Photos: Synod workshops create intimate spaces to build knowledge, connection, joy

In one Synod workshop, people in a wide circle sang together, “We believe what we need most are the hearts of each other right here.”

These words, taught by leaders from Music that Makes Community, exemplify the kinds of deep connection, spirituality, and resource-sharing enabled when people gather.

And that’s what General Synod workshops are all about.

On July 13, Synod attendees had a wide swath of workshops to select from to share and build knowledge, resources, and skill sets for the wider church.

Find a collection of photo highlights below.

A lantern marked the ritual space where facilitator Marcia McFee presented a workshop on “Experience, ritual, and innovation for a weary world.” Participants were invited to engage in breathing exercises and experience the power of ritual together.

In the Blanket Exercise led by the UCC Council for American Indian Ministry, participants were guided through experiential learning and deep reflection on shared histories as Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples by walking through instances of pre-contact, treaty-making, colonization, and resistance. With blankets spread across the room’s center at the start, both people and blankets were removed from the space as an embodied representation of the history shared.

In a workshop on Deeply Accessible Singing for Every Body, Doe Hoyer taught and led the group in the song “Calling” which Hoyer wrote as part of Songs for Sacred Lands, a song collection created by The Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery and Music that Makes Community. Participants in the workshop learned a variety of songs and shared reflections on what they noticed while singing together without written words.

Attendees leaving several workshops were met with a surprise treat in the corridor: a free scoop of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream presented to them by Noah Tabor, United Church Funds General Council. The cold sweet treat had featured in the United Church Funds workshop presentation. Tabor said,“We’re showing some love to Ben & Jerry’s and our delegates.” A long line formed to receive one of several flavors in a generously-sized cup or cone.

The “Palestine, Solidarity, and Bearing Bold Witness Together” workshop built a relational space with prayer, reflection, and discussion about commitments to active solidarity with Palestinian partners. The workshop was aimed especially toward connecting and equipping clergy and lay people who may have felt isolated or uncertain on how to engage these issues in their own context.

The Rev. Velda Love, UCC Minister for Racial Justice and lead for Join the Movement Toward Racial Justice, invited people in the workshop “Deepening Networks of Mutuality” to build collective knowledge through sharing stories, struggles, and strategies in their work and aspirations for building up a new world. The theme and focus was connected to this year’s All Church Read.

The Rev. Darrell Goodwin and the Rev. Sarah Drummond responded to questions during a panel discussion on “Engaging People of Call to Service in a New Evangelism.” The discussion focused on the challenges needed to be addressed to recruit and retain UCC leaders in sustaining ministry.

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