Someone to talk to…

1. Someone to talk to… Creating Faith Based Interpersonal Connections Rev. Brian Bagley-Bonner

2. Our Time Together • Setting the Stage • The Roles of Faith • Where to Make Connections • How to Make Connections • Enhancing Programs • Words of Wisdom

3. What is our goal? Connect Persons

4. A Person… …is a legal concept both permitting rights to and imposing duties on one by law. In the fields of law, philosophy, medicine, and others, the term has specialized context-specific meanings. In many jurisdictions, for example, a corporation is considered a legal person with standing to sue or be sued in court. In philosophy, "person" may apply to any human or non-human actor who is regarded as self-conscious and capable of certain kinds of thought; for example, individuals who have the power to reflect upon and choose their actions.

5. Faith • Religious Faith • “Confident belief or trust in…” • What is important in life? • Spirituality • When you boil it all down

6. The Roles of Faith/Spirituality • Connection to Neighbor

7. Connection to Neighbor Community Commitment Communion Communication

8. Connection to Neighbor • People similar to you • People different than you • Healthy disagreement

9. The Roles of Faith/Spirituality • Connection to Neighbor • Connection to the Transcendent

10. Connection to the Transcendent • Where do you see God/Creator? • Church/Synagogue/Mosque/Temple

11. Connection to the Transcendent • How do you sense the Transcendent?

12. The Roles of Faith/Spirituality • Connection to Neighbor • Connection to the Transcendent • Connection to Self

13. Connection to Self • Remembering who we are • Our Whole Story • Beliefs & Ethics • How and why of living • What makes your heart sing?

14. Connection to Self • Self-challenge • Book studies • Yoga/Tai Chi/Dance • Learning and growing never end

15. Where? • Congregation • Study/Prayer Groups • Performance Groups • Men’s/Women’s Groups • Social/Activity Groups • Parish Nurse programs

16. Where? • Community Center • Service Groups • Lions/Rotary/Masonic/Volunteer • 12 Step Programs • Parks/Nature • Affinity Group/Memories

17. How? • In Person • Phone • If you build it… they might come!

18. How? • Internet • Email • Facebook / Social Networks • MP3 Downloads • Websites • Denominations • Groups / Places

19. Enhancing Programs • Accessibility • Conscious of time & place • Synergy • Blood pressure/meal/study/cards • Mix interest/age groups • Allow free time • Encourage self-direction • Creativity / Flexibility

20. Words of Wisdom “I could not, at any age, be content to take my place in a corner by the fireside and simply look on.” Eleanor Roosevelt

21. Words of Wisdom “I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day.” E.B. White

22. Words of Wisdom “Look, I don’t want to wax philosophic, but I will say that if you’re alive you’ve got to flap your arms and legs, you’ve got to jump around a lot, for life is the very opposite of death, and therefore you must at very least think noisy and colorful, or you’re not alive!” Mel Brooks

23. Words of Wisdom “May you live every day of your life.” Jonathan Swift

24. Thank You