This must be the 3rd or 4th time I have helped with our stall at this event and so it was with rather mixed feelings that I agreed with the idea that we should once again go and stand in the middle of a park for 5 hours whilst people walk past us as if we were invisible!
What a surprise then this year! The day was bright and sunny with just enough wind to stop it feeling really hot. Lori had done some great work on posters, leaflets and info for our stall – even finding a 20 year old banner – and coming armed with table covers, large clips, glue and blu-tak. All essential believe me!
Tim had suggested some interactive activity as a way of getting people to engage and Lori successfully translated this into a large piece of wood upon which people were invited to draw/paint/graffiti whatever it was that inspired them. This in turn led to some very interesting, and in some cases moving, conversations. The finished piece is now in the Meeting House.
Our stall was one of many in the voluntary and community area so we felt quite at home between the 'Stop the war in Iraq' stall and the 'Vietnamese Women's project' stall. As so often happens we got talking with many of the other stall holders and one even knew that Unitarians were the first denomination to have women ministers!
A few stalls down from us were the local evangelical group and when one of their representatives positioned himself next to our stall for his conversations Lori very kindly went up and offered him our 'Unitarian views on Jesus' leaflet. He took it and rushed away!
Our 'yoof' were very much in evidence and were able to chat to other youngsters and the chair we put out in front of the stall for people to rest, was rarely empty.
For next year – more of the same then but with more leaflets especially the 'Where We Stand – LGBT issues' one from the GA. Given the debate over women bishops we could have done with a leaflet on 'Women in Ministry'. We have a year to write one! Oh – and some more sun cream!
I had a really great day so when the subject comes up again next year the answer will be very definitely – count me in!
