How Does Listening Deepen Our Gratitude?

As I listened to the stories that were so generously shared with me during Phase 1 of our Sacred Listening campaign, a feeling of immense gratitude washed over me. Some of the people I listened to I had known for many years, while others I was just getting to know.

Storytellers opened up about their lives, including their childhoods, passions, hopes, and dreams. I learned a great deal about each person I conversed with, as did the person who so kindly and willingly gave of their time and attention to listen to me with an open heart and mind. Feedback from the other listeners tells me that many of them felt as I did. They found the experience of listening to others to be extremely gratifying.

Now we embark on the second phase of this journey. We have had opportunities to share feedback before regarding our priorities for the direction Peoples Church should take. The fruit of this can be seen in such things as facilities upgrades to make our building more welcoming for people who are differently abled. One outgrowth of those talks was the expressed desire for ways to deepen our community.

We are currently embarking on Phase 2 of this initiative, the Discernment Phase, and it is hoped that our most recent conversations will lead to more direction as to the ways we can bring about an even more beloved community both within and outside the walls of Peoples Church. 

With gratitude,

Laura McGraw

Chair, Sacred Listening Team