Timely Topics: A Positive and a Negative

8:45 & 11:45 AM SUNDAY, FEB 23 IN THE CHAPEL 

Pastor Stephen is pausing 11 Minute Lessons to try something new: conversations and teaching around a timely topic in the news or community.  

In his recent Issues Class on managing polarities, Pastor Stephen said that the reason our society is so polarized is because often we only see and articulate the positive aspects of our pole/side while focusing on the negative points of the other side. This leads to more conflict and division because we end up comparing our best with their worst. We need to be able to articulate positive and negatives of each pole and listen with humility and openness as others share. 

The new Presidential administration has had an active first month in power with appointments, executive orders, and decisions. In this session, Pastor Stephen will invite participants to share in one minute what they see as one positive and one negative of any one action or order. This is not a time to debate: it’s a time to listen and gain a better understanding of our neighbor’s point of view. After everyone has shared, we’ll debrief and consider what we’ve heard and learned. This is an opportunity to practice being able to see and hear beyond our echo chambers and stay in the room with difference.