Ever wanted to go deeper in community or grow closer to the people God’s placed in your life? Today we’re talking about ideas for community building — one of which includes hosting brunch with a new recipe for Espresso Waffles!
This weekend I had the wonderful opportunity to host a group of women for brunch. One of my favorite things in the entire world is to make food for people (and then eat it with them), so I was more than happy to have them over. But part of me was a little nervous, too. What if I fail with this new waffle recipe? What if they don’t like what I make? What if the house isn’t clean enough? I asked myself.
That’s when I remembered the words of my fellow friend and writer Sue Donaldson, who recently wrote a post on imperfect hospitality. “There’s more community in failure than success,” Sue writes. And what a truth that is! Think about it: if community is about a bunch of imperfect humans getting together, why should it be perfect? Why should we expect everything to go 100% according to plan. Perfection is not community. Real life — now that’s community!
Once I remembered that community ≠ perfection, I was able to take a deep breathe and fully enjoy myself once my guests arrived. Can I just say what a gift it is to just sit around the table and eat waffles/sip coffee with dear sisters in Christ?
Whether talking about life over brunch or saying, “How are you?” to the stranger who’s bagging your groceries, community is such a precious gift. It’s how we were meant to live. It’s where life happens. And I think it’s something we need to start investing more time in.
If you’re sitting here reading this today and you’re interested in doing some community building where God has you at this moment in time, here are five ideas to help get you started:
Host a Brunch
Copy me and invite a few girlfriends over for a weekend brunch. (I even have your menu covered with a recipe for tasty Espresso Waffles below, featuring Gourmesso coffee.) Nervous about cooking? Check out this article from the blog archives on how to be less anxious in the kitchen.
Join a Small Group
If you’re not in a small group, I would highly encourage you to consider finding one through your local church. Being in a small group helps us grow in our faith and gives us an opportunity to make new friends and serve others.
Go For a Walk (And Leave Your Phone at Home!)
When you go for a walk, do you ever interact with the people around you? Do you look them in the eye? Acknowledge their existence? Here’s another question for you: What if you actually tried starting up a conversation with one of those people? It doesn’t have to be a long or deep conversation, but say hi and try to make a connection. Who knows … you might just make their day or learn something.
I know this idea may seem very challenging to some of you, so if talking to a stranger on a walk seems like too much of a stretch, maybe start by striking up a conversation with the next cashier you cross paths with.
Invite the Neighbors Over for Dinner
One of the best decisions I ever made in life was inviting my neighbor from our previous home in Savage, Minn. over for dinner. Today, I can say that because of that one step of faith I have another friend for life. Getting to know your neighbors can seem daunting or exhausting but at the end of the day, it’s an invaluable experience — and it builds community like nothing else can.
Be Available to Be a Blessing
My friend Betsy recently wrote a post about what happens when we make ourselves available to the Holy Spirit’s leading to be a blessing to others. She writes, “How much joy do we miss because we’re too busy to pay attention to God’s prompting to bless others? His promptings can come in the form of a telephone call, a knock at the door, or a child’s request. His call often requires that we drop what we’re doing for a few minutes.
Sometimes we answer His call by sending a text or a note to a friend. Other times we answer by sitting down to play a game of Candyland with a little person. Or we keep a box of individually wrapped peanut butter crackers in the car, so we’ll have something to give to that woman at the intersection under the bridge.
The next time you have a random thought to bless someone, how about dropping what you’re doing for a few minutes? Maybe it’s God calling you to shine His love. Don’t miss out on the joy.” We can’t build community if we don’t make ourselves available with open hearts and open hands.
Has a community or act of community ever changed your life? What are some ways you like to build community?
- 1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
- 1/2 cup coconut sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 2 tablespoons instant coffee or espresso powder
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 1/4 cups hazelnut meal
- 1/2 cup oat flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Bananas, sliced almonds, chocolate chips and maple syrup for serving.
- In a mixing bowl, beat together coconut oil, eggs, almond milk and vanilla until combined.
- In another mixing bowl, combine coconut sugar, espresso powder, cocoa powder, hazelnut meal, oat flour, baking powder and salt. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and mix until combined.
- Spray a preheated waffle iron with non-stick cooking spray. Pour a heaping 1/2 cup of mix onto hot waffle iron. Cook until golden brown. Serve with bananas, sliced almonds, chocolate chips and maple syrup. (Peanut butter is also great with this one!)
Well I wish I lived in YOUR community, girlfriend!! People in my ‘hood definitely keep to themselves… so I’m not sure I will be hosting any type of community building anytime soon… or maybe I should? You know.. inspire people to break out of their shells. 😉 Love all your tips for community building, and it is so true community doesn’t equal perfection, but then again does ANYTHING equal perfection? I don’t think so… well aside from these waffles that is! These espresso waffles look like TOTAL perfection! Genius to add a little pick me up TO the waffles! Perfect for Sunday brunch… or community building, if I don’t eat all these before guests arrive. 😉 Cheers, doll – to a wonderful, long weekend! xo
I’ve lived in several communities that were very closed door and private … but I am always that crazy lady who goes over and rings her neighbor’s doorbell anyways! That’s how my friendship with my neighbor in Minnesota began. Our neighborhood was kind of a bedroom neighborhood, but we found community by opening doors and making time for each other. I’ll be praying your community opens up a bit, or that you can find opportunities to open it up. 😉 Thanks for the waffle love. I hope your week has been a good one so far! XO
The waffles sound amazing. 😉 I’ll be hosting a tea party this weekend for my 8-year old’s birthday. I’m not a people or party person, so this is going to be stretching for me!
Thanks so much, dear Raia! Sounds like you’re in for a weekend full of fun! I know how nerve-wracking parties can be (I’m an extroverted introvert) but I always find if I stick it out long enough I always have a good time. Cheers!
Relationships with women can be hard and community can be a real struggle. That’s true especially when you’ve been burned a few times. The natural inclination is to back off and give up trying. But there is little reward where there is no risk, so sometimes you just have to keep at it, over and over and over, before God opens the door to some deep community. Thanks for the post.
Yes and amen, Karen! Thank you for your thoughts, and for reading this post! Have a blessed day!
I’m so with you on all these points you make. When you mentioned in your other post about hating your phone, I totally got that. I can’t stand mine either. They do get in the way of community, which is kind of ironic.
I can’t tell you how many ways community has changed my life. I think the biggest community that changed my life is the one I’ve found through my favorite band. We bonded on line, and then in real life, and one of them was the maid of honor at my wedding. I love them all so much, even though we’re spread across the country.
Oh! And of course, the blogging community. <3
I love having people over for dinner. It’s such an intimate way to chat over food and get to know someone. Great ideas!
These waffles are FABULOUS 😀 You know I love my coffee 😉
I think going for walks is SUCH an amazing way to connect. People always open up so much (at least I know I do, so does my mom) when we go walking! I always feel so wonderful and “lighter” afterward!
Dinner with new friend is the best way to know much more about him/her. I love to cook different kind of recipes for my family and friends. In my online magazine I also share about Christian food and health tips.
~Dr. Diana
That’s awesome, Diana! What’s your favorite kind of food to make? I’ll be sure to check your site out. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
Hey Lauren,
What a beautiful site and what a great post!
Your suggestions are so practical for creating community.
Blessings to you~
Melanie
Thank you, dear Melanie!
These tips are so great! Building a community is so important – and there’s no better feeling than when you have that realisation that you do have that community surrounding you! I remember one time I was walking home from the train station and I was stopped at every single cafe I walked past and multiple times on the street as I passed by people I knew. For some people the “interruptions” may have been annoying, but I was having a rough week and I feel like God was trying to show me in the most obvious way that, hey! I have a community of people around me who really care for me – and who I really care for too!
These waffles look like the perfect recipe to share, too! <3
Hi Kristy! I couldn’t agree more. Thanks for sharing your story about how God used a walk home to show you that you are cared for — not only by Him but by others, too! So beautiful.
Those waffles look delicious! I love the tips you share here to build community, too. We do get so busy and forget to look up and see who God has placed in front of us. I’m not a gifted cook, but I love having a constant stream of people through my home! I offer open access to my pantry and refrigerator! lol! Oh, and I can make a mean cup of coffee! It took me awhile to set the perfection aside and just love people with exactly what God gave me. But when I do, He fills in where I cannot♥
Blessings and smiles,
Lori
This is such an awesome post! Our church has been talking about outreach in our communities, and I’ve been feeling convicted. It’s so easy to wear blinders and not see the needs of people that surround us in our day to day life. I’ve been praying lately that God would open my eyes and heart to my community. Thanks for sharing this Lauren!
You’re so sweet, Janell! Thank you for stopping by. I’ll be joining you in prayer that we all can take our blinders off! <3
I really love these ideas. Especially the one about having brunch together. There is something so special about sitting down and having a meal together.
I’m definitely going to try and schedule more meals with friends in the coming months.
I’m so glad these ideas could inspire you, dear Megan! Community meals are the best!