a non-meeting meeting thing
by
chalky
the plan... downstairs
Downstairs: it's a big room, with the kitchen leading off it, and a partitioned section big enough to put all the kids stuff in (as in , toddler age entertainment).
So, the kids stuff goes in the partitioned bit, and they can play about in there like they do.
Inside the kitchen: baked potatoes in the oven, lots of french bread. Tea and coffee. help yourself.
Just outside the kitchen, various fillings for bread+jackets. cakes. bread and wine there, in with the rest (so people think about the communal, meal aspect).
Probably a box of wine I think - kids less likely to slug a bit!! also potentially more left over :)
The idea for this, the main hall, is that people discuss and chat, rather then quietly reflect. So - on the other side of the room there are 3 focal points
against the wall, each will be a say 3metre square thing with lots of bits of paper with bible verses printed on - verses including/ connected with faith, hope and love respectively (printed quite big).
In front of each will be a row of seats, maybe 7 or 8@each, like you get in a gallery - so people can sit and look at the words. Have also asked artists to sketch paint sculpt draw any images/impressions
of these words, and writer to write some thoughts on the words. Idea is that people look, and also talk to each other - which verses
they find a comfort, a challenge, difficult to understand, out of place, contradictory, etc etc etc. Hope that artists do visual stuff, as not everyone connects so well with the printed word. Although it is the bibley bit.
In the middle of the room there will be bread and wine - but you have to walk through an 'aisle' of chairs to get there. On the way will be various bible things about bread and wine, so people think about what it means 'technically'. (red grape juice available!).
There will also be four quilts on the partition, each depicting a season. Will use some bible verse, maybe the time for everything bit, not sure - to get people to think about this.
Also we have a big mural up in the hall with big painted words on which is basically lots of occupations/lifestyles/talents which people who are part of the church do/are/have - doctor, carer, musician, football, parent, student, unemployed, nurse (you know, lots and lots).
Will do the gallery thing with that as well - might as well, it's there, not getting in the way of any of the other stuff!! Might dovetail this with the ways in which god is described in the bible.
Have a person who can do kids stuff working on accessible stuff for the kind of 'sunday school' age kids, so they can do all the stuff as well.
Also - in a couple of places round the room, a circlish of chairs round a table, with 'discusison' things on bits of paper. people are expected to sit around, drink their coffee, eat food, chat about god stuff. Or anything, really.
the plan... upstairs
very small room - a reading room. books. people reading quietly. they can bring their own, although i'll probably throw a few books about too. few bibles. they can read whatever they like though. i mean, to get a bit of peace and quiet is tricky. they can read harry potter if they like.
middle room - is a middle size room - will be worship space. Now then, a couple of people have offered to take this on to some degree, and I think we can between us come up with plenty of
reflective stuff for people to, um, reflect on. The bread and wine in here will be a reflective 'what christ has done for me' thing - spiritual aspect.
lounge - is usually the creche - will be a prayer space. Think will probably say that from the hour to the half hour, if you're in there you pray about various listed things - probs about church and world issues via prayer requests people have
left on provided bits of paper blutacked to walls. If we do night prayer seshes we use this room, so people are kind of used to drawing/ writing
and sticking their prayers and efforts all over the place. Then from half hour to hour will be used to pray for each other. I think. Maybe that's a bit directive, but it will mean
that people who would be uncomfortable with that, or who particularly want that (either to pray for people or be prayed for) will know when to go. It's an L-shape, so if people want to go in there to pray together or whatever they could do that as well. This is the only room which I'm planning to have someone
'on duty' in at all times (partly to make sure people do use it to pray and not chat - they can do all the chatting they like downstairs - this is not the space for that!) (says nazi chalky, being unusually directive).
the plan... generally
Lots of places with lots of A5 paper and pens. Instruction - to write it down if they are inspired, interested, intrigued, have questions, comments, thoughts or prayers. Lots of places where they can stick those bits of paper up if they want. Then if you see something which you find inspiring/ interesting, you can either just take the bit of paper or copy down what is written, or respond to it in print on the bit of wall reserved for that activity.
A 'guided tour' for the scared! Everyone is free to wander round, miss bits out or stay in one place for 2 hours - it's open 10-4. However, the 'guided tour' will take them round the whole thing in, say, an hour, hour and a half, probably with spaces for them to fill in the blanks if they want. Prayer room will not be included in this as it is a prayer room, duh. you go in there to pray. obviously. will be clear that this can be done silently and personally, or corporately.
IMPORTANT - there will be a covering thing which explains why we're doing it (be a bit more creative about the way we meet), what it is (the meeting for 26th nov!), what they're supposed to do (, if it is supposed to be informal and chatty, with a bit of thinking (downstairs), or quitish and reflective (upstairs) or prayerful (!prayer room). to explain it can be structured however they like, be there for 10 mins, go over the pub, come back for an hour, chat, pray, etc etc. hopefully people kind of know that already and won't all arrive at 10am! AND it's to explain that next Sunday 3rd is an open meeting, for people to talk about what they found interesting/ inspiring/ difficult/ challenging, what made them see god in a new way, what they thought about it during the folowing week, what they read that somebody just wrote, what they prayed in the prayer room, etc etc etc. I think if people know there's like a 'reporting back' aspect, they are more likely to engage properly, to look for things which interest and engage them rather than being passive. Hopefully it will also encourage people to use and put up A5 paper in the designated places, and to respond to that.
The doors to each room will have DESCRIPTIONS of what is going on in there. In one colour.
DIRECTIONS - what you are supposed to do, if you want, in another colour.
chalky would welcome your comments or questions on the
bulletin board
well, that was before it happened. but how did it go? find out in the
second part
of chalky's article.