Welcome!

St. John United Lutheran Church, Seattle, is undertaking a year-long process to revitalize our worship,
to deepen relationships within the congregation and with our neighborhood,
and to renew our commitment to community service.
We are hoping this blog can be a tool to receive your input, whether you are a member of our congregation, an interested neighbor, or someone who uses the SJU building. At the end of each week we will post a particular question for feedback. Please share your thoughts! We will be screening the comments before they appear on the blog, but not editing them. Thanks for your help!

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Responses to May 30 coffee hour discussions

People were invited to share about what SJU means to them and what brings them here on Sundays or other days, as well as whether they have ever shared that with anyone who does not have a church home.

Here's a summary of some of the responses:
I came here/come here -because - -
I felt an affinity with the happy Danes (though I am Norwegian)
Kids like it here
The people here are loving and caring and we talk about love (not hell)
A place to experience, learn and practice my faith.
i came first to the salmon vigil and then came back on a Sunday.
I came to a concert and came back.
I came because I had a client who raved about SJU
I like the tolerance here.
I am comfortable here.
I like the peacefulness and meditative aspect.
Friends brought me here and I love it; the service means an awful lot.
One can't live as a Christian outside of fellowship in Christ. I come to be renewed, strengthened in that fellowship to serve in my life outside.
Nurturing liturgy; meaningful service.

On sharing and response:
I talk to friends about SJU - many of them have church homes and others aren't interested but I keep sharing.
I share my SJU experiences with others; response is "we are thinking about it." sometimes people come to events on a temporary basis.
People live in their own world; younger people not interested, or are too busy.
when I share people stiffen up; some ask "what is a Lutheran?"
A challenge is that some people associate church with the right-wing Christians and can't imagine a different kind of church.