Community Building
Community Building
in United Methodist Women
United Methodist Women’s meetings often begin with community building. With this activity women get settled in a meeting, hear from each other in a semi-structured way, and are affirmed in their experience away from the meeting. There are many ways to design a community building activity; however the following guidelines might be helpful. Use your imagination and enjoy encouraging supportive community in this way.
The phrase community building means a time in which all persons present have the opportunity to speak and listen to at least several others in response to a specific question or statement. The purpose is to become better acquainted with each other’s ideas, thoughts, experiences.
A community building activity encourages participants in a non-threatening manner to learn something more about themselves and the others in the group. It gets people listening and talking to each other. When the activity is related to a topic to be dealt with later in the meeting, the activity brings attention to the topic from the experience of the participants. In addition, as we give attention to the events in our lives that are important and give meaning, we learn to acknowledge the Sacred, or the Spirit, seen through these daily experiences.
For successful team work, a mission team will encourage diverse viewpoints, speculation, and experimentation. When the atmosphere is supportive, individuals are better able to collaborate in generating creative thinking and problem solving. As we learn about and share with each other our ideas, experiences, thoughts and hopes, we can be supportive and affirming of our unique personhoods.
Each woman gets to speak about her own ideas or something important to her, thus is "heard" early in the time together. The selfworth and self confidence of each woman are affirmed. Her ideas and self are valued. In addition, creativity is offered a "jumpstart." When we are asked to link our ideas and experiences in new and different ways, we often see familiar things in new ways. This is part of creativity.
A community building activity should have a beginning, a middle, and a closing. The BEGINNING should include Greetings from the leader to the participants and a Welcome (if this is early in the meeting time) to this particular gathering. It should also include the Introduction to the focus question and good directions. The directions must be clear and easy to follow. Leaders should think this through carefully; perhaps even testing them out with friends. Are the instructions easily understood? Do they elicit what you want participants to say?
The MIDDLE is the Participation by all. Participants speak to the focus question individually to the gathered group or in a smaller group. The leader should design the activity so that short answers or short paragraph answers will be given. Be aware of time. Say "thank you" to each speaker.
The CLOSING consists of an affirmation and thank you to all for participating. End with a song, prayer or blessing that is related to the focus question.
What is your hobby or special interest? They might be able to bring a sample if reminded in advance.
Tell us an exciting thing that has happened since the last time we met.
The leader can lead everyone in a church school song, like "Jesus loves the little children." What memory does the song bring forth?
Pass a tray of everyday objects (scotch tape, paper clip, pencil, mug, battery, etc). Ask each to choose one and say "this reminds me of me because...."
Cut out pictures from Response magazine. Ask each person to take one and tell why mission is important to what the picture represents.
Tell your favorite bible verse and why.
Not all community building activities need be before the whole group. In groups of three or four,
Talk about a particular part of the Purpose and what it means to you
Tell others what drew you to UMW
A community building activity might also be related to a theme of a meeting, or a decision the group may have to make. To select a focus question, identify one important aspect of the theme and how women can connect their experience with it.
Jesus and Courageous Women
Personal Connection: Ask each woman to bring a picture of a Woman whom she admires and tell about her.
Personal Connection: Have lots of pictures of women. Let each woman choose one. Tell what about this woman’s picture attracts you.
Personal Connection: Read one of the Bible stories about women. Ask women to say what in the story is important for them .
James:
Personal Connection: When did you first sense that life is not always fair to you and/or others? How did you respond?
Personal Connection: How do you balance your faith life and the activities that help you live out that faith?
Mexico:
Personal Connection: Write Spanish words with English translation on an index card. Have enough for each woman. Ask them to consider this word and how it is in their lives.
Personal Connection: What concerns about family do you share with some women in Mexico?
Personal Connection: Use a 2 part communion building, one at the beginning and one at the end of the session on Mexico:
Before: What do you know about the people of Mexico, and where do we get our information about Mexico?
After: Has this program made any changes in your stereotypes of the people of Mexico?
Exodus:
Personal Connection: How is your life like that of the Egyptians? (wealthy and privileged)? And How is it like the Hebrews/Israelites (poor and oppressed)?
Personal Connection: Liberation – What is your dream for liberation and for whom?
Building an Interfaith Community
Personal Connection: Who do you know that is of a different faith (non Christian)? What concerns do you have in common?
See also: