What happens when you gather a few Trinity members around a table, add a good meal, and leave plenty of time for conversation? You might discover a new friend, a shared hobby—or a connection you never knew was there.
That’s the idea behind Meet. Eat. Repeat., Trinity’s dinner gatherings. Hosts choose a date when they would like a small group of guests to join them for a meal, either in their homes or at a public location. Trinity members browse the listing of upcoming gatherings and register for the one that works best for them.
Three dinners are currently planned for this fall, with more opportunities potentially being added.
For Beth Cooper and Paul Herrgesell, hosting has become a favorite way to open their home—and their circle of friends—to others in the Trinity community. They’ve hosted three dinners so far.
“Paul and I enjoy entertaining at home, so this program just seemed like a natural for us,” Beth says. “We like to watch our guests who may not have previously known one another discovering common interests and connections beyond Trinity.”
At their most recent gathering, rain kept the group from using their new pool patio, but the evening easily moved indoors. After cocktails and appetizers on the back patio, guests gathered around the dinner table, where conversation quickly took on a life of its own.
“There was a series of animated conversations,” Beth recalls, as guests discovered shared interests and hobbies, mutual friends and acquaintances, and even connections to the same neighborhoods. “The conversations seemed to flow effortlessly and organically, and it was clear that everyone was truly having a good time. As a host, you can’t ask for more!”
The dinners can also create connections that might otherwise never happen. Beth and Paul had hoped a particular couple would join one of their gatherings because they wanted to get to know them better. “We didn’t know them well enough to feel comfortable just inviting them for dinner without some ‘official’ reason or connection,” Beth says. “So we were thrilled when they signed up.”
That’s the magic of sharing a meal: there’s time to slow down, relax, and really get to know one another. And there’s no long-term commitment—each gathering is simply one dinner, with no expectation to host or attend another.
Ready to pull up a chair? Register early for an upcoming Meet. Eat. Repeat. dinner. Space is limited, and registration generally closes the week before each event.
Interested in hosting? Reach out to the Rev. Megan Allen-Miller to learn more. Hosts choose the size, format, and location of their gathering, whether it’s dinner at home, a picnic in the park, or something more adventurous, like duckpin bowling. There’s no one way to gather—just plenty of opportunities to share a meal and make new connections.