Diocesan stories of people responding to God’s call
Something to talk about
A good gab session over a steaming cup of tea is par for the course for Maritimers. Now what comes natural for us is being taken to a new missional level in the town of Wolfville.
Patsy Clothier started hosting Talk & Tea last September in a pub, fittingly called The Church Brewing Company. She and three others from the congregation, St. John’s (Parish of Horton), each invite a friend or two to a weekday afternoon gathering.
“The manager, Brandon, reserves the Sanctuary for us,” Pasty said. “We all sit around a large table with our beverage and for the first half hour we just chat. Then a wee talk is made on respecting one another and giving everyone a voice.” Next, they bring out questions, using Faith Sharing Cards.
“The cards are placed face down on the table and each person picks one. If they don’t like it, they can exchange it with someone, which has been creating quite a bit of laughter!,” she explained. “Then the answers begin with great conversation and interest.”
Patsy, a participant in The Connectors TWO, our diocesan missional leadership learning cohort, first brought the idea to her peer group. “I mentioned that I would like to hold a Talk & Tea, but didn’t know where to hold it. As everyone shared their thoughts, a lot of ideas came to light and the idea of the Church Pub came from someone in the group.” She said, “I took the group’s advice and looked into it. I was amazed at the encouragement to hold the Talk & Tea there, given to me by the Pub’s manager.”
Faith Sharing Cards Sample Questions:
- Describe a turning point in your life.
- Tell us about the time you first became aware of God.
- Name a person who has significantly influenced your life. How?
- Share an experience when you were filled with gratitude.
- If God could give you any spiritual gift or ability, what would you ask for and why?
- Where is a holy place for you and what in particular makes it holy?
- Share about a time when you gave a gift in which you received more than you gave?
* To download and print a pdf of Faith Sharing Question, visit www.nspeidiocese.ca
The missional lay leader’s main goal for this ministry is to create a relaxed, safe environment for people to explore Christian spirituality. Patsy cited an article by John Bowen in Green Shoots Out of Dry Ground, where she read that “mission is God’s idea and God is love.” Another author, Michael Frost, sparked her imagination. “The wee book, Surprise the World, tells us to bless, eat, drink, listen and learn,” she said. “Therefore, I feel sharing a cup of tea anywhere would be doing His work as we love, bless, drink tea, listen and learn with the people who attend our Talk & Tea times, and will want to come back.”
Attendance changes somewhat from gathering to gathering, but about half of those who come are not actively connected to a faith community.
“They partake in all conversations and seem to enjoy the questions, giving very good answers,” said Patsy. “Interest is indicative from the laughter and positive comments made during and after the Talk & Tea times. Also, the people attending for the first time, want to return.”
Patsy says guests come to the gatherings at The Church Brewing Company for a variety of reasons. “They are in search of connection, where they can feel good about themselves and their relationship with others, have fun, enjoy company, ‘sup’ together, make friends, laugh, and I hope to ask faith-related-questions in time.” She said, “They seem hungry for a new way to worship, for conversation with genuine listening, to feel a sense of belonging and perhaps renew their enthusiasm for their own faith.”
For now, Pasty plans to continue Talk & Tea. “The dream is to have more people every time we meet,” she said. “And, to further the Kingdom of Heaven for Him who loves us!”
