I will relay one comment I heard that night: we had much too much ‘talking’ and that we need to figure out ways to tell-less-‘show’-more.
On reflection, this strikes me as right – especially about “my” group (Call), in which the content was rich but the presentation was static: one person talked, then another person talked, then another person talked, etc. without the music and symbolism of the Co-Laboring team, the physicality and mental focus of the Healing team, or the dialogue of the Healing team.
I agree that there should be more interactive style to the event. Perhaps spend more time in a fewer number of "presentations"... like, have time for discussion at the end of each topic. I felt a bit rushed at the Feb 21 event. I guess it is a questions of wanting to be broad or be deep... we were going for breadth on the 21st. Maybe in the future we can have a combination of "broad" and "deep" GIFT events...
Good point about tiem for discussion, which raises *another* issue with our Feb 21 program. We actually had *planned* to have 45 minutes for small group reflections after the 4 Grace presentations, but because the schedule 'got away from us' that part of the program got lost.
We probably need to make sure we have that time for refelction *by those who attend* in future programs.
Yes, I do remember it was part of the plan! Perhaps it is a sign that in the future we should be more generous with the time we schedule for each event, so we don't run out of time... (I know, this is an issue we face all the time in life, running out of time!!!) :)
I think that everything that happened is for our growing in Faith together.
I agree with Sandy's comment about talking less and showing more. I always emphasized in the meetings using creativity and imagination...theater, music, dance, art, guided meditation, storytelling, symbolism, prayer. But it took somebody else to make this comment for the team to be awared of the importance of engaging people using other ways more than prose. In December, Family Faith organized a Parish Wide Event with all those elements. It was a Parish Wide Event because it was addressed for everybody...not only for adults, but unfortunately was attended only by Family Faith people, Eileen and our pastor.
I think that one of the reasons of unnatendance is the fact that we are a preaching parish, so if somebody sees a schedule saying presentations from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM, inmediately this person pictures himself/herself sitted just listening.
Regarding time, I really think that it worked well, especially because when we organized events we have a tendency of being controlling everything...when things are not going in the planned ways, we don't like and we think that something was wrong.
I think that the reflection took place in different ways...in the dinner...and in people's home with the questions we include in the programs people took home and in the beautiful Lenten journal that Boreta and Nancy made on Gratitude.
Like variety among -- and amid -- presentations to include music, symbolic ritual,brief quiet moments, handouts and "talking," as long as talk is focused on spiritual topic being explored.
GIFT "team" did a great job in providing a setting for variety!
I also like the idea of using a variety of presentation styles... perhaps more guidance and collaborative work is best when it comes to presentations. I know it helped me in the co-laboring group to meet with others on the team (more than once!) to talk about what we would be doing, and to talk about the variety of styles we could use.
I also agree that it is fine to have some unorganized time for people to talk, pray, eat, etc. I wonder if it may be more effective, though, to "plan for the unplanned time", if you know what I mean... to say up front, we will have 20 min of unstructured time. Some of us (me, I'll readily admit) get nervous when a schedule runs away from us because we may be concerned that we will not get to everything that we had planned. In a collaborative event like GIFT I know I was thinking in my head, I hope none of the groups get shortchanged on time because they worked hard on their presentations. It is fine to hav
I mentioned this in another comment to another question- I think it is important in the future to help communicate to the parish what is going on, what elements are involved, etc... I think if people know what's happening, they might be more likely to come. This is what I have heard from friends of mine I've talked to since GIFT. This was also true of the December day-- I think people did not know what it was all about. I heard this from friends.
We could also use our GIFT website to communicate about the day's events ahead of time. The web address didn't make it into the bulletin before GIFT. In the future if we want to have a website, we should put as much info as we can on it, and advertise it as best we can so people will look!
Gift was very well advertised in the bulletin. For more than one month we talked about the graces and GIFT. That information could be included in the webpage...just copying from the bulletin to the webpage. However, my thought is that excess of information is perjudicial, is overwhelming...again...I vote for less words, more symbolism, parables, imagination...
