A Season of Discernment - Update 2

On Sunday, May 24, 2026, we continued our Season of Discernment with another Town Hall conversation. We focused primarily on reviewing the work we had done together at our previous Town Hall, where we used sticky notes to listen for what feels meaningful, what feels difficult, what ideas people have, and what contributions people may be willing to offer. We had hoped to move further into building out some practical “holy experiments” together, but we quickly realized there was too much important conversation to rush through.

At the heart of this season is one core question:

What model allows The Welcome Table to remain deeply itself while also being sustainable?

To answer that, we are continuing to ask what is meaningful to us in worship and life as a community, what feels difficult or unsustainable, what we may be willing to try, and what each of us may be willing to contribute.

The Biggest Overall Takeaway

The biggest overall takeaway from the sticky notes and conversation is this:

The Welcome Table has something special to offer: a community and worship life grounded in love, support, welcome, honest relationships, shared participation, and meaningful spiritual practice. People value that TWT creates space where everyone, including our younger folks, can belong and contribute. People also value worship and reflection that connect with real life — something we can carry with us and practice in our everyday lives — and space to share God Sightings. At the same time, we need simpler and more shared ways of doing things so that what is meaningful can also become sustainable.

That balance is important. We are not trying to become something completely different. We are trying to discern how to protect and strengthen what is already life-giving while also being honest about what needs to change.

What Feels Meaningful?

Several major themes emerged around what people value most about The Welcome Table.

Family, Love, and Support

People repeatedly named that TWT feels like more than a worship service. It feels like a community where people are known, loved, and supported.

Some of the sticky notes included:

• “Feeling that TWT is ‘family,’ not just a service”

• “Hospitality, hugs, prayer, family atmosphere”

• “Feeling loved by All members of TWT”

• “TWT offers a feeling of love”

• “the people are like family”

  
  

Being Seen, Heard, and Safe

A major theme was that TWT creates space where people can be honest, vulnerable, and noticed.

People named things like:

• “People noticing when someone is quiet or struggling”

• “Being seen, heard, and respected”

• “being small enough for vulnerability”

• “The safe environment to talk and be heard”

• “Deep connection and care”

  
  

Worship That Feels Honest, Coherent, and Real

People value worship that feels intentional, heartfelt, and connected — not performative or disconnected.

Some of the notes said:

• “Honest prayers that come from the heart”

• “Music that feels real, not performed”

• “Service where all aspects tell one coherent story”

• “The flow of the service”

• “Simplicity and humility in Worship/Community”

  
  

Music, Reflection, and Spiritual Practice

Music and reflections were named often, especially when they connect with real life, healing, challenge, and the theme of worship.

People shared:

• “Reflections that challenge people”

• “reflections that heal and challenge”

• “reflections that speak to me, not just Bible study”

• “Music that supports the theme”

• “Music matches message/feelings of service”

• “Variety of music :) hymns, new songs, very intentional!”

  
  

God Sightings and Real-Life Connection

God Sightings stood out as one of the clearest recurring practices people value. People seem to experience them as a way to connect worship, community, and everyday life.

Some notes included:

• “God Sightings”

• “God sightings help us connect in real time”

• “I like the music & how we have God Sightings.”

• “Definitely continue with reflections and God sightings”

• “People sharing what gives their lives meaning within God’s Kingdom”

  
  

Fellowship, Participation, and Shared Life

People value the time around worship and the ability to participate together, not just attend.

Some examples included:

• “Fellowship gatherings”

• “Fellowship time built into the framework of our worship together.”

• “Being able to worship and hang out”

• “Music together!”

• “Singing of songs together as one”

  
  

Mission, Outreach, and Practical Faith

Several notes named that TWT matters when worship leads toward action, service, and community involvement.

People shared:

• “Helping each other accomplish God’s work”

• “Outreach and community involvement”

• “Planning together for outreach to community”

• “The church involvement in charity organizations”

• “Emphasis on what to do in the coming week, based on what we’ve experienced, not just a nebulous idea"

  
  

What Feels Difficult?

