Hey folks-this week as I was preparing, I had the interesting experience of starting out feeling as though I knew where I was headed and ending up somewhere else. I had an idea about fear that I was augering into, but it just wouldn’t “work”. I’m not sure I know how to describe that part of the process, but I know how it feels. In any case, what happened is that it morphed into a deeper exploration of hope instead. Hope feels like an increasingly rare commodity these days, for all sorts of readily discernible reasons. But it’s really too simple to just say “well, hope is either something you have or something you don’t”. There’s lots of different ideas about what it is, how it works or doesn’t work, what it might produce…just lots to explore. So this Sunday in the Talky Bit, that’s what we’ll be diving into.

Other important items:

Finances – first of all, thanks to everyone that helps to keep The Table operating month by month. I really don’t have good enough words for how grateful I am. That said, the details are important and somewhat pressing. Following is an update from Justin Schinkel, the Finance person on our Leadership Team:

The Table started off the year in a good position.  Through Covid and summer we have gone through our savings and have a year to date negative cash flow of over $7,200. All things considered this is really good with Covid and only meeting remotely. However, we are struggling to pay our expenses.  If giving is part of how you participate in sustaining this community we would very much appreciate it.

Kids Table – The Kids Table team is currently working on some ideas about what might help to keep our young ones feeling connected to their pals at The Table, as well as continuing their own explorations of what they believe. (And if you don’t think kids can explore belief, just ask them about what they believe some time…and hold on for the ride!) More info in the coming weeks on this one, but some of the ideas that were shared at our Leadership Team meetings last week were really interesting! I’m excited for what is in the works.

In Person Gatherings – At this point in the tentative opening of things like group gatherings, there doesn’t appear to be a viable, affordable (we would need a very large space for even a relatively small group of people), safe way forward. That day will come. However, in the meantime we really want to have some way to see one another, so we’re working on a way to offer monthly (or some similar rhythm) opportunities to do something together outdoors on a Sunday afternoon. I hope to let you know in the blurb next week about the first of those initiatives. The general idea is that they will be things we can do that would help us to practice good physical distancing, take advantage of the health benefits of being outside, and still see one another in person. Think going for a walk in one of our beautiful parks, or skating in the winter, etc. More to follow.

We’ll meet on Sunday at 10:45 a.m. on our Facebook Group for some music and Community Time, followed by the Talky Bit. As always, the podcast version will be posted later in the week, for those that don’t use Facebook or who prefer that version.

I keep hearing stories from people who really like being able to go to The Table in their jammies, without getting out of bed. It’s a good thing this isn’t a Zoom meeting. I’ll connect with you (but not see you) on Sunday.

Peace,