The Sustainist

Drawing on Holy Currencies Week 39

Learning the Truth about Un-Wellness in the Neighborhood

Following up on the tour of your neighborhood two weeks ago, I invite you to describe at least 3 places that you noticed that are showing signs of un-wellness in your neighborhood.  Select one of these places and do some research this week to discover the truth of why this place and people are not doing well.  You can begin with looking through social media.  Demographic data and statistics are useful, but don’t be afraid to go out to listen to the powerless in your neighborhood who know the truth from their experiences. Again, use your fabulous relationship building skills to gain trust and listen.  Remember that we don't have the truth until we listen to the powerless. 

If you are doing this with a group of people from your church, gather the group and share your findings.  Then make a list of resources (other currencies such as time, place, talents, relationship, etc.) that your church has and explore how you can connect the gifts and resources to addressing the un-wellness that you discovered.  What specific programs would you design and implement using these resources?

Also, how might you find partners in the community to address this in order to foster greater wellness in your community? 

Share your experiences on social media using #holycurrencies

Drawing on Holy Currencies Week 38

Finding Partners for Wellness

Last week we asked you to take a group of people to tour your neighborhood in order to discover the places of wellness and un-wellness.  This week, we will build on that the learning beginning with wellness. 

Select 3 places in your neighborhood community that show signs of wellness.  Name the wellness (social, physical, economic, spiritual and/or ecological) that this place provides.  Do some research on who is involved in fostering this wellness?  How do they do it? 

You can do this research by searching the internet.  Don’t stop there; go and visit the place. Listen to the people who are beneficiaries of the wellness provided.  Also listen to the leaders who provide this wellness.  Use your excellent relationship building skills and make real connections.

How might you and your church partner with these leaders and organizations to further enrich how wellness is fostered in your community?  What resources would you offer to foster even greater wellness for your neighbors?

Share your experiences on social media using #holycurrencies.

 

Drawing on Holy Currencies Week 37

What makes a sustainable community?

Is your neighborhood sustainable?  What are the signs of wellness?  What are the signs of un-wellness? 

Gather a group of people and take a tour of your neighborhood, walking or driving.  Take your Drawing on Holy Currencies book and take notes on what you see as signs of physical, social, economic, spiritual and ecological wellness and un-wellness.  your group to do the neighborhood work.  Before you go, invite the group to look at the comic for this week and have a discussion on what makes a sustainable community. 

At the end of the tour, invite members of your group to share their notes and discuss how you can connect and partner with places and groups that are providing wellness and how use your resources to address the un-wellness in your neighborhood.

Week 36 Drawing on Holy Currencies

Currency of Place: Church

 

We continue our exploration of the currency of time and place this week with your church.  Get together with at least 3 people from your church and move through your church from space to space.  At each space, spent some quiet time to draw and write down:

• who spends time in each space
• how much time spent per week
• what blessings were received.

Make sure you cover the many different spaces: the parking lot, the courtyard, various rooms and halls and, of course, the sanctuary.  Having done this exercise, decide how you would share your learning with the rest of the church.  What suggestions do you have for the church to use spaces that are not being used much?

You can organize these activities as a festive all congregation event incorporating blessing of each space with prayers and, for some churches, holy water.  When members of the church connect the currency of place with ministries and blessings, they will be more generous with giving money to support the cost of keeping up the facilities of the church during financial stewardship time. 

Please share your experiences on social media using #holycurrencies