The Meet Hope Podcast
The Meet Hope Podcast
124: Third Tuesday at HOPE: Skip the Dishes, Find Your People
This week, we explore the powerful community-building impact of our monthly Third Tuesday dinners at Hope Church! Have you been to Third Tuesday yet? Maybe this is the one to come to! Sign up for the June 17 Third Tuesday at meethope.org/today!
Thanks for being a part of the HOPE community as we continue conversations about faith and hope! You can learn more at meethope.org or find us on socials @meethopechurch. Join in for worship on Sundays at meethope.online.church! Have a question? Contact us at podcast@meethope.org.
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Welcome to the Meet Hope podcast, where we have conversations about faith and hope. Hope is one church made of people living out their faith through two expressions in person and online. We believe a hybrid faith experience can lead to a growing influence in our community and our world for the sake of others. Welcome to Hope.
Speaker 2:Well, hello everyone. Welcome to another episode of the Meet Hope Podcast. My name is Rick and I am happy to be your host today. And today I have two good friends of mine Chris Black Hi, chris. Hey, rick, how are you? I'm good. And Scott Cruz. Scott, how are you doing? Hey, rick, I'm doing well, it's great to be here. Yeah, so we've known each other for quite a while. You guys are both regular Hope attenders right how long have you guys been attending Hope Longer?
Speaker 3:than Chris, I've been here for about 30 years now.
Speaker 4:Okay, yeah, you're quite old I am. I started when I was four, though Okay, good, I'm doing the math in my head, and Somewhere along the line I think I'm approaching 17 years About 17 or 18 when I started coming in high school. Wow, okay. So I've known you guys for a while, yeah wow, yeah, and we have to.
Speaker 2:I think we're legally required to disclose that Chris is married to Ashley, the podcast producer, so I think we've done that and now we're official.
Speaker 4:So if any of my lines get cut, we know, we know why.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes. So thanks Chris, thanks Scott, for joining us. So today we're going to talk about Third Tuesday. You guys both volunteer at Third Tuesday. You're one of our. You actually co-lead a team, right? We do Indeed Hard to believe that we leave you with that responsibility.
Speaker 3:Yeah, that you trust us with that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and so just to clarify for folks who may not know about Third Tuesday, here at Hope we host a dinner. A 60, 70 people and it's people who are new to Hope, people who are just getting connected. Some people come from online and their first time is to come in person. We've had that happen quite frequently this last year and it's designed to create community and also to help people get connected, and so it's a great event and we're going to talk more about it. But we want to talk about why you guys have chosen to volunteer at Third Tuesday. But let's kind of go back and, yeah, let's talk about that. So, chris, why do you volunteer for Third Tuesday? What do you like so much about it?
Speaker 4:Yeah, I mean I think Third Tuesday the main piece is about food right, and I love food and so finding a way to help out.
Speaker 2:I love food.
Speaker 4:I love food. Come to third Tuesday. There's food, um, I think just, you know, um, when you're looking to try to volunteer or help out at the church or any facility, you've got to find something that you're passionate about, and you know I like food. So, um, third Tuesday, um, you know that that was a good way to connect those, I think, back to. You know we used to do mission trips with the youth. I used to be pretty involved in that until we got married, had kids and, and you know, trying to find different ways to volunteer. It reminded me of mission trips where we used to have meals together and we would serve each other or we would kind of battle each other to try to be last person in line and we'd talk about this, me last thing, and so it just reminds me of those trips, which are really good memories and it's just kind of a good way to serve in that capacity.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and then I think it also you mentioned about how being a dad is a good way for you to serve.
Speaker 4:Yeah, so you know I can't really do youth group anymore with two kids and just schedule-wise I work during the day Sunday mornings Ashley's on point working at the services. So trying to find a way to give back and connect with the church and volunteer A weeknight where we can bring our family and have a meal and the kids are running around, but I'm volunteering. It helps feed that need for me.
Speaker 2:Yeah, great. And Scott, how about you? You know, when I asked you, you were sure I'm in, but what was it that inspired you about Third Tuesdays?