We also spent time naming what feels difficult, unclear, heavy, or unsustainable.

Sustainability and Shared Ownership

People repeatedly named concern that the work of planning, leading, and sustaining TWT is falling on too few people.

Some of the notes included:

• “burden of planning and service being too much on Brandon’s shoulders”

• “Relying too heavily on one or two people”

• “Burden of work concentrated in a few people”

• “When Brandon can’t be there on Sunday”

• “Uncertainty about reflection/sermon leadership”

  
  

Formation and Reflection Leadership

People value reflection and formation, but there are concerns about how to provide that consistently in a way that is structured and sustainable.

People named:

• “Wanting reflection time, but needing a sustainable way to provide it”

• “Sourcing content for worship”

• “Regular reflections (2/month or more) seem unsustainable unless in video format”

• “Need for structure if discussion-based reflection becomes part of worship”

• “Meetings that do not include a reflection time - Relaxation techniques”

  
  

Children / Younger Disciples

People named a need for younger disciples to be more fully engaged and included.

Some notes included:

• “Kids being fully engaged”

• “I think we need to do more young disciples thing”

• “make it more fun”

  
  

Growth, Size, and Identity

People are holding a tension between wanting TWT to continue and grow while not losing what makes it meaningful.

People shared:

• “Growing without losing TWT’s heart”

• “so few people make TWT less sustainable, makes me nervous TWT won’t be here”

• “There is NOTHING wrong with this church.”

  
  

Technology, Online Participation, and Setup

People named practical challenges around technology, online engagement, and the amount of work required to set up and sustain gatherings.

Some examples included:

• “Complication of technology set up”

• “Difficulty with online participation”

• “Technology barriers”

• “It’s difficult understanding why we need to do so much set-up”

  
  

Time, Structure, and Participation

People named tension around how much time worship should take, how sharing should be structured, and how to make space for different voices.

Some notes included:

• “Need for time constraints if testimonials or sharing are added”

• “Some voices may stay silent in large gatherings”

• “Wants no time limits on service”

• “people’s schedules and commitments outside of TWT”

• “I don’t like coming early”

  
  

Worship Elements and Rhythms

People named specific worship elements that either feel difficult, need adjustment, or need more intentionality.

Some examples included:

• “Contemplative gatherings”

• “I think we need some more contemplative gatherings”

• “cut back some on Communion / lots of work after – use plastic cups?”

• “work in more traditional hymns”

• “We should also let people use their voices without the music sometimes”

  
  

Mission, Outreach, and Community Involvement

People want more outward-facing engagement, but there are questions about how to do that sustainably.

People named:

• “Needing more opportunities to serve together”

• “outreach”

• “Involvement in community events as a group”

• “Outreach to the Winthrop community or local community”

• “Sustainability of missional work, especially if it requires ongoing funding”

  
  

Building and Physical Space

A few concerns were practical and logistical, especially around the building and grounds.

People named:

• “Building concerns”

• “Outside maintenance of building – who is responsible?”

  
  

Contributions People Named

We also asked what people might be willing to contribute. The responses included worship leadership, storytelling, children’s formation, care and support, mission, creativity, and practical help.

Some examples included:

• Helping lead music if needed

• Teaching or preaching occasionally

• Leading a one-time hymn sing

• Serving as an interviewer for someone sharing a story

• Telling Bible stories for children

• Offering therapeutic support through small group discussions

• Leading or participating in mission activities

• Offering visual arts

• Helping with breakdown after services

• Continuing to share God Sightings, reflections, and encouragement from afar

  
  

One thing became clear: future asks need to be specific, limited, and matched to people’s gifts, capacity, and comfort level. People may be willing to help, but we need to make it clear what kind of help is needed, how much time it will take, and whether it is a one-time ask, an occasional role, or something more regular.

