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How to Have a Good Conversation with Someone Who Holds Opposing Political Views
(Part 2)
by Pr. Lisa Rygiel

Today, we continue our series on how to have good conversations with someone who holds opposing political views. Here are the remaining steps.

  1. Listen to Understand, Not to Reply
    People are more likely to calm down and engage when they feel heard. Active listening doesn’t mean agreeing; it means demonstrating that you’re paying attention. If both parties are talking at each other, no one is listening.

Helpful practices:

  • Actually listen, don’t be thinking about what you are going to say next
  • Don’t interrupt
  • Reflect back what you heard (“So it sounds like you’re worried about…”)
  • Ask follow‑up questions before stating your view

Listening is an active skill and a powerful tool for de‑escalation. [mediaengagement.org], [tandfonline.com]

  1. Speak from Your Own Experience
    Instead of debating abstract positions, talk about your own story:
  • “I came to this conclusion because…”
  • “This issue matters to me because of my family/work/faith/community”

Personal experiences are harder to dismiss than arguments and reduce the sense of attack. [mediaengagement.org]

  1. Avoid Labels, Mockery, and Absolutes
    Conversations shut down quickly when people feel judged or stereotyped.

Try to avoid:

  • Name‑calling (“ignorant,” “crazy,” “evil”)
  • Absolutes (“always,” “never,” “everyone knows”)
  • Assuming motives

Communication research shows that how something is said often matters more than what is said. [psychologytoday.com]

  1. Know When to Pause or Change the Subject
    Sometimes the healthiest move is to step back. It’s okay to say:
  • “I think we see this very differently, and I want to keep this relationship strong.”
  • “This conversation feels like it’s getting heated—can we come back later?”

Choosing peace over escalation is a sign of maturity, not weakness. [psychologytoday.com]

  1. Remember: Listening Is Not Surrender
    Listening does not mean:
  • Giving up your values
  • Accepting harmful behavior
  • Endorsing views that you find wrong

It means recognizing the humanity of the person in front of you and refusing to let disagreement erase dignity. [ncdd.org]

 

May 17, 7th Sunday of Easter
10 a.m. Sunday Worship

Announcements

  • Fellowship: Join us after worship Sunday for coffee and conversation. All are welcome.
  • Wednesday Book Club: The Wednesday Book Club is focusing upon What if Jesus was Serious – A Visual Guide to the Teachings of Jesus We Love to Ignore. It meets at 10:30 a.m. each Wednesday in the Fellowship Hall. You can join at any time, so if you haven’t been able to attend before now, why not consider doing so.
  • Newsletter Input Needed: The deadline for the June issue of the Zion’s newsletter Connection is May 19. If you have something to share or a recipe to contribute, please let Jo Moss know.
  • Time of Prayer and Coffee: We are invited to join our siblings in Christ from the Methodist church for a time of prayer and coffee at 10:30 a.m. each Thursday at Kangaroo Coffee -in the Marketplace on Commercial Street.
  • 5-Loaves: An increase in requests for 5-Loaves meals that last Saturday of each month, means that we are increasing, by two, the number of delivery routes. With 10 routes, instead of eight, we will need additional volunteers to support meal deliveries. Prayerfully consider helping with future 5-Loaves delivery assistance the last Saturday of each month, beginning Saturday, May 30.
  • God’s Work Our Hands: Terri Watson, our GWOH coordinator, is continuing to match people who can support o members of Zion’s who need of assistance – rides, errands, etc. Talk to Terri for details. Sign-up sheets also are in the Fellowship Hall.
  • Summer Hiatus: Both children’s choir practice and Friday yoga are on summer hiatus.
  • We’re Here for You: For pastoral care, call Zion’s at 719-846-7785 or send an email: zionsluth@gmail.com.
  • Save the Dates
    • Zion’s Camp Out: Mark your calendars! We have reserved the group camping area at Trinidad Lake State Park May 31 (Sunday) through Wednesday June 3. Let Pr. Lisa know if you can help lead activities or help coordinate this adventure.
    • Pride Month – June 2026: Zion’s Lutheran will be kicking off Pride Month (June) with a Potluck and Ice Cream Social on June 7.
    • Summer Supper Gatherings: At 5:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each summer month, we will gather in the Fellowship Hall for food and fun. The dates are June 19, July 8, Aug. 12, and Sept. 9. There is a sign-up sheet in the Fellowship Hall for food and activities. If you have questions or want to head up an activity, please let Julie Wersal or Jo Moss know.

E-formation

Forty is a significant number in the Bible, and the church has kept Ascension on the fortieth day of Easter. That Christ ascended to God the Father to reign over life and death is another way to say that Christ rose from the dead. Thus, the Ascension is another Easter Day.

Luke 24:44-53
The ascension of Christ to God is another way that Luke described the resurrection. From Christ’s death and resurrection come forgiveness of sins and the power of the Holy Spirit. Since we no longer believe that God lives up in the sky, two fourth-century ways that theologians have spoken of the ascension are particularly helpful: Christ rose from death to fill the cosmos, and Christ ascended into the eucharist. Luther spoke of Christ’s ubiquity, that is, that Christ is in the bread, in the community, indeed, in all things.
Acts 1:1-11
Angelic figures tell the apostles not to look up toward heaven, yet this has sometimes become the content of this Sunday’s worship. Rather, Acts calls us to receive the Holy Spirit and live as Christ’s witnesses throughout the whole world.

Ephesians 1:15-23
The prayer presents several images useful for Ascension Day: God’s power is at work in Christ; Christ rules over all things; Christ’s name is revered above all others; Christ’s body as it were extends from the heavens to the earth — a kind of pillar of the universe; Christ fills all things.

Zion's Lutheran Church
zionsluth@gmail.com

719-846-7785