As some of you may know, twice a month from September through June we have "Donuts with the Duo", and we invite anyone who would like to have a morning out with a little friendly conversation to join us at our local Dunkin's.  Why would a pastor choose do to this?

Oh, some might have an ulterior motive and be doing something like this solely to be "seen" out in the community.  Nothing wrong with that, but if that is the sole purpose then something is just not quite right.

You see, very single human being needs community and in person connection.  Some who are walking through the world solo don't always easily find ways to invite community into their lives.  Those of us with family or a large freind group nearby usually have opportunities to go out for breakfast or dinner with someone and not dine alone at a table, perhaps bringing a book along to fill the void that the lack of conversation leaves.  Others simply choose to never go out to eeat by themselves as it is too lonely, and they are uncomfortable sitting at a booth all alone as they imagine everyone is staring at them and wondering why they have no companion.

Many of us don't realize how many folks around us are lonely, or would appreciate an invitation to get out of the house with someone and go do...anything!  Whether it is going to the movies or a play, eating out, or even running an errand, more and more of us are wandering around the world unaccompanied and, for many, feeling isolated even when in public spaces.

Donuts with the Duo is a chance for hearty welcomes, hugs, and gentle chatter that once in awhile leads to something deeper, but doesn't require it. Often it is a time to share about the little things that happened in our lives over the past couple of weeks, to have someone sit across from us and engage in something many take for granted...casual conversation over a cup of coffee.  Just to break free from the silence of an empty home can be a breath of fresh air, and it also makes returning home feel a little more welcoming and less reclusive when the jokes and lighthearted sharing of others is still ringing in our ears!

All of us have the ability to brighten someone's day in some small way, but one surefire way to do so is easy...ask someone to go for a walk some afternoon.  Invite someone to hang out at your house with a bag of chips and salsa in front of you while you fold your laundry.  Or, as thirty of us from our congregation did last week, take a drive to the next town over and grab an ice cream cone together.  Do you have to do something expensive?  No.  Do you have to be best friends to hang out once in awhile? No.  Do you have to spend all day with someone to make a difference?  No!  Even an hour once in awhile of real attention and a parting hug can be life changing for someone.

Don't we all have just that much to offer another human being?  Can we work at creating moments of in person connection rather than complaining about how everyone these days seems to hide behind a screen then complains that they have no friends "in real life"?  We ALL can do something this easy, and yet I am uncertain that many of us recognize how profoundly mpactful an hour here or there can be...not just for the invitee, but for the inviter as well.

If you are reading this, and if you'd like to ocassionally find yourself in friendly company, stop on by Dunkin's on a Donut Day.  Oh sure, you will feel awkward at first, and you might tentatively hang back and feel uncomfortable approaching our group, but what you don't realize is that there is always space at the table, and we are excited to get to know you!  And this has nothing at all to do with bugging you to come to church, or telling you what a sinner you are and how you need Jesus.  We just don't do that...not ever!  This is about BEING Jesus people, about opening our hearts to others who are different than we are and not viewing them as the enemy.  It is about recognizing that if God is love, then WE are love, and no one should exist in a state of loneliness if we are around.  

Community in a donut, it can be as simple as that.

In Love and Light,

Rev. Cindy