At the last Board meeting we talked about the “Congregational Talk Back” part of our service and where it should be placed in the service. I felt that it disrupted the flow of the service to have it right after the sermon, and I wanted to save it for the fellowship time after the service. Others felt that the fellowship time might be too noisy and therefore not a good time. Someone suggested that those who wanted to respond to the sermon could stay in the sanctuary while the others go downstairs for the fellowship hour. I’d like more opinions on this topic. What do you think?
Blessings! Rev. Jan
p.s. Please respond by contacting Jan, or using the Comments feature below – click on “Comments”, then scroll down to add your comment.
I like having it in the service, because then it is a shared experience. I think the conversations downstairs are between just a few people, so for me the TalkBack is a different experience.
—Julia S.
By: uucortland on November 3, 2008
at 9:24 am
Hi,
I’m a member of a UU church in SoCal. One of the reasons I decided to join our church was because of the time we have to make our comments after the sermon. The service is not just about someone standing in front and telling us things. It’s a conversation, and a group activity. It is also a chance to speak up publicly about things that we find important. I love that about UU, and I’m glad that it’s something we do.
I’m not part of your congregation, but I thought I’d throw that out there for you, since you don’t have much feedback here, yet.
Good luck!
By: Tammy Takahashi on November 3, 2008
at 5:15 pm
Some congregations call it “Congregational Response”. It’s a way for the members to participate in the sermon subject. More than that, it’s a way for the congregation to celebrate in community. Sometimes the experiences can be very powerful.
Fifteen years ago, in Syracuse, after the sermon a white mother shared her feelings of fear for her two African-American teenage sons in the streets. She shook with fear and emotion. I don’t remember the sermon, but that experience stays with me and still motivates me.
Certainly, the sermon leader must guide the service and keep time constraints and continuity in mind. But, an extra 5 or 10 minutes listening to each other is time well spent. All of us have things to contribute. To separate the conversation from the service is to ignore the community aspect. I don’t want to miss out on the wisdom of the community.
By: Chuck Lochner on November 8, 2008
at 5:33 pm
I like the conversation after the sermon. Hearing others adds to the message and I would like it to continue.
Thanks
Tricia
By: Tricia on December 4, 2008
at 12:19 pm
I forgot to add, it can be at a different time during the service. Downstairs it is more difficult for me to participate.
By: Tricia on December 4, 2008
at 12:20 pm
I grew up in a non-UU church that allowed absolutely no response to the sermons, during or after the service. One of the things I love so much about the Cortland UU church is that it allows it’s members to offer their opinions. I do understand that it removes the service a bit from the ritual/sacred aspect, but personally, I don’t mind that a bit, given what we gain.
By: Heather B. on December 6, 2008
at 3:39 pm
I know this was posted a while ago but I nonetheless have an opinion so I’ll respond. My family & I will be moving to Cortland soon and hope to attend this UU. Where we attend now was our first experience attending a UU congregation. Our current congregation invites those interested in the discussion to stay in the sanctuary after the service ends, others who choose not to participate are invited to gather for conversation in the fellowship hall or of course those who must simply leave are told to “go in peace”. I like this approach, as it allows for the individual to choose their participation or not. Sometimes my husband will stay for discussion, sometimes I will or sometimes both of us will. Often because we have small children we both choose not to participate but we usually do go to the fellowship hall to socialize. I am all for being able to air opinions (a huge reason to draw me to UUism) but I feel that discussion of the topic during the service is distracting, may not allow for the full amount of time needed to truly exhaust the topic, may deter folks not “into” discussing the topic from participating in Sunday service, and distracts from the peaceful “meditation” that I feel should be the focal point of service in the sanctuary. Thanks and I look forward to attending UU Cortland soon!
By: Julie on August 21, 2009
at 12:03 am