A team of leaders of Forest Hill United Church took a look at a map of their church and noticed that the largest portion of the property was the parking lot. Through a year-long Holy Currencies workshop, they had learned about the currency of time and place and began to explore how they could exchange this parking lot space for more than just parking of cars. They wanted to exchange it for currencies of relationship with the neighborhood folks, and currency of money because they noticed that the roof of their church was in need of repair and would cost a lot of money soon.
They decided to offer their parking lot for Food Truck Frenzy. Here is how it works: Every Monday, the parking lot is open to local food trucks to do business. The church will create a nice picnic environment for people to eat and interact with each other. The food truck businesses will donate 10% of their proceeds to the church with the knowledge that the church needs a new roof soon.
Members of the church also intentionally spent time at the Food Truck Frenzy to meet and listen to people from the neighborhood. About once a month, they do an event with a special theme such as Cars on the Hill, Celebrate Canada, Celebrate Families and Celebrate School. Through these thematic events, the church hopes to better connect with the people in the community, build trusting relationships, and discover the truth about the needs and concerns of the community. Their next challenge is to respond to the needs and concerns by investing their other currencies to provide wellness programs to create a more sustainable community.
Meanwhile, they are ahead of schedule in raising the necessary funds for the construction work needed to repair their roof.
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Reflection Questions for 6th Sunday of Easter (Year C) Acts 16:9-15 Psalm 67 Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5 John 14:23-29 |
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Upcoming Opportunities to Study with The Sustainist and learn more about Holy Conferencing: May 4-7, 2016 July 18-22, 2016 August 4-6, 2016 |
Eric H. F. Law
Kaleidoscope Institute
For competent leadership in a diverse changing world
www.kscopeinstitute.org
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