adapted: continuing to offer Zoom links even when we will be in person can help those who are not mobile.
• Emphasizing the perennial spiritual basis of all religions and spirit paths

 

As UCG reunites more and more over the next year, what are the opportunities we should undertake to enhance our connections and nurture our spiritual development?

Small Groups

• Small groups—do a survey to assess needs and interests
• Paper registration for small groups would help-not everyone can negotiate Shelby Next
• Randomized small group dinners throughout
• Nature walks-include a passage people can reflect on; could be as a group of self-directed

Social Gatherings

• Some way to connect old and young—maybe voluntary pairing or groups of 4-could be integrated in morning coffee
• A just “social” time-cookout maybe? Block party? Block party at UCG could connect us with our 5th Ave. neighborhood
• Maybe get together for block party by neighborhood we live in
• Doing more things outdoors in nature
• Outdoor games that are for all ages
• Cookouts
• More safe gathering options
• Music in the Courtyard
• Get more families involved and out of their homes

Miscellaneous Comments worth Noting

• Provide ways for each minister to meet with small gatherings to get better acquainted with all members-pods? (Good idea!)
• Invite black church members to attend
• Meet with their ministers
• Invite their musicians
• Share ours
• Support each other in and outside the church
• More themes and sermons and readings emphasizing personal, spiritual and interpersonal growth and wisdom
• Lay people from congregation are often good at this because they are not so rooted in Biblical, God-based and social justice themes
• More UF student involvement
• More outreach to other churches-mixed activities
• Expand spiritual teachings beyond Christianity in Sunday Services
• Perhaps a pandemic grief service, or moment or symbol to recognize collective grief. We lack unity as country, but can have it as a community

 

Over the next 5-10 years in what ways should we, the UCG community, challenge ourselves within our ministries to adapt to the changes of a post-pandemic world?

Inclusivity/Social Justice

• Develop and provide Gainesville community leadership
• Seek to become a bridge for greater unity in a diverse/polarized world (so important)
• Work towards acknowledging our white privilege-look at historic ways our denomination has harmed and make amends
• Seek to hire black people in leadership positions
• I think we could find more ways to assist others in our community. For instance, UCG members could join the volunteers who volunteer in our schools, perhaps adopt a particular Gainesville school to tutor or mentor students. It’s good to work for desirable political changes, but let’s not forget to act individually.

Using Technology

• Continue to provide online services but make them interactive
• Find ways to connect-maybe including varieties of media-Zoom, livestream, and in-person
• More Zoom and live-streaming of events, committee meetings and Sunday services (long-term)
• Keep doing tech updates and training to adapt to the new world (I need this!)

Miscellaneous Comments Worth Noting

• Develop greater financial resilience (definitely)
• Make sure we maintain physical facilities
• Work towards utilization of clean energy
• Explore options like solar energy, etc
• Don’t assume we’re in the same boat in recovering from pandemic-different pandemic had impacts on different groups
• The arts are a strength that should grow, as it allows many to participate and feel connected when words are not enough