Speaker 3:And you know what that kind of tends to be at the disdain of my wife, because when someone asks me to help I say yes and then later on I find out I well, I really can't do it, for whatever reason. But pray for Vicki. But why Third Tuesday? It was literally because you asked Um, I, I'd love to help. That's kind of just a gift that I have. In fact, my second grade teacher I say this all the time my second grade teacher gave me a little card that said Scott is a good helper and had a little star on it, and I still have that to this day. So when asked, I thought it was a great idea. Um, it is a super easy way to get in, for folks to get involved here at hope um, with a real low barrier to entry. You know, there's not a lot of commitment required. Just like you said, chris, if you're, if you eat food, then that's what you need to be able to be qualified to come to a Thursday event.
Speaker 4:So and I think too I think back to all the different types of ways that I volunteered at hope. You don't, you don't need to be stuck and set in one thing. You can kind of bounce around and meet the needs of your schedule, your family life, what you're looking for. I think we all helped volunteer at Mount Laurel when we were doing that piece, and so that also gives this. We have to go to a spot and set up all these things to run an event and then break it all down at the same time. It's not like for know, like for church right, the chairs are set, the stage is set, everything's there. So this gives that feel of Mount Laurel as well, which is a volunteer activity that we had all done before together.
Speaker 3:That's a great point and that's kind of the way that looks when, when it happens on a Tuesday, it starts with an empty room and within an hour it's all set up Like it's a fully functioning we've been here all the time kind of a setup.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we come in and set up tables and buffet tables and the steamer trays and all those things. The cater meal comes rolling in and we set that up.
Speaker 3:Even the cases that we used for Mount Laurel are involved in this whole process. Yeah, that's true?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so for people that don't know, we have about 20 volunteers who are on those teams and we've divided that up into three different teams and you guys get to serve about four times per year and it's really something that anyone can do. I think you guys would agree that anybody could do this. There's some heavy lifting, but there's also things that don't involve heavy lifting, like just setting up all the stuff on the table salt and pepper and all those different things. It's a great way to meet people, right? Um, you guys have probably met uh, I guess when you guys started you didn't, did you know everyone on your team?
Speaker 4:No I did not know.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so, yeah, so it's a great way to to meet and connect with people. Uh so, um, what's your favorite part about third Tuesday, Chris?
Speaker 4:Well, I think I've already highlighted the food, but I think, um, I think, for me, I always just want to make the church experience. Ashley and I talk a lot about like more of a community, right, it's not just a Sunday event and so having a meal together in the middle of the week, making it connect to everybody's life right, everybody needs to eat. So come to Third Tuesday and you get to connect and build this community. So I think that's a piece that I really like about the Third Tuesday. Yeah.
Speaker 3:My favorite part is Chris Black. I say that kiddingly but in all seriousness. I've known Chris. First time I met him he walked into my family room on a youth group night at my house. So that does kind of allude to my age a little bit. From the first time I met him there was something special about Chris and I love to watch him in the volunteer role now as a leader and doing things role now as a as a leader and doing and doing things. So a lot of times when we serve together it's easy for me because Chris is, he just kind of jumps right in there and does that stuff. But the the, the evening itself is just a neat way to watch a mix of long time hope attenders and people that are literally walking in the door for the first time. You don't see that in very many other forums here at Hope.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and you know we've done it almost a year now and at every single one we've had at least one new person come. Often multiple people come for the first time. So it really is meeting that need for people who are new to our church the first time. So it really is meeting that need for people who are new to our church finding a way to get connected.
Speaker 3:And then we also have there's a core group of regulars who come to every third Tuesday because they enjoy the community, the atmosphere that's created and I think, kind of coming out of it seems like a distant history now the whole COVID thing that we did a few years ago, kind of coming out of that. There's a lot of that, I think, for folks in the community that go I'm missing something here, sitting there at home, remote from everyone else. There's something to this interaction for people in the same room together. And third, tuesday definitely meets that.
Speaker 2:Mm. Yeah, how about? Is there a time when you saw like or how would you describe how community happens at Third Tuesday? Or you know, we do even use that word, but or how did you see community click? Was there a moment when you were like oh, you know what, there, we're doing it, we're doing it right on Third Tuesday?
