The second goal of Project Reconnect is "Reconnecting with Each Other". Jesus said the greatest command was to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and a second is like it, “love your neighbour as your self” (Math. 22: 37-40). Responding to the second command “love your neighbour as your self” "Connecting with each other" became our second goal. We realise that so much of Jesus teaching is about living in love for one another and that as we do this we have a greater experience of God. The church’s primary event in the week where people gather is worship. So it seemed logical that this was the place where we initiated endeavours for people to connect with each other. We decided that the easiest way of creating appropriate interaction was discussing the message (sermon) for the day. This produced one of the most dynamic elements of Project Reconnect.
Four questions, or discussion starters, are included on the DVD. The questions are meant to follow this pattern:  

1.      The first question invites individuals to comment on what they heard the speaker say.  Or there might be some issues that the listener might have been challenged about by way of the message. 

2.      The second question is about inviting people to reflect on how they have experienced the things talked about in the message in their own life … in the ordinariness of their experience.

3.      The third question is about the community of faith. It might be about how the community helps us to grow. Or how the community’s faith helps us to grow.

4.      The fourth question is about connecting with the wider community. Or we can ask where we are now, or what we could be to the community?^[1] 

The questions don't always follow those criteria but is the goal.

We found the interaction to be powerful and life changing. While ever people avoided finding the "right answer" and simply explored the issues in terms of their own lives, the life of the congregation, and the community at large, then time and again people encountered the presence of God in their midst. People found the presence of God in their own life stories. People are encouraged by hearing the story of God in the lives of others in their presence. People had opportunity to time and again reflect on how they can become more fully the people of God in their community.

The discussion time brings with it some difficulties. Some individuals feel they need to give the right answer, which prevents others from simply sharing a story. Occasionally individuals find discussion as part of worship so foreign they refuse to participate.  For a while their determined silence can make others feel uncomfortable. Sometimes people say things that are quite inconsistent with the teachings of Jesus. It is better that these things are spoken rather than hidden and unquestioned. The most common problem is the service length blows out by at least half-an-hour ... fortunately most people think it is well worth the time commitment!

Purposeful communication within the context of worship has allowed conversations to continue beyond worship and help people engage in deeper and more meaningful relationships in the remainder of the week.

Home - Back

October 10, 2007 - December 2009