--- Begin Message ---
- From: "Ray Gingerich" <RGingerich@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "Bob Koehn" <rdkoehn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 21 Feb 2004 10:41:25 -0600
Nature
Hi Bob,
The reason you haven't been getting my e-mails is that I had your address
incorrect in my directory. Sorry. I got it fixed, I hope.
Anyway, attached is the questionnaire that Ron and I worked up. Feel free to
edit it as you wish, then send it out. You want to send it in both formats for
those who don't have MS Word.
Ray
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"The only people on earth who do not see Christ and his teachings as
non-violent are Christians." --Mohandas K. Gandhi
Men's Fellowship Questionnaire
Meeting Times:
In order to find a time that is most convenient to the most people, would you
please answer the following questions.
Rank order the following time-slots, for which you would regularly attend
(e.g., 2/3) of the meetings. Leave those time-slots blank that you could/would
not attend regularly. Earliest and latest refer to start-times. Indicate
exceptions (e.g., I could meet Tuesday evenings except on the first Tuesday of
the month, so I might rank Tuesday evening as my 5th ranking but would add
"except 1st Tue of mo.") Assume that the meeting would last an hour (with the
option that some folks might hang around longer).
Other considerations, suggestions, comments or requests:
___________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Meeting Format Options:
______Format A
Business Matters----5 to 10 Minutes
* Task assignments for next meeting. Breakfast, Devotional, discussion leader,
etc.
* Planning of service projects.
* Planning of occasional fun events (sporting events, fishing trips, etc.)
Devotional meditation (scripture, poem, or music piece) followed by brief
prayer----5 to 7 minutes.
Book OR topical discussion & sharing?40 minutes
* Focus on topics that foster the sharing of personal issues, experiences? and
yes, feelings (gasp!), hopefully to complement (but not replace) the mental
gymnastics that we do so well!
* Perhaps an assigned exercise to be prepared and shared for each meeting?to
kick things off.
* Sample Discussion Topics:
* What is my heart?s desire for life? Have I identified my passions?
* What are the basic principles for my life, and how closely does my daily
work-life resemble them?
* Is there any Mystery or Enchantment in my daily living?
* Dealing with success.
* Dealing with failure, loss, separation, alienation. Personal redemption.
* My personal masculinity (and any other genders rattling around inside).
* Dealing with grief.
* Dealing with stress.
* What is FUN in my life?
* Do I have a sense of personal Destiny---how do I envision my life at
30/50/75?
* Facing my mortality.
* Best-friendship.
* Significant women in my life: sisters, daughters, mothers, wives, lovers,
friends?..and other great mysteries.
* Etc.
* Possible books to use as background to discussion/sharing:
* The Book of Guys---Garrison Keillor
* The Heart Aroused: Poetry and the Preservation of Soul in Corporate
America?David Whyte
* Iron John?Robert Bly
* Care of the Soul: a Guide for Cultivating Depth and Sacredness in Everyday
Life?Thomas Moore
*
* Other book suggestions are welcome.
Drawing of names (Menno Lotto?!):
* Each man puts his name in the hat, draws a name, with intent to hold in close
thoughts till next meeting.
Closing prayer
Clean-up, shoot-the-breeze?till whenever.
_____Format B
Same as Format A, except instead of the Book/topical discussion, we make it
less structured---simply take turns sharing, ?What?s going on in your
life?.How?s your week been?? Might want to break into two groups for this?
_____Format C
A condensed combination of Formats A & B.
Comments/suggestions_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
In case we choose to do Books/topics, I will have single copies of the listed
books at church next Sunday for your review.
--- End Message ---
