Present: Bill N., Bill L., Lynne, Sarah, Jeff, Steve, Susan, Scott S.
We considered the traditional view of the church's mission, measuring success by how many people switch to Christianity from other religions or from non-belief. Our answers brought in some of last week's reading, some of the article, and some lessons learned at St. James' from sermons, teaching, and experience.
Next week: Smoot will be out. Readings will be those in the RRG for week 32. Food, Lynne; Worship, Sarah; TR, Bill N.
For May 5: We have a Cinquo de Mayo theme for dinner, as we continue to invite people to join us for the open house.
Taco shells soft and hard: Smoot
Meat: Bill L.
Guacomole: Susan
Cheese: Steve
Salsa, and dessert: Jeff (and Sally!)
Corn/bean salsa: Sarah
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Globalization, Gender, and Peacebuilding
Present: B. Lovelace, L. Lovelace, S. Thompson, J. Karkula, S. Rouse, S. Windham, S. Smoot
We considered Kwok Pui-Lan's three lectures collected in Globalization, Gender, and Peacebuilding. We had some expressions of strong disagreement with some of her statements in this book and a supplementary essay about the Anglican church as a "hybrid." Much of what was agreeable also seemed unremarkable to us.
However, we all found something to appreciate, if nothing more than the reminder that anyone engaged in dialogue with people of other religions should aware of so many pitfalls that Kwok identifies.
For TR, see the separate TR page on this blog.
Next week, we read pp. 174-180 in the RRG. Susan will bring food; Bill L. will provide worship; and Lynne will bring material to start the TR.
We considered Kwok Pui-Lan's three lectures collected in Globalization, Gender, and Peacebuilding. We had some expressions of strong disagreement with some of her statements in this book and a supplementary essay about the Anglican church as a "hybrid." Much of what was agreeable also seemed unremarkable to us.
However, we all found something to appreciate, if nothing more than the reminder that anyone engaged in dialogue with people of other religions should aware of so many pitfalls that Kwok identifies.
For TR, see the separate TR page on this blog.
Next week, we read pp. 174-180 in the RRG. Susan will bring food; Bill L. will provide worship; and Lynne will bring material to start the TR.
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Wk. 27: Amos, Hosea, James, and "Protestant Awakenings"
Present: Bill N., Jen, Steve, Susan, Scott S., Bill L., Lynne, Jeff
Many of us were struck by the "Seven stages of the Resurrection" found in St. Augustine's Prayer Book. Steve recommended the booklet, found at the Forward Day by Day website.
"Coming on board," many of us expressed how different aspects of the Holy Week services were moving, beautiful, and even funny and energizing.
We found strong connections between the messages of Amos and James, and several expressed strong affinity for these books. We found the cautions to the rich.
Hosea's story seems very sad, and then he seems to develop a split personality, according to one web source. Collins has a different take on that, and on prophets, too, not as "seers" but more like modern-day political commentators -- who make predictions only in the way that an editorialist or candidate might predict consequences "if we don't correct what we're doing."
Asked the question from the RRG, "What are the ddep hungers of those to whom James wrote?" we had answers that tended to see James as someone trying to bring back the sense of community and first sense of belonging to a church dispersed, losing its first fervor.
We saw differences in approaches to evangelizing natives and African slaves among the French, Spanish, and English who settled in North America in the 1600s. English stood out for not engaging in evangelizing efforts, partly because the Puritans' doctrine of "election" made the effort seem superfluous, and the diseases that destroyed tribes seemed confirmation that these peoples could not be favored by God. Divisions among the Puritans resulted in new colonies outside of Massachusetts Bay -- in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and eventually in Maryland and Pennsylvania, founded by outcasts of England's religious establishment.
Next week: We read Kwok's short book (three lectures) and the RRG chapters 28 (one page) and 29 (four pages).
For TR, see the TR page.
Many of us were struck by the "Seven stages of the Resurrection" found in St. Augustine's Prayer Book. Steve recommended the booklet, found at the Forward Day by Day website.
"Coming on board," many of us expressed how different aspects of the Holy Week services were moving, beautiful, and even funny and energizing.
We found strong connections between the messages of Amos and James, and several expressed strong affinity for these books. We found the cautions to the rich.
Hosea's story seems very sad, and then he seems to develop a split personality, according to one web source. Collins has a different take on that, and on prophets, too, not as "seers" but more like modern-day political commentators -- who make predictions only in the way that an editorialist or candidate might predict consequences "if we don't correct what we're doing."
Asked the question from the RRG, "What are the ddep hungers of those to whom James wrote?" we had answers that tended to see James as someone trying to bring back the sense of community and first sense of belonging to a church dispersed, losing its first fervor.
We saw differences in approaches to evangelizing natives and African slaves among the French, Spanish, and English who settled in North America in the 1600s. English stood out for not engaging in evangelizing efforts, partly because the Puritans' doctrine of "election" made the effort seem superfluous, and the diseases that destroyed tribes seemed confirmation that these peoples could not be favored by God. Divisions among the Puritans resulted in new colonies outside of Massachusetts Bay -- in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and eventually in Maryland and Pennsylvania, founded by outcasts of England's religious establishment.
Next week: We read Kwok's short book (three lectures) and the RRG chapters 28 (one page) and 29 (four pages).
For TR, see the TR page.
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