Dear Lydians,<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s start with a little Greek, shall we? \u00a0In Greek, there are two words for \u201ctime,\u201d chronos and kairos. \u00a0Chronos is the word that we usually think of when we think of time: clocks and calendars and timers — time that can be measured and ordered and scheduled. \u00a0Kairos, however, is a different kind of time. \u00a0Kairos is a moment of opportunity, the \u201cright time,\u201d a moment of readiness that we must either seize or let pass by. \u00a0It\u2019s a sort of cosmic rhythm that we can learn to be attuned to.<\/p>\n
Kairos shows up a lot in the New Testament. \u00a0Generally, we\u2019re either being told that it is the time, or told to wait for the right time. \u00a0John the baptist is running around telling everyone that this is the time (Mark 1:15), while Jesus warns us to stay awake and alert, because we don\u2019t know when the appointed time will come (Mark 13:33). \u00a0There\u2019s also a whole lot of talk about harvests. \u00a0A harvest that must occur at the right time, in the right season. \u00a0Kairos is a little bit like ripeness — waiting for a moment of fullness.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m writing you today to talk a little bit about this Kairos time at St. Lydia\u2019s. \u00a0Part of my job as a pastor is to stay attuned to kairos in the midst of the ticking away of the chronos — to help us discern what season it is. \u00a0Our first two seasons were about practice and culture-building: we learned how to worship together and love one another, rejecting an economy of scarcity in order to live in God\u2019s economy of abundance. \u00a0Our third year was a season of ordering our communal life together: developing a governance system by which we could share leadership and make decisions as a body. \u00a0It was also a season to bless and acknowledge all that we\u2019ve done together, with our wonderful Blessing of New Ministry and Installation service that took place in December.<\/p>\n
Now it\u2019s a new season in our life together: a new kairos. \u00a0I believe that it\u2019s time for St. Lydia\u2019s to move into a deeper, rooted relationship with our neighborhood and with the entire city. \u00a0What is the landscape of the neighborhood we inhabit, and the city of which we are a part? \u00a0Where are the strengths and connections in that landscape, and where is there hunger and brokenness? \u00a0How is God calling us to be participate in that strength and connection, and tend to the hunger and brokenness? \u00a0How can we be agents of healing, peace, and justice within this landscape?<\/p>\n
I believe that the answers to all these questions, as well as hearing the call of the Holy Spirit, begins with listening. \u00a0And so this January, I am launching a \u201cSeason of Listening\u201d at St. Lydia\u2019s, in which each and every congregant will have the opportunity to engage in listening to the stories of our neighborhood and the whole city. \u00a0In order to do this, we\u2019ll be using a Community Organizing technique called a one-on-one. \u00a0It\u2019s a method for listening to people and hearing about the strengths and struggles of their daily lives. \u00a0This city has a lot of stories to tell, and you are invited to listen, knowing that each encounter with the stranger is an encounter with Christ.<\/p>\n
All Your Questions Answered!<\/p>\n
So, how is this all going to work? \u00a0Good question! \u00a0Below you will find what I hope are the answers to most of your questions about the Season of Listening. \u00a0And as you know, you can always reach out to me for more conversation atemily@stlydias.org.<\/p>\n
What is a One-On-One?<\/em><\/p>\n A one-on-one is a community organizing tool for the purpose of establishing a relationship through conversation and sharing stories. \u00a0One-on-ones are conversations, not interviews — you don\u2019t go in with a list of questions. \u00a0They\u2019re also not a pitch of any kind — you don\u2019t invite someone to church as a part of a one-on-one. \u00a0The goal of a one-on-one is to listen, and build a relationship. How do I get started?<\/em><\/p>\n Attend a training! \u00a0Trainings are short and sweet — 25 minutes before or after worship in the Brooklyn Zen Center. \u00a0 Here\u2019s the schedule:<\/p>\n Sunday, January 13, 6:00 pm Once you\u2019ve completed the training, you\u2019ll be given access to a google document that has a big list of people and places we\u2019d like\u00a0to approach for one-on-ones. \u00a0You can sign up to visit one of the places I\u2019ve listed, or you can add your own places to the list. Can I take part in the Season of Listening without doing the training?<\/em><\/p>\n You can always listen to people! \u00a0But when you\u2019re representing St. Lydia\u2019s formally doing a one-on-one, it\u2019s important to have specific training.<\/p>\n Who\u2019s doing the training?<\/em><\/p>\n Melissa and I, who both have backgrounds in Community Organizing, will be leading the trainings.<\/p>\n I have a specific interest. \u00a0Can I do one-on-ones in a particular area?<\/em><\/p>\n Yes, absolutely. \u00a0Focus your work around your interests and motivations. \u00a0If you are really interested in the public school system, for instance, you can plan to meet teachers and principals. \u00a0Or you might want to meet more people on your block, or folks who work for social services agencies. \u00a0Feel free to make the one-on-ones your own.<\/p>\n Do I need to do my one-on-ones in Gowanus\/Park Slope?<\/em><\/p>\n No. \u00a0St. Lydia\u2019s is rooted in a local neighborhood, and in relationship with the entire city. \u00a0We want to listen all over the place! \u00a0You can do one-on-ones with a city organization that you\u2019ve always been interested in, or decide to do one-on-ones in your own neighborhood.<\/p>\n How many one-on-ones should I try to do?\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n I would suggest coming up with a reasonable goal for your one-on-ones, so you have something to work toward. \u00a0The Season of Listening will extend from January to April (though I hope the practice of listening will be something that stays with us afterward!)<\/p>\n What if the idea of doing a one-on-one terrifies me?<\/em><\/p>\n This is not uncommon. \u00a0Here is what I will tell you. \u00a0Your level of terror will significantly decrease after your first one-on-one. \u00a0Plus, we\u2019ll talk about any terror that\u2019s being experienced as a part of the training.<\/p>\n How will we share information from the one-one-ones?\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Everyone who has been trained will share the information from their one-on-ones on a private googledoc. \u00a0We will also have a place in worship where you can write down the most salient things you\u2019re hearing in your one-on-ones so that other congregants can read them. \u00a0We\u2019ll also have an opportunity to hear about what you\u2019re learning through your one-on-ones each week as a part of the sermon sharing. \u00a0Finally, in the Spring, there will be a meeting to talk about what we\u2019re hearing through the Season of Listening.<\/p>\n What will we do with the information we gather during the Season of Listening?<\/em><\/p>\n All the listening we\u2019re doing with folks in our community is a way of listening to God. \u00a0God speaks to us in many ways. \u00a0One of those ways is through the people around us. \u00a0My hunch is that, by listening to the voices of those in our community, we will begin to hear the voice of the Spirit nudging us toward our call. \u00a0The Season of Listening will inform our decisions around our call to healing and justice work in the community. \u00a0It will also inform our decisions around the new service that I\u2019d like to launch this coming Spring. \u00a0When we hear of hungers in our community, we will be moved to respond.<\/p>\n It came from a really lovely pastor who spoke about the Season of Listening his congregation did at a conference I went to. \u00a0I never learned his name, but I am grateful to him, wherever he is!<\/p>\n
\n*from resources provided by the Regional Center for Healthy Communities (www.healthier-communities.org)<\/p>\n
\nSunday, January 27, 6:00 pm
\nSunday, February 3, after worship
\nSunday, February 10, 6:00 pm<\/p>\n
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\n<\/span>It\u2019s helpful if you sign up for the training you\u2019d like to attend on\u00a0this googledoc<\/a>. \u00a0
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