The webpage contains copied info from the bulletin plus more- not "all of it" as to not be overwhelming with text, but the main parts and the schedule of the day. I also put pictures, prayers, art, etc up. I am happy to put up more- prayers, music, art, whatever anyone sends to me!! We can put up more for next time if we think it is useful- I agree, overkill is not good either.
It is sad but true that some people do not read the bulletin and do not pay attention! There is probably no good way to reach these people!! I don't know what to do! :)
Another thought about presentation style and variety is to give people in whatever ways possible chances for dialogue and active participation... like in the healing group. Co-laboring was nice too with the singing and litany prayer. I hear Gratitude also had dialogue. Sharing and doing are great ways to get people engaged. All kinds of "learning" are good, in combination. Now that I think about it, it seems the "top half" of the day was heavy on sitting and watching/listening. In the future maybe we can mix things up a little, especially at the beginning. I loved Joe, Elda's monologue, the dance, and Call, and those things did combine a variety of styles and modalities, but for the "audience" it was mostly sitting and watching/listening. Just a thought!
FYI this along with all of my comments are the result of real thinking about the event... it may sound like I am being critical (which is helpful) but honestly, the FIRST things that came to my mind were the all the many good things I've already posted!! We all did a wonderful job, with an excellent leader! Thanks to you all.
To sit to watch a play or a dance is very diferent than to sit to listen somebody giving a lecture...play, art, dance has the potentially of strengthening the imaginations...the problem is not to be sitted listening...but listening what...An initial lecture or explanation is necesary but after a flow of activities must be created, when sometimes people sit to see such activities and sometimes people engage not only mentally but bodily.
To add a comment, follow these steps: 1) At the bottom of the topic/question you wish to comment on, you will see a line that says "x comments", where x is the number of comments that have already been left. Click "x comments".
2) You will be taken to the "comments" page, on which you will see other people's comments. At the bottom, you will see "Post a Comment" and a blank window. Type your comment into that window.
3) When you are done typing your comment, it's time to post it! Find the field "Comment as:". There is a pull-down menu to the right of "Comment as:". Select "Name/url".
4) A small window will pop up called "Edit profile". Type in your name (can be just your first name) in the "Name" blank. If you have your own website that you want people to know about, add the website address in the "url" blank. If you don't have a website, it's ok to leave this part empty. When you are done, hit "Continue".
5) Now, hit "Post Comment"! You're done!
If you have any problems, email giftxavier@gmail.com. If you feel frustrated, you can email your comments directly to giftxavier@gmail.com. The webmaster will post your comments to this page so that your comments can be included in the discussion!
I will relay one comment I heard that night: we had much too much ‘talking’ and that we need to figure out ways to tell-less-‘show’-more.
ReplyDeleteOn reflection, this strikes me as right – especially about “my” group (Call), in which the content was rich but the presentation was static: one person talked, then another person talked, then another person talked, etc. without the music and symbolism of the Co-Laboring team, the physicality and mental focus of the Healing team, or the dialogue of the Healing team.
I agree that there should be more interactive style to the event. Perhaps spend more time in a fewer number of "presentations"... like, have time for discussion at the end of each topic. I felt a bit rushed at the Feb 21 event. I guess it is a questions of wanting to be broad or be deep... we were going for breadth on the 21st. Maybe in the future we can have a combination of "broad" and "deep" GIFT events...
ReplyDeleteoops, that "GIFT Xavier" character from Feb 27 2:32pm is Kathleen Friel...
ReplyDeleteGood point about tiem for discussion, which raises *another* issue with our Feb 21 program. We actually had *planned* to have 45 minutes for small group reflections after the 4 Grace presentations, but because the schedule 'got away from us' that part of the program got lost.
ReplyDeleteWe probably need to make sure we have that time for refelction *by those who attend* in future programs.
Yes, I do remember it was part of the plan! Perhaps it is a sign that in the future we should be more generous with the time we schedule for each event, so we don't run out of time... (I know, this is an issue we face all the time in life, running out of time!!!) :)
ReplyDeleteI think that everything that happened is for our growing in Faith together.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sandy's comment about talking less and showing more. I always emphasized in the meetings using creativity and imagination...theater, music, dance, art, guided meditation, storytelling, symbolism, prayer. But it took somebody else to make this comment for the team to be awared of the importance of engaging people using other ways more than prose.
