“Living Spiritually” meeting 4th May 2024
Intro Charles reminded us all about meeting with Paul and Emily. Emily fed back her ideas - before doing a “Living Spiritually” session as we’d previously agreed, Emily favoured first doing secular talks, as an easier way into dialogue for people. She also thought we should mention the spiritual in this.
Charles outlined the rationale behind the original sessions in Dolgellau. How could Catholics reach out beyond the obvious barriers people have to Church and to faith - suspicion of authorities, experts, important people, persuaders, hierarchies. We found a non-threatening, welcoming, open way to do this. We agreed that today people tend to learn together by sharing and listening. They mostly tend to resist preaching or lectures.
Buttondown combined with Website . Paul outlined how this works, as a suggested method of communication and organising. We send our messages, ideas, or what we want archived, to Paul, who will put it on our buttondown location.
Reactions. The need to be upfront about who we are ? All agreed we should not conceal our identity. Maybe this would emerge anyway, some thought, (eg through meeting in a catholic church hall).
How do we name what we’re doing ? Various suggestions, close spirit, green space, blue space.
Resolved this by agreeing to all emailing our suggestions to Paul to go on buttondown - a poll will decide the lead name.
Publicity. Mainly each of us contacting others…non church goers.
What is our objective, what are we trying to achieve ? A discussion followed – this’ll be ongoing ?
Adopted suggestions:
We have the meetings in Prestatyn, at St Peter and Frances church hall.
As well as meetings we also have walks, films, meet in gardens, use art.
As many of us are new to each other, we spend some time getting to know each other better as a group.
We next meet for a walk, at Loggerheads Café on the 25th May at 12noon.
Possible subjects. The Clwyd valley bioregion. Emily – a session on other faiths. ?
Marketing. Prime method word of mouth, each of us inviting people.