Cottage Party Notes 3
WORSHIP

• Order of service needs to be more flexible
• Different kinds of music: “rousing,” inspiring music!
• Guest musicians
• More open discussion about OOS and music
• More lay involvement in services
• Testimonials given on Sundays to be printed up and available
• More diversity of formats: apple communion was given as an example
• World religions beyond Judaism and Christianity featured
• Lively and heartfelt worship


DIVERSITY & GROWTH

• Concern that we’re losing older people: want to know why; not providing enough for them?
• More ethnic diversity – go out of our way to make other ethnic groups feel welcome
• More diversity of family type; sense was that there are a lot of 30 somethings and 40 somethings, not as many older people and that was a loss
• One person feared “over-growing” beyond current size and worried that there would be less sense of community
• Other 3 thought growing was great, and 2 services would be fine
• Yearning to be a stronger voice in the community to oppose the religious right

SPIRITUAL DEV & RE


• Prayer group and SD offerings are generally valuable, more mini-courses good
• Course on world religions: Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism - should be available all the time for all ages
• One person liked the idea of “New Age” speakers and opportunities to discuss (esp. body/mind/soul connection)
• Maybe bring back mid-life group; it was helpful
• One person proposed discussion on a particular life issue/topic before the worship service that draws an audience across age groups (e.g. relationships in interfaith couples) and others agreed


COMMUNITY PRESENCE

• There needs to be a better way to find out/announce social action events in the broader community beyond the church (2 people)
• Need to address a variety of social issues (some thought equal marriage had received the bulk of attention to the exclusion of other worthy issues)
• More visible actions taken on behalf of the congregation (one person suggested a “caravan of supplies to Mexico” or going to a demonstration together), perhaps joining peace vigil on Cambridge Common
• Support for tithing the church budget for social action, or at least giving a “substantial amount” of money to social action
• The church needs a lot more hands-on social justice projects, indicating a serious commitment (e.g. Habitat for Humanity, partnering with other community groups) – kudos to PEP and Tuesday Meals

GENERAL


• Would like to see exchanges with other Harvard and Central Square churches (choirs, ministers)
• Would have liked to see covenant groups thriving more than they currently are now
• Folks wonder if elders in the congregation need rides, other types of care
• The support network of caring needs to grow
• Men’s/Women’s Intergenerational groups are working well



CARDS


• The ROC process has been good, especially cottage parties (opportunities for “live conversation”)
• One person found the survey somewhat confusing because of the 2 ways of ranking things
• One person didn’t fill out the survey, preferred live conversation b/c it was more stimulating

• This cottage party was very small. One person thought there should have been an accounting for attrition and felt that the party was closed to additional participants prematurely. Others didn’t mention this as a concern.
- posted by Bruce Hoppe @ 2:59 PM