Ideas with Energy

The ideas that received the most energy clustered around a few major areas.

Video / Guest / Sourced Reflections

People showed strong interest in finding ways to include reflections without requiring one or two people to prepare and lead every time.

Some of the ideas included:

• “Pre-recorded David reflections”

• “Occasional guest preachers or sourced sermons”

• “Kim Wright come once in a while?”

• “Video reflections”

• “Mr David Zoom”

• “Curated reflections, written resources, or other tools to help prep for worship using AI?”

  
  

Shared Study / Discussion / Formation

There was also strong interest in shared study and discussion — something people could read, watch, or listen to during the week and then discuss together when we gather.

Some ideas included:

• “Shared study where people read/listen during week and discuss together”

• “Perhaps a video series that would include a lesson and time for discussion”

• “Video/discussion Bible study resources (ready-made themes)”

• “Support group style reflections around personal/community/other challenges”

• “Video clip with discussion afterwards and actionable items to follow”

  
  

Testimony / Storytelling / Shared Prayer

Several ideas focused on storytelling, testimony, and shared prayer.

People suggested:

• “Testimony-style reflections from those in community”

• “Rotating reflections from those in the community”

• “Interview style storytelling, with someone as interviewer”

• “Storytelling focused on what gives our lives meaning within God’s Kingdom”

• “Prayers from all of us (take turns)”

  
  

Children / Younger Disciples / Intergenerational Worship

People also named ideas for including younger disciples more fully in worship.

Some ideas included:

• “Maybe kids could be a bigger part in worship”

• “I think we could do more shows (like the puppet show) for the children so they could understand, but in a funny way”

• “Space for children integrated into worship”

• “We could also do a partner talk with the children for a few minutes where an adult helps a child”

  
  

Fellowship / Community Life / Gatherings

People expressed strong support for fellowship and community-centered gatherings.

Some ideas included:

• “Fellowship Gatherings”

• “Occasional hymn sing”

• “Have cooking and prayer experience”

  
  

Mission / Service / Outreach

One idea named a desire to connect prayer, Scripture, and service:

• “Holy work – meet somewhere, prayer and scripture reading to start, then working together on a project to help in our community”

  
  

Creative / Embodied Worship

People also named creative and embodied practices as meaningful possibilities.

Some ideas included:

• “Art, poetry, or visual reflection connected to scripture”

• “One contemplative aspect of worship (longer for reflection and shorter for other worship element)”

  
  

Where the Conversation Went Next

After the recap, we began talking about the types of gatherings we currently have and how they are working. We did not get through all of them, but we began the important work of asking:

• What should we keep or protect?

• What should we simplify or change?

• How could younger folks and online participants be included?

What Comes Next

Because we did not have enough time to finish the conversation, we will continue this work in future Town Halls. We will keep checking in, troubleshooting, and focusing on specific topics more deeply.

Some of the topics being held for future conversations include:

• Growth, identity, and how we describe TWT

• Cross-cultural and broader community connection

• Hospitality, care, and fellowship rhythms

• Small groups, fellowship, men’s/women’s gatherings

• Mission and outreach

  • Winthrop

• Building, space, and logistics

• Communion

• Digital ministry and online participation

• Children’s formation and engagement

  
  

As a next step, we will also send out a short gifts and contributions survey so we can better understand how people may be willing to help in specific, limited, and meaningful ways that match their gifts, capacity, and comfort level.

Additionally, we will work to build out our Holy Experiment cards and test out ideas, starting with the most vote getters: Video Reflections and Shared Study Discussions.

Thank you to everyone who has participated in this process so far — by attending a Town Hall, filling out a survey, sharing a sticky note, voting on ideas, speaking up in conversation, or simply holding this season in prayer. This discernment process matters because The Welcome Table matters. We are listening together for what is faithful, sustainable, and life-giving, trusting that God is already present and moving among us.