in its functioning, there is no real leader, no membership fees or qualifications needed, no attendance rules or records. You needn’ t be a member of the church or attend services there.
Totally self-regulating, you come when you can, or if the topic, which changes weekly, interests you. In various sessions we talked about diet, exercise, pilgrimages, gender-based issues, health care, state of our agriculture, the climate crisis, war and peace, politics and humor, grief and forgiveness. We watched TED talks and short films together. One topic often leads to another; maybe someone has read a book or come back from a trip or wants to air their thoughts and feelings, and hear what others think.
Sometimes there are only five or six people there and sometimes more like 20-30. We have shared births and deaths, graduations and retirements, the full gamut of human experience.
This isn’ t only a discussion group. Folks in the Green Room put their principles into action. They
are always asking themselves what they can do to make Brown County a better community, and by extension, the world. To this end they serve on boards and support charities. They’ ve sponsored a refugee family and raised money to put solar panels on the church. It’ s people like this that make our county such a wonderful place in which to live.
I believe local community will become more and more important for each one of us. We will need places to gather and to share our needs, fears, troubles, opinions, and hopes— outside of our devices. A place where we feel seen, heard, and valued in person.
Maybe there is a gathering place in your neighborhood. Maybe you can start one. Don’ t let your social needs go unaddressed. If you can’ t find a group near you, come join us. We are there every Sunday 9 a. m. to 10:30 a. m. at the Nashville United Methodist Church on Jefferson Street, in the Green Room. •
OVE
Jan./ Feb. 2025 • Our Brown County 45