Food for Thought

MISSION | VISION | CALLING:

Round table or square, seats filled or sparse, the Spirit surrounds even the most casual conversation, as we seek to care for and learn from each other and from our book of choice.

WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW

09/20/23
Fall schedule and reading: 3:00 P.M. FRIDAY AFTERNOONS BY ZOOM
3:00 P.M. LAST FRIDAY IN MONTH WILL IN PERSON, (Location TBD)
Our Book: Talking to Strangers… Malcolm Gladwell
For more information, contact us through the church office using the CONTACT tab above.

04/08/23
Our faithful group of readers who like to discuss everything, continued our table chats via Zoom throughout the year. After summer, it was thought that meeting in person once a month would satisfy the yearning to be together yet keep those who cannot be at the table within the fellowship circle. Since our friends at the Mt. Hope Diner don’t stay open in the afternoon at this time, we moved our gathering location to the Elmwood Inn on Mt. Hope Avenue. We have seen each other through some difficult times and have often stopped to pray when it seems just right. We recently prayed for Amy to remember to join us, and she popped up on the screen
seconds later!

Our discussion began with the last few chapters of Madeleine L’Engle’s book BRIGHT EVENING STAR as she brings the incarnation into modern reality.

In February, another book of long essays carried us into family memories as we read and discussed KITCHEN TABLE WISDOM by Rachel Naomi Remen, MD, whose perspective as a patient, as a physician and as a daughter allowed us to share memories of our own grandparents, parents and experiences with those we love facing the dying process.

Recommended by Mary Lee Miller, we embarked in the fall on a journey into the heart of Native American (and Episcopal priest) Steven Charleston as he shares the wisdom of his ancestors in the LADDER TO THE LIGHT. We learned the metaphor that a kiva, once a dark underground safe space, the womb of the earth, where we all began together. The only outlet is a small opening towards which we climb to the light. The rungs of the ladder represent the lessons that must be learned along the way and that everyone moves up the ladder (or not) at a separate pace. His imagery of Native American dances where they share a rhythm yet believe in different manifestations of the holy, brings to mind the Acts of Faith model where we share much together and allow for God to be received differently by each.

These powerful thoughts have carried us through Advent and into the new year. We are still planning to meet mainly by Zoom, possibly changing the afternoon time slot to Thursday from the Friday slot we have been using.

If this fits into your schedule and you want to meet from the comfort of home or once a month together, please consider Food For Thought in 2023.

The table has plenty of room.

2/21/23
We are starting on The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green and would love to have you join us.

10/10/22
Reading and discussion for Ladder to the Light continues. Currently the group is meeting on Friday afternoons, but they are reevaluating a return to Wednesdays because of scheduling conflicts. One thing we are agreed upon, however, is trying to have a local in-person session for those in the Rochester area (also zoomed for our distant members) at least once a month. New members are always welcome to join. Use the CONTACT TAB above to receive the ZOOM link.

08/29/22
This fall, we will be reading and discussing Ladder to the Light: An Indigenous Elder’s Meditations on Hope and Courage by Steven Charlston. We are planning on meeting in person to regroup after summer but are considering continuing online after that. Stay tuned for updates, or check the Calendar for any immediate changes.

Food for Thought dates back to 2011 as one of the South Church first Acts of Faith, meeting at the Mt. Hope Diner across from the church building on South at East Henrietta Roads. The group is fluid, participants join for a short or long period with no expectation of attendance just the joy of fellowship when we meet. Books have included Bible studies, memoir, controversial authors, contemporary and Christian books read in small sections that are easily discussed. COVID forced us to creatively join via
ZOOM, thus we have had members who move away continue to enjoy fellowship via computer as well as when we travel via smart phone.

In addition to reading and discussing challenges that help us grow in faith, we have also provided mission efforts in feeding the homeless and collecting items for gifting or charities.

If you would like to join us, please use the CONTACT tab above. We will send you the ZOOM link.

Check Calendar for Up-to-date Information & Directions