After our practice of Lectio Divina, groups of 2-3 people were invited to check in around the invitation: Tell about an experience you have had where you walked away feeling, 'Now THAT's what it means to be the church!"

Community; coming to gether to help others
The faithful witness of so many Episcopalians at the statehouse. Our bishop’s witness in public.
Listening to the stories of others, and connecting with them.
Our sense of being a family - in celebrations and in grief
Liturgy that reminds me of my childhood.

We explored questions around timing of assignments, and Tom offered some ways to enter the neighborhood mapping exercise on a small scale if needed. Rev. Elaine from Bettendorf shared her experience of neighborhood mapping with 2 other Episcopal congregations in the Quad Cities.

Neighborhood mapping in the Quad Cities, 2019

We are taking a "long, loving, look at the real" through three lenses (ourselves, our neighborhoods, our churches). As part of that look at ourselves, Kirsten from St. Paul’s Cathedral in Des Moines volunteered to share her Spiritual Autobiography so other volunteers could demonstrate the listening process.

Afterwards we were invited to read Peter Block’s Six Conversations and think about 2 questions:

What practices will help you "stick together" as a team?
What is a potential near term activity to which you would feel good about inviting neighbors, families and friends? Remember, you do not have to originate this event - it might be something already scheduled out in the community. The gift of the possibility might include deepening a relationship, starting a new relationship, something that hints of a possible future that is exciting to you, personally!

A Long, Loving Look at the Real