Essence of connection experienced by many

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I must admit, the Jan. 31 Sunday service was a little strange in format. Although many members and guests found the experience to be very meaningful – others, not so much. Yet, as stories were being shared in groups of three the essence of connection was witnessed and experienced by many. Connections to each other, connections to a larger story being told, connections that began new relationships and renewed older ones, were all a part of the whole. Gratitude abounds from the Process Team and myself for choosing to be engaged with the process with intention and trust.

For fun, the Process Team put together “word clouds” that lifted-up words used most frequently on Jan. 31 while answering the three questions. The larger the word the more frequently it was used. Check these three out:

Question #1 Describe peak experience…

Text cloud in which ‘community’ and ‘people’ are conveyed to be most important, followed by ‘service,’ ‘experience,’ ‘felt’ and ‘group.’ Next in importance are ‘church,’ ‘good’ and ‘about.’ Remaining terms include ‘working,’ ‘peak,’ ‘new,’ ‘time,’ ‘together,’ ‘congregation,’ ‘kids,’ ‘music,’ ‘good,’ ‘like,’ ‘social,’ ‘others’ and ‘experiences.’
Text cloud in which ‘community’ and ‘people’ are conveyed to be most important, followed by ‘service,’ ‘experience,’ ‘felt’ and ‘group.’ Next in importance are ‘church,’ ‘good’ and ‘about.’ Remaining terms include ‘working,’ ‘peak,’ ‘new,’ ‘time,’ ‘together,’ ‘congregation,’ ‘kids,’ ‘music,’ ‘good,’ ‘like,’ ‘social,’ ‘others’ and ‘experiences.’

Question #2 Describe values…

Text cloud in which ‘values,’ ‘community’ and ‘people’ are conveyed to be most important, followed by ‘group,’ ‘being’ and ‘others.’ Remaining terms include ‘together,’ ‘kids,’ ‘new,’ ‘all,’ ‘friends,’ ‘music,’ ‘more,’ ‘part,’ ‘about,’ ‘positive,’ ‘sense,’ ‘social,’ ‘love,’ ‘important,’ ‘world,’ ‘experiences,’ ‘sharing,’ ‘feeling,’ ‘experience,’ ‘learning’ and ‘work.’
Text cloud in which ‘values,’ ‘community’ and ‘people’ are conveyed to be most important, followed by ‘group,’ ‘being’ and ‘others.’ Remaining terms include ‘together,’ ‘kids,’ ‘new,’ ‘all,’ ‘friends,’ ‘music,’ ‘more,’ ‘part,’ ‘about,’ ‘positive,’ ‘sense,’ ‘social,’ ‘love,’ ‘important,’ ‘world,’ ‘experiences,’ ‘sharing,’ ‘feeling,’ ‘experience,’ ‘learning’ and ‘work.’

Question #3 Dreams for future…

Text cloud in which ‘people,’ ‘community’ and ‘more’ are conveyed to be most important, followed by ‘social’ and ‘known.’ Next in importance are ‘justice’ and ‘homeless.’ Remaining terms include‘music,’ ‘group,’ ‘issues,’ ‘helping,’ ‘church,’ ‘other,’ ‘young,’ ‘diversity,’ ‘welcoming,’ ‘service,’ ‘congregation,’ ‘place,’ ‘interfaith’ and ‘food.’
Text cloud in which ‘people,’ ‘community’ and ‘more’ are conveyed to be most important, followed by ‘social’ and ‘known.’ Next in importance are ‘justice’ and ‘homeless.’ Remaining terms include‘music,’ ‘group,’ ‘issues,’ ‘helping,’ ‘church,’ ‘other,’ ‘young,’ ‘diversity,’ ‘welcoming,’ ‘service,’ ‘congregation,’ ‘place,’ ‘interfaith’ and ‘food.’

Keep a watchful eye on this website’s RVUUF blog, News to Note and Facebook pages for updates as to what the Process Team is doing with all the stories told on Jan. 31. Soon cottage meetings will begin and you’ll want to be a part of that opportunity to give feedback to the Writing team, after they meet and condense your stories towards a new mission.

If you weren’t able to attend there is another way for you to give your input before the deadline Feb. 14. In the lobby of RVUUF there are copies of the theee Appreciative Inquiry questions with a place to write your answers, and a place to return them by Feb. 14. OR, you can email Katy Fox (through the RVUUF contact form) and she’ll send you a digital copy.

Rev. Nan L. White
RVUUF Developmental Minister