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Have you ever found yourself looking for a way to build community
at a church meal or committee meeting? Are you trying to find
a way to get church members of all generations talking and sharing
about their faith with each other in a nonthreatening way?
Table Talk Place Mats are a new and exciting resource designed
to assist the church family in getting to know one another.
Each paper place mat is part of a seasonal series and contains
four conversation-starter questions as well as a “Did You
Know” section with short facts and information about various
aspects of the PC(USA), holidays, special days, and the seasons
of the church year. Table Talk Place Mats are useful in many
settings throughout the life of the church.
Midweek Programs
Prior to the meal, place a Table Talk Place Mat at each place
setting. Before the blessing, ask each person to share their
answer to the first question found on the place mat with one
of the people sitting next to him or her. As the meal begins,
encourage them to discuss the second question with the entire
table. Before dessert, introduce the third question, asking
each person to share their answer with another person sitting
near them. Following dessert, consider having the table groups
discuss the fourth question together.
Committee Meetings
Even if a meal is not part of the agenda, place a Table
Talk Place Mat on the table for each committee member. Begin
the meeting in prayer, followed by a time of community building
as you share the answers to the four questions. Following your
regular business, focus on the “Did You Know” section
of the place mat. Talk together about what this space might
contain if this committee wanted to share something about itself
with the congregation. Include this information in the church
newsletter or bulletin.
Single Adult Ministry
Use Table Talk Place Mats to strengthen the congregation’s
awareness of the inclusion of single adults by setting the tables
for an odd number of people; set round tables for seven people
and automatically give singles a place to sit. Encourage each
table to share their answers to the four questions found on
their place mats.
Families within the Church Family
Provide Table Talk Place Mats for individual families within
the congregation. Encourage these families to use them during
their meals at home and share their answers to the questions
with each other.
Small Groups
Provide a Table Talk Place Mat for each attendee or place one
in the center of the group. Encourage group members to introduce
themselves by sharing their answer to one of the questions,
allowing them to choose which question to answer.
Holiday Gatherings
Within each seasonal pack, there are Table Talk Place Mats with
questions specific to the holidays and special days within that
season. When the congregation gathers for a Lenten series, for
the beginning of Christian Education Emphasis Week, or an Epiphany
celebration, use the place mats to educate and reinforce the
purpose of the gathering.
Any Church Gathering
Use Table Talk Place Mats any time the church family gathers
and continues to get to know each other. Encourage long-time
members to sit with newer members and young members to sit with
older members. All of the questions are appropriate for any
age!
Table Talk Place Mats are available in four, undated seasonal
packs—Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. Within each pack
are two hundred 11x17-inch place mats in eight different varieties
for use in conjunction with holidays and special days occurring
within that season (Advent, Lent, Pentecost, World Communion,
Christian Family Week, etc.) and general place mats that can
be used at any time within the season. Twenty-five copies of
each place mat are in every pack. |
