By Kirsten Radivoyevitch, Member Engagement Coordinator

Dear Friends, 

Ah, Cleveland in the summertime! For some of us that means baseball games, outdoor concerts, and sunsets on the lake. For others of us, it means camp adventures, ice cream cones, and splash pads. For about 50 parishioners at St. Paul’s, summer includes short-term participation in one of six “Summer Small Groups.”

As much as I love gathering with the full congregation for worship, there is something special about a small group gathering that encourages us to listen and think differently than we do during a worship service. Many ‘long-term’ small groups already exist at St. Paul’s. Several attendees of the 7:45 a.m. service regularly stay afterward to share coffee and to discuss how the sermon message plays out in everyday lives. Members of our deaf community tend to circle-up in Tucker Hall after the 9 a.m. service to catch up with each other after being apart for the past week. Families with young children often meet up with each other on the church playground between services so the kiddos can play together outside before lunch and nap time.

Humans are biologically and psychologically wired to form connections and to thrive in groups. This social construct is fundamental not only to shaping our personal lives, but also to the survival, well-being, and development of our church. Actively listening and responding to the thoughts of others helps to strengthen our feelings of personal growth and connection and, therefore, our sense of belonging.

Creating a sense of community, especially during this interim period, needs to be more than an afterthought; it needs to be part of our focus as a parish. It will also be a major consideration when planning the many programming and engagement opportunities available during our upcoming program year.

In autumn, for example, the Summer Small Groups will come to a close and you will be invited to join one of many nine-month Foyer Groups. The purpose of these informal groups is, again, to promote fellowship through shared experiences and the exchange of ideas, usually away from the church and often over a meal.

Until then, I encourage you to linger a bit at coffee hour, introduce yourself to someone you don’t know, and invite other parishioners into your mini-group conversation. 

With open arms,

Kirsten Radivoyevitch, Member Engagement Coordinator