Speaker 4:In thinking about the volunteers that help for Third Tuesday really building that community up right, doing the setup, building relationships. While we set up, like you said, different people do different pieces during third Tuesday Setup or service or cleanup but to then really not about those pieces, about just the conversation. Once everything gets set, it kind of runs itself. We still have volunteers pulling out food, making sure spoons are clean and everybody's got plates to serve and eat, but it's really just watching people get together around a table and have conversation and you know that's. It just goes back to those previous experiences of mission trips or different small groups where you can just sit and chat and it doesn't need to be about any certain topic or something just starts taking its way and you'll see people change different tables and catching up with each other. Or you know, for us the kids are there and they're running around the outside edges and seeing friends there and it's just a time where you know everybody can connect.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I like that. You mentioned that there's earlier, before we started recording about reserve seating, Like there's no reserve seating. Yeah, and I like that. That. It's it's. You know, people show up and someone new is going to go meet someone who's who's been around for for decades, and it's just a, it's a great, it's just so casual and comfortable.
Speaker 3:Yep, yeah, I love the one of you mentioned that like the kids running around is that it's such a relaxed atmosphere, the kids having done that myself a couple of times. They only have an attention span of so long.
Speaker 3:They can only sit for so long and those things can be. They can kind of really kind of crimp your style and be able to do stuff. But to be in an environment where there's folks that don't have kids and there are folks that do, and it's okay for the kids to have something to eat and then just kind of run around and have fun, it's a nice atmosphere.
Speaker 4:It extends the community we're trying to build right. Instead of just Sunday morning church, we support small groups and activities throughout the week and the month. But then, third Tuesday, is this great thing that there are certain events that are happening that night here in the church and you see those families get together and have a meal before. Maybe that parent or that kid has you know choir later on or there's a small group that they're going off to so they can connect instead of you know, life is busy and you're at work and you're coming home and you're trying to make a meal but then you're trying to go to this other event where everybody can just get together. You get to skip doing dishes, prepping food and all that at home and coming and having that meal already prepared for you. You don't have to do cleanup and then you can go to these other events and you see these people more continued. And we keep using the community word. But I think that's the biggest piece that Third Tuesday offers that continuation of community at Hope Church.
Speaker 2:Yeah. So I was going to ask you why should someone come, but I think you guys answered that question already. So if you haven't come before, it really is, as Chris says, pretty easy to get to know people at this. It's a relaxed environment and if you're unsure you should just give it a try.
Speaker 3:I love that idea about the hey, it's one less meal that you had to make, especially in a busy life. If you're in between two activities for that day it's been a busy day at work and you've got things to do in the evening you can kind of just breeze in, have a little social time and get some, get some food, and then head back out to whatever else it is that you're doing.
Speaker 2:Yeah. So this, this is a we're still running. Hey, listen, folks. So if you haven't been to a third Tuesday before, I want to encourage you. We have one coming up on June 17th. There's a sign up and we'll put the link in the show notes that you can sign up for that, and it happens every third Tuesday. We are taking July and August off for the summer, but we'll be back up and running in September and it'll happen every third Tuesday. And so, guys, thanks so much. We're going to wrap up with this question. Chris, you put it in the show notes or in our notes, and I think it's a good question for us. So what meal are you?
Speaker 4:dreaming about having at third Tuesday, all right. So, chris, do you have one? Since this was your question, I know I was looking at the notes and. I thought, man, I got to make sure I have an answer. So I think, um, I think I'd go something different. And so maybe how about like a breakfast for dinner so everybody loves that, but maybe like a more prepared breakfast for dinner, you know.
Speaker 2:Okay, all right, breakfast for dinner, all right, scott.
Speaker 3:For me anything that's got beef in it, which my cardiologist is, if he's listening. I'm sorry, I said that but pretty much anything with red meat in it. Roast beef would be probably at the top of my list, okay.
Speaker 2:I actually have a thought for this, and so years ago we did a pig roast here, and I would love to do a third Tuesday pig roast. I think that would be a fun one too. So all right. So those are ideas for next year, starting in the fall Look.
Speaker 3:I could wear grass skirts to that one.
Speaker 2:Okay, hey, folks, thanks so much for listening. I'm sorry that this one, so I'm just going to apologize for this one right now. No, hey, thanks so much for listening. We're so glad you could be a part of our podcast. And, scott, chris, thank you guys. Have a great day. Thanks for having us. Thanks, rick, chris, thank you guys have a great day.
Speaker 4:Thanks for having us.
Speaker 1:Thanks, Rick. Thanks for being a part of the Hope Community as we continue our conversations about faith and hope. If you don't already, please join us for worship on Sundays or on demand. You can learn more at meethopeorg or find us on socials at meethopechurch.