An Ethnographic Analysis of a Church Supper in New England

Abstract

This ethnographic study uses a transactional perspective to explore and explicate the co-occupation of preparing and serving of church suppers. Findings illustrate the importance of understanding how individual and group relationships, habits and routines, and the cultural, social, and historical context shapes the occupational experience of those involved. One conclusion drawn from this research is that although the observed church suppers are unique because of their situated nature, a careful and clear ethnographic analysis helps uncover aspects which may be used to understand other community co-occupations.

Keywords:

• Transactional perspectives
• Co-occupation
• Ethnography
• Church-related occupation

Acknowledgements

This paper could not have been written without the cooperation of the over 20 church supper workers. Most are not represented in this paper, but all were most generous in their willingness to have us in their midst for six sequential church suppers. I am also grateful to Liz, Lucy, Marny, Sandee, and Sue for their help in providing feedback about my interpretation of the church supper. The following occupational therapy students, now therapists, aided in data collection and preliminary analysis. They are Meggan Lawson, Heidi Ravina, Kate-Lyn Stone, and Lyndsay Harris. Finally, my colleagues: Sajay Arthanat, Ellen Cohn, Susan Merrill, Barbara Boyt Schell, Thomas Schram, Kerryellen Vroman, and Linda Wilson provided critical feedback during the writing of this paper. Previous versions of this paper were presented at the May 2009 meeting of the Stratham Historical Society and the 2009 Meeting of the Society for the Study of Occupation: USA.

Notes

1. Pot-luck and covered-dish suppers: These are informal meals in which each family or individual brings a dish to contribute to the meal of a group of people. They typically occur in religious, civic, and other organizations in the community.

2. Mother-daughter, father-son banquets: These are meals prepared and served to these groups or other groups for fundraising purposes by churches and other community groups.

3. To joke around, converse.

4. In American kitchens an island is a counter height unit which is free standing in the middle of a kitchen enabling people to work on all four sides. Some islands are equipped with sinks and stoves, but in this kitchen it was simply a work space with storage cabinets beneath.

5. A haunt is a Halloween party, typically outdoors, involving decorations, spooky characters, and scary music and noises. Attendees dress in costume and follow a path encountering adventures along the way.

6. Sarah Palin was the Republican vice-presidential candidate. She was a relative neophyte at the national level and held very conservative views. During the campaign she made numerous gaffes, leading liberals, in particular, to comment and joke about her background and qualifications for office. She frequently punctuated her remarks by exclaiming, “You betcha!”

7. A table in which containers of cooked food are kept warm by hot water or steam circulating below.

8. Major Domo: Someone responsible for managing affairs and making arrangements. In this case, seating people in the dining room.