The Peoples Synod

 

 Our Intention:

 

Imaging God in the messy tension between love and law

 A “FIRST” National Event testing how diverse people can humbly listen to each

 other’s joys and hopes, griefs and anxieties. Our love for one another will allow

 consensus to emerge. This relational engagement will contribute in some small way

 to the journey of a pilgrim people toward being more lovingly embedded in God’s

 creation.

 

Synod: si-nə-d (Noun) Synodal Process: A process of speaking boldly and listening attentively from the heart to build collegial consensus.

 

A Listening Circle Methodology: The Peoples Synod will use a methodology designed to enable people who do not know one another to come together in circles of ten or twelve and engage one another around a common center where everyone listens and there is a leader in every chair.

 

Our mission in faith is to spread the Good News that LOVING ONE ANOTHER is how we image a loving God. From this mission emerges both local communities of the faithful that are church in that place and a communion of these local churches. This form of the Church – a gift sharing communion of local churches – is now being reemphasized, calling all people, their local communities and the wider Church to become more faithful to Jesus' mission of love. Through this renewal we continue our pilgrim journey toward union with a loving God.

 

 Are you called to make a difference by participating in this synodal process? Come join us for this legacy-making event.

 Learn More. Register Today @ ThePeoplesSynod.org

 Questions? Do not hesitate to call (847) 366-2761

 Please consider copying this page and the following as a 2-sided flyer for family, friends, neighbors, etc.

 

The Synod Planning Team

 Janet Hauter, Clyde Christofferson, Helen McCarthy, Greg Holysz, Rene Reid,

 Daryl Domning, Carol Harris, Jean-Pierre Schmitz and Rodger Powers

 

The Program

 Friday, October 12, 2018

 

Registration: open from 10 am-6 pm. Exhibit Hall: opens at 4 pm. Snacks provided throughout the Synod. Gathering One: DISCOVERY Friday Evening Venue: The Ballroom

 

6:00 pm Invitational Music –

 

 A Call to Gather

 

6:15 pm Welcomes, Introductions, Event Overview and Prayer

 

7:00 pm Video on The Circle Way

 

7:20 pm Listening Circles gather in their respective Breakout Rooms---

 

see badge for your room. Introductions take place using the Circle Way dynamic to begin the process of relationship building within the circle. Conclude with distribution of case study packets for overnight reflection.

 

8:30 pm Opening Celebration Light Hors d’oeuvres & a drink ticket

 

9:30 pm Event closes

 

Saturday, October 13, 2018

 

Gathering Two:

 

FEELING THE TENSION BETWEEN LAW AND LOVE

 

Exhibit Hall open from 10 am-6 pm (Some closings will occur during the breakout sessions)

 

8:30 am Invitational Music

 

8:45 am Introduction

 

Speaker

 “if you came here thinking you were going to hear name speakers, reflect on what they say, and go home refreshed. This is a different kind of conference. The ‘somebody’ is you. And it’s about going home not so much refreshed as energized. The real work of this Peoples Synod starts after you get home. The point of the Synod is to come up with what needs to be done and have some tools for doing it, when you get home.

 

9:15-11:30 am Listening Circles

 Begin review of case study packet, identifying the tension between law and love that is present, and exploring discernment as a path toward “unpacking” this tension in the specific example given in the study packet.

 

11:30-1:45 pm Break for Lunch

 

Gathering Three:

 

THE REALITY TEST: MAKING LOVE THE CORNERSTONE AS YOU RETURN HOME

 

1:45 pm Invitational Music

 

2:00 pm Speaker

 

2:45-4:45 pm Listening Circles

 Continue review of case study packet, sharing with other members of the circle how a listening circle could be implemented in your home community to support the discernment of love’s priority by one who is experiencing the tension between love and law in their own life, with due consideration to what  may be necessary to keep the community together.

 

5:00-7:00 pm Dinner

 

Gathering Four:

 WHAT STRUCTURES/SYSTEMS/CULTURE IS NEEDED TO MAKE THIS REAL IN YOUR HOME COMMUNITIES?

 

7:00-9:00 pm Listening Circles

 Continue review of case study packet, reflecting upon longer term possibilities for transforming the consciousness of your home community if the listening circle implementation is robust and becomes a regular fixture of life in the community for addressing tensions between love and law. Balance hope and realism.

 

Sunday, October 14, 2011

 

Gathering Five:

 WHAT FURTHER SUPPORT DO YOU NEED TO MAKE THIS DREAM A REALITY IN YOUR HOME COMMUNITY?

 

7:00-7:15 am Invitational Music – A Call to Gather

 

8:15-9:00 am Speaker

 

9:15-11:15 am Listening Circles

 Use the listening circle to brainstorm: what continuing support would be helpful in using what has been learned at the Peoples Synod to pursue in your home community lasting ways of addressing the tension between love and law?

 

AN ECUMENICAL LITURGY CLOSING TO CALL ON THE SPIRIT FOR INSPIRATION AND ACCOMPANIMENT AS WE RETURN HOME TO BE APOSTLES OF OUR FAITH IN LOVING ONE ANOTHER.