In December, Family Faith organized a Parish Wide Event with all those elements. It was a Parish Wide Event because it was addressed for everybody...not only for adults, but unfortunately was attended only by Family Faith people, Eileen and our pastor.
I think that one of the reasons of unnatendance is the fact that we are a preaching parish, so if somebody sees a schedule saying presentations from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM, inmediately this person pictures himself/herself sitted just listening.
Regarding time, I really think that it worked well, especially because when we organized events we have a tendency of being controlling everything...when things are not going in the planned ways, we don't like and we think that something was wrong.
I think that the reflection took place in different ways...in the dinner...and in people's home with the questions we include in the programs people took home and in the beautiful Lenten journal that Boreta and Nancy made on Gratitude.
Like variety among -- and amid -- presentations to include music, symbolic ritual,brief quiet moments, handouts and "talking," as long as talk is focused on spiritual topic being explored.
ReplyDeleteGIFT "team" did a great job in providing a setting for variety!
I also like the idea of using a variety of presentation styles... perhaps more guidance and collaborative work is best when it comes to presentations. I know it helped me in the co-laboring group to meet with others on the team (more than once!) to talk about what we would be doing, and to talk about the variety of styles we could use.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that it is fine to have some unorganized time for people to talk, pray, eat, etc. I wonder if it may be more effective, though, to "plan for the unplanned time", if you know what I mean... to say up front, we will have 20 min of unstructured time. Some of us (me, I'll readily admit) get nervous when a schedule runs away from us because we may be concerned that we will not get to everything that we had planned. In a collaborative event like GIFT I know I was thinking in my head, I hope none of the groups get shortchanged on time because they worked hard on their presentations. It is fine to hav
I mentioned this in another comment to another question- I think it is important in the future to help communicate to the parish what is going on, what elements are involved, etc... I think if people know what's happening, they might be more likely to come. This is what I have heard from friends of mine I've talked to since GIFT. This was also true of the December day-- I think people did not know what it was all about. I heard this from friends.
We could also use our GIFT website to communicate about the day's events ahead of time. The web address didn't make it into the bulletin before GIFT. In the future if we want to have a website, we should put as much info as we can on it, and advertise it as best we can so people will look!
Gift was very well advertised in the bulletin. For more than one month we talked about the graces and GIFT. That information could be included in the webpage...just copying from the bulletin to the webpage. However, my thought is that excess of information is perjudicial, is overwhelming...again...I vote for less words, more symbolism, parables, imagination...
ReplyDeleteThe webpage contains copied info from the bulletin plus more- not "all of it" as to not be overwhelming with text, but the main parts and the schedule of the day. I also put pictures, prayers, art, etc up. I am happy to put up more- prayers, music, art, whatever anyone sends to me!! We can put up more for next time if we think it is useful- I agree, overkill is not good either.
ReplyDeleteIt is sad but true that some people do not read the bulletin and do not pay attention! There is probably no good way to reach these people!! I don't know what to do! :)
Another thought about presentation style and variety is to give people in whatever ways possible chances for dialogue and active participation... like in the healing group. Co-laboring was nice too with the singing and litany prayer. I hear Gratitude also had dialogue. Sharing and doing are great ways to get people engaged. All kinds of "learning" are good, in combination. Now that I think about it, it seems the "top half" of the day was heavy on sitting and watching/listening. In the future maybe we can mix things up a little, especially at the beginning. I loved Joe, Elda's monologue, the dance, and Call, and those things did combine a variety of styles and modalities, but for the "audience" it was mostly sitting and watching/listening. Just a thought!
ReplyDeleteFYI this along with all of my comments are the result of real thinking about the event... it may sound like I am being critical (which is helpful) but honestly, the FIRST things that came to my mind were the all the many good things I've already posted!! We all did a wonderful job, with an excellent leader! Thanks to you all.
To sit to watch a play or a dance is very diferent than to sit to listen somebody giving a lecture...play, art, dance has the potentially of strengthening the imaginations...the problem is not to be sitted listening...but listening what...An initial lecture or explanation is necesary but after a flow of activities must be created, when sometimes people sit to see such activities and sometimes people engage not only mentally but bodily.
ReplyDelete