The first SEG of 2026: Seeking a Path Forward for Our Meeting, discussing the Life Cycle of Meetings. You are invited to view Emily Provance’s video titled Life Cycle of Meetings Series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTW4MJXUT-s (18-1/2 minutes).
Based that we can formulate some queries for our SEG session:
What would it mean to lay down the Meeting? Rather than concentrate on revitalizing the Meeting, what about working to keep the Meeting together as it actually exists, and perhaps to be ready for the point when they're going to have to lay the meeting down.
Our Meeting is experiencing waning energy… is it a fools errand to try to pump that energy up?
If we cannot resuscitate our committees, is it time to let go of some of this and move some energy in another direction?
If we determine that we have real life in our worship, that our worship is vital and real and the rest of the pieces aren’t working, should we structure ourselves as a group of people for whom worship is the primary purpose?
What is important? Is it our relationship to our Meetinghouse, or restructuring committees, or laying down the Meeting, or transitioning into a worship group?
If we define “viable” as meaning we can pay our bills, maintain our property, and do the necessary essential practical functions and “vital” means we are alive with spirit and feel the presence of God here, then is our Meeting viable and is it vital?
Recognizing that resurrection is not the same thing as resuscitation, can we embrace resurrection that might be a transformation of spiritual energy and resources into something that is new and alive and needed now?
Think about the potential for what might come next, if we can release some of what is taking that energy from us now. So when we are simplifying or stopping or transitioning or even laying something down, it isn't going away; it's being released into something that might be new, whatever it is that God might call us to do next.
We need to do the discernment and move forward in the direction that we are led.
This will be a hybrid event - either in-person in the Social Hall, or on Zoom to discuss this topic.
The Zoom link is https://tinyurl.com/mssp4j4s
Meeting ID: 990 5847 4302 Passcode: 780272
The Spiritual Exploration Group meets at 8:30 on the third Sunday in the Social Hall before Meeting for Worship.
SEG provides an opportunity for everyone to share their thoughts and feelings on a variety of spiritually related topics. I has the added benefit that we can hear each other's ideas outside the Silence of Meeting.
Questions? Contact Sam Hartman samhartjr@comcast.net 215 674 1954