How are you prioritizing relationships? As you lean into Lent, make your practice to get to know people better. Imagine if you invited just one person for coffee each week for six weeks and each week, how much more you would deepen that relationship and learn about each other. Feeling really daring make it exponential and each week someone agree to be intentional to add one more to the coffee time, by Easter you will have a whole group! Be creative and do what can be managed what works. Perhaps a group of three will each invite one person for six weeks and that group of six will connect. Let other people know what you are doing! It only takes a spark of creativity to invite people to come together.
The simplest ministry approaches invite people to take time to talk, connect, to get to know one another. Food and friendships are natural experiments having big impacts. How about a meal and good conversation? Whether it is brown bag bring your own, potluck, coffee and a snack, a simple offering or full meal, bringing people together is all it takes to start a conversation. With a conversation is the opportunity to build relationship. Meet neighbours where they already gather—in homes, coffee shops, activity spaces and third places. Who are the natural connectors in your community of faith? Among your family? Friends? Activity groups? Link up with them and invite others to join you. Add on the gift of deepening relationship, however it works in your context.
