Dinner and Discussion Group

Since May 2007, a small group of parishioners has been meeting on the third Wednesday of the month to discuss, over dinner, topics that in some way explore the question of “who is my neighbor?” The purpose is to educate ourselves about the needs of those who are poor and/or suffering, and to be more intentional in keeping them in our prayers and actions. We have covered a range of topics, both local and global, including supportive housing in CT; children exploited during war in Sierra Leone and elsewhere; and healthcare for the homeless. In addition, we have looked at an interfaith plan to end poverty in Minnesota, and have discussed the work that the ECUSA is doing to fight poverty – through the work of Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) and Episcopal Public Policy Network (EPPN), as well as the actions of individual dioceses and parishes.

Looking ahead to the next few months, we will have pizza and watch the documentary, Emmanuel's Gift , a great example of how one person can make a big difference in the lives of others; we will continue our discussion on homelessness; and in the spring, we will hopefully have a major event with Gabriel Bol Deng, one of the “Lost Boys of Sudan,” who has a dream to build a school in his hometown in South Sudan.

We are thankful that we have a core group of people committed to meeting monthly to explore these topics.  Having the opportunity to share our knowledge, experiences, questions, ideas, and dreams with one another is important in keeping our faith alive, and we look forward to seeing where the year ahead takes us.