Fifteen pastors filter in on an overcast and surprisingly chilly summer day to our pavilion in William G. Lunney Lake Farm Park. Some gather and greet old friends and colleagues; others initiate introductions while they wait for us to get started.
We welcome them to this initial gathering for Awaken Dane that is intended exclusively for pastors participating in our first cohort. But Awaken Dane itself is for more than just clergy. Over the next couple of months, these pastors will be inviting 8-10 congregation members from their respective churches to join our program.
Together, pastors and their congregational teams will work through the Stepping Out curriculum from The Missional Network.These materials are separated into four modules intended to disrupt the busyness of our lives and maybe even our need for control and instead help us learn to listen more deeply and recognize the Spirit at work in our neighborhoods. Our focus is to shift from needing to do for others to embrace being with others.