Hey Folks – this week, because we have not yet been subject to enough change (!), I thought we would try something different. Maybe I’m still feeling the sting of having to cancel our “Walk In The Park” idea last week, or maybe it’s the cumulative effects of not being able to see folks in person for soooooo long, but whatever the cause I’m itching for some ways to connect and hear from people in the community. I know this idea won’t resonate with everyone, and it’s not the last thing we’ll try, but it is the next thing.

So here’s the plan. We’ll gather online on our Facebook page as usual at 10:45 a.m. on Sunday for some music and Community Time. Then, at 11:15 a.m., I’ll be hosting a Zoom gathering. The official invitation is at the end of this email. For anyone not familiar, Zoom is a free program/app that you will be prompted to download when you join the meeting, or you can download it in advance here.. (Advance download recommended – it just makes the whole experience more seamless.) Zoom allows people to connect with one another via almost any device that has internet access – laptop, ipad, iphone, android device. If you want to be seen, you’ll need a device with a webcam / camera; if you want to be heard you’ll need a device with a mic. If you don’t have a mic, there is also a “chat” function that allows you to contribute via text. It is possible to join the “meeting” without turning on either your camera or mic if you prefer. That said, the reason I’ve chosen this method for Sunday is because I want us to hear from one another. If we were at Creative, this is one of those mornings where we would sit the chairs in a circle and just check in with one another. I’ll provide some guidance for our conversation, but I’m hoping we’ll come prepared to talk a bit about how we’re coping with this extended season of “not normal”.

One other detail: Last week, Arielle sent around a survey. It’s very short, very clear, and will provide the Leadership Team with some important input from the community going forward. If you haven’t completed it yet, please take a few moments to do so. You can access the survey either through our Facebook page, or here. The survey does not require your name or any personal information. We’ll be keeping it open for one more week, at which time we’ll close it and compile the results. Thank you to everyone that already has or that will participate. It’s another way we can continue to give collective shape to choices that impact everyone that feels connected to The Table.

Here’s the Sunday morning Zoom invitation:

Time: Oct 4, 2020 11:15 AM Central Time (US and Canada)