Wk. 34: Daniel, Maccabees, 1-3 John, "Travelers," and Labyrinth

Present:  SC, JK, BL, LL, JM, SR, SS, ST.

The Karkulas brought dinner, Smoot brought poetry from hymns for worship, and we answered a question suggested by Thomas Merton's contention that we experience a kind of "violence" in our need to do more for more people.  Sarah suggested that "violence" and "violate" must relate in meaning.

Our discussion brought out questions about Apocrypha, Hanukkah, the sole references to afterlife in the Hebrew testament (both in Daniel), and the meaning of "God is love" in the epistles of John.  Fourth year has come to appreciate stories in My Neighbor's Faith.  

For a TR, Scharme asked us to consider Philippians 4 -9.  The image that this suggested to us was the labyrinth -- knowing that the twists and turns will lead us to the center, that others are there with us.


Collect for Walking Labyrinths
God, you set aside one day of rest for six of work.   Keep our hearts and minds on You, the center of our labyrinthine lives and work.   Let our faith not become over-verbalized and under-experienced, but grant us that peace that passes all understanding.  Keep our hearts and minds on Jesus.  Amen.




For May 3:  We skip April 26, and read lessons for Week Thirty-five. Scharme brings food; Sarah, worship; Susan, TR.

Wk.33: Ruth, Esther, Ephesians, "My Neighbors," and the Stage

Present:  SC, JK, BL, LL, JM, SR. SS, ST.

Sarah provided dinner; Jane, worship.  We answered questions from our pack of cards to cover our responses to the readings.

Sarah's TR started as the story of a birth, but, through the process of reflection, we imagined instead a director watching young performers on a stage.   Before we were finished with this image, we were wondering, "Where is God in this picture?"  We could see God as the director who presented the players a script and then watched with a mix of pleasure and anxiety to see how they act their roles.  But there was also the possibility of the reverse:  We are observers, not in control, as God "performs" our world.



Collect for Life's Rich Pageant

O Creator of all, you have created our stage and the story of our universe, allowing us the freedom to play our parts as we will; give us the grace to recover from our miscues, and teach us to trust in your direction, so that we may partake in your holy performance to the final curtain call; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen.

Next week, we do lessons for week 34 (on 4/19). Jeff (and Sally) provide dinner; Scharme brings a TR, and Scott does worship.  The week after, we'll take the day off (as it's Mystery Dinner Theatre week).  Week 35 will be May 3rd.

Wk. 32: Job, Corinthians, and Boundaries

Present:  BL, LL, JM, SR, SS, ST.  Absent:  SC, JK

We met at the home of Bill and Lynne, enjoying the garden and a candle-lit dinner.  On the anniversary of Martin Luther King's assassination, worship by Scott took off from Dr. King's The Power to Love.   As King asserts that "only love can turn an enemy to a friend," we searched our memories for examples of such transformation in our own experiences.

Our discussion of readings started with the blurring of boundaries chronicled by writers collected in My Neighbor's Faith.  In Corinthians, Paul seems to be setting boundaries, though we came to see that some of his strong objections to false leaders has to do with their building walls where Paul would knock them down.  (Update: I blogged about My Neighbor's Faith on April 8.)

Starting late, we postponed Sarah's TR for next week.  Sarah will also provide food.  Jane will lead worship.

Note:  We are nearing the end of our program.  Week 33 is April 13, Week 34 is April 20, and Week 35 is April 27.  Our final meeting for closure will be sometime shortly after that.  Bill and Lynne have invited us back for that last meeting. 

Wk. 30-31: Proverbs, Galatians, and Our Neighbors' Faiths

Present:  SC, JK, BL, LL, SR, SS, ST.  Absent:  JM

Susan brought dinner.  Scharme read from Psalms for worship, and asked us to share what had stood out for us during Holy Week.

Our discussion, springing from the question cards, concerned readings in Proverbs, Galatians, and My Neighbor's Faith.  

For the TR, we parsed a dilemma that came to a choice between a defense of our own integrity and the preservation of a relationship. 

Our collect:
God of Wisdom, you commanded us to render unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar;  Help us to discern what will honor your will without being a stumbling block to those in relationship with us, so that we may grow closer to You and to others.  Amen.

For April 5:  We will meet at the home of Bill and Lynne Lovelace, 5664 Harbormist Dr., Powder Springs, GA 30127.