Yr. C, Wk. 19: God's People Maturing

Mariel led Compline, after which we enjoyed our brown bag dinner. We came on board with highlights of the week past.

Yr. C theme: Living as Spiritually Mature Christians Class: Matt, Pete, first year; Christine, second year; Mariel, Gene, third year; Erica, fourth year; Scott and Susan, co - mentors. Absent: Pete, Gene.

After sharing what struck us in the readings across four years, we looked for a relationship between the readings and the year's theme of "maturity." We saw a broad movement from brutality and tribalism towards justice and inclusivity between the Deuteronomic histories recapped in Yee's book and later times; and in the Roman church's evolution in third year.
Another theme had to do with icons / metaphors / artistic expressions of faith and how these intensify faith -- a phrase from MacIntosh's book.

Theological Reflection

Erica shared her story of a deceptively easy job. Peanut butter, an old dishwasher, and laundry detergent were involved. We could all buy in to the thoughts and feelings of that experience, and we imagined the metaphor of a family in a horse-drawn wagon halfway across a river, discovering that the water is higher and stronger than they'd thought: they can neither go back nor press onward. [Illustration from the original Little House on the Prairie by Garth Williams]

Collect
Eternal Father, when your people crossing the wilderness despaired, You fed them and set them back on their path to the Promised Land: when we in our foolishness stride into a swift flowing current, grant that we may surrender our pride and open ourselves to your guidance. Amen

Next Meeting: Susan prepares food; Christine is doing worship; Matt is bringing a source for the TR.

Yr. C, Wk. 18: Romans, Kings, and the Voice of God

For worship, picking up on the Year Three chapter's consideration of Hildegard von Bingen, Scott supplied lyrics and teachings from Hildegard for confession, praise, thanksgiving, and a lesson. We heard Sequentia's recording of her O Quam Mirabilis:

O quam mirabilis est (How wondrous is)
Prescientia divini pectoris (the prescience of the divine Heart)
Que prescivit omnem creaturam. (that foreknew every creature!)
Nam cum Deus inspexit (For when God gazed)
Factiem hominis quem formavit (into the fire of the human being whom he formed,)
Omnia opera sua in cadem forma (he beheld all his works,)
Hominis integra aspexit. (in that same human form, entire.)
O quam mirabilis est inspiration (How wondrous is the informing breath)
Que hominem six suscitavit. (that awoke mankind in this way!)

Gene served us white chili with salad and pound cake. Scott told the story of how a tow truck operator rescued him and Susan this past weekend, and asked others to share any story of a stranger who did service for us. We shared with alacrity! (See Scott's blog post about the adventure, Those Who Work or Watch This Night.)

Yr. C theme: Living as Spiritually Mature Christians Class: Matt, Pete, first year; Christine, second year; Mariel, Gene, third year; Erica, fourth year; Scott and Susan, co - mentors. Absent: Pete.

Our discussion focused first on what amazed us in our readings, and moved on to what bothered us:
• Mariel read to us from MacCulloch a page from a "historical fiction" of the 12th century that provided believers what they wanted, details of Jesus's birth not provided in the Gospels.
• Christine, reading Romans start to finish, felt that Paul was "like a politician," appealing to different factions, the Jews and the Gentiles.
• Gene opined that a Catholic's vision of the Virgin Mary isn't very impressive; but a Buddhist's vision of the Virgin would be amazing. So Paul's vision of Jesus, at a time when Saul was famous for persecuting Christians, is very impressive.
• Gene, Mariel, and Erica traded observations about the doctrine of "immaculate conception," which strikes Erica as another manifestation of gnosticism, the heresy that has dogged the church from the start.
• Matt reported from Kings on Solomon's quandary, how to present the Temple as the home of God when God is everywhere. Matt sympathized with Jeroboam, told that he was cursed with no male heir because he wasn't flawless like David. "David? Really?" Matt asked, listing some of David's worst deeds. Matt also spoke of the split of Israel because Solomon enslaved his fellows. The Hebrews went from being slaves to owning slaves. "The Babylonians brought it full circle," Susan observed.
• Erica shared what she had enjoyed in the MacIntosh book about the "voice" of God and the "revelation" of God. In the Enlightenment, math and science were taken to be ways to know God; Erica thought math had become an idol.

Theological Reflection

Pete had to miss again. On short notice, Scott and Susan didn't have a good substitute. Next week, we'll have a back up plan! Next Meeting: Gene prepares worship; brown bag; we'll do Pete's TR.

Yr. C, Wks. 16 and 17: David, Architecture, and Hierarchy

For worship, Erica led the "examen" prayer mentioned in our previous reading. She printed the process on bookmarks presented to us with the night's closing worship on the back, Suscipe by St. Ignatius of Loyola.

Yr. C theme: Living as Spiritually Mature Christians Class: Matt, Pete, first year; Christine, second year; Mariel, Gene, third year; Erica, fourth year; Scott and Susan, co - mentors. Absent: Scott, Christine.

We heard from Christine via email that her family has gone through an important transition. We're keeping her in our thoughts and prayers!
Susan took these notes for the class blog:

Responses to the essay for week 16:
• No one very impressed with reading -- seemed kind of obvious. Seemed kind of low key after Gatta.
• The "violence" section didn't seem very connected and the notion that violence is exclusive to our time period was false and annoying.
• Bothered by the notion of seminars and conferences, etc., as solutions to violence. Like posting on Facebook about some issue.
• Gatta did a better job of most of this.

Responses to the 1st, 3rd, and 4th year readings:
• Year 3, Mariel - Castles, cathedrals - back to his architectural theme, MacDermott's perspective from above; Follet (Pillars of the Earth) perspective of people doing the building.
• Year 3, Gene was surprised that marriage was not a sacrament; reasons for celibacy; concept of the parish as an institution. Lots of changes in the period, the Church responding to the social environment.
• Year 1, Matt and Pete, "Collins is a David apologist." David had lots of issues. The Absalom story interesting, noting Collins and his opinions.
• Year 2, finding the Roman law documents become basis of canon law (kind of like those scrolls they find in Nehemiah)
• Year 4, Mysteries of Faith, Chapter 1 deals with mystery, chapter 2 about the Trinity -- Communion with the Trinity. "Becoming a person through others" bothered Erica. Discussion followed of class, ranking of people, colleges, etc.

Theological Reflection

Pete prepared the TR for the night, but flu-like symptoms hit him during class. Susan moved that the session adjourn -- "You all worked hard to prepare for tonight."
Next Meeting: Scott prepares worship; Gene will bring food; we'll do Pete's TR.