Yr. C, Wk. 30: "A Mature Theology of Vocation" - Comments

We are all reading pp. 150-156 in the Reading and Reflection Guide (RRG) and sharing our thoughts using the "leave a comment" link below. When you are ready to submit your thought, please use the "Name / URL" field.

In our comments about this short essay, let's address the questions at the end of the reading:

• describe a connection and a distinction between vocation and ministry
• identify one to three issues concerning vocation and /or ministry that concern you at this time
• reflect on one of those issues and what avenues of action are open to you at the micro-, meso-, and macro- levels (personal, work, nation/globe)

Please review the previous blogpost for a rundown on our first meeting as "ZfM" (thanks for the acronym, Matt!): Our TR was very good, and the collect we drafted picks up just about every strand.

Yr. C, Wk. 29: ZfM, the first week

We met via the Zoom app. Prior to the meeting, all years posted reactions to the Bonhoeffer book as "comments" on this blog (see previous post).

Pete led a selected a timely worship liturgy celebrating Love and Family, shared with us on the screen. We particularly remembered in our prayers Gene, bereaved of his mother, and Christine, closing down a business. Matt could not join us this time.

Still, we re-connected, shared experiences, reflected seriously on the TR, and laughed a lot.

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: Gene, Christine, Matt.

Theological Reflection

“Coming on board” with our experiences of the outbreak of Covid-19 and the necessary “social distancing,” we isolated several shared strands to our separate stories:

• "Will life ever return to normal?"
• We took so much for granted before, assuming wrongly that everything will keep going “on autopilot.”
• "I’m so used to being anxious, that having a real cause for anxiety has been a relief!"
• Small things – the closing of a favorite restaurant, down-scaling of the farmer’s market – bring home the dire global picture.
• Feeling parallels between Bonhoeffer’s time, watching Hitler’s rise with incredulity: “You have to love Bonhoeffer for his convictions.”

Our feelings coalesced into a few observations:

• The world has probably been out of control all along, but now we see it and experience it.
• There’s "no exit" – title of Jean-Paul Sartre’s play about people quarantined in hell.
• It’s like being stuck on a cruise ship, an artificial happy place loaded with luxuries and distractions; in an instant, the illusion disappears.

Exploring that last image through theological categories of creation, sin, judgment, and redemption, we found a particularly resonant analog in the story of Jonah, who prophesied against the hedonistic luxury of the city Nineveh, but the Ninevans buckled down to change their lives in time to avert destruction.

Collect for a Time of Upheaval
Almighty and merciful God, when You through Jonah warned Nineveh that the great city would fall to nothing in just forty days, the citizens repented, fasted, and averted catastrophe; May we, shocked by sudden awareness of our precarious condition, see with new clarity the beauty and value in routines we have taken for granted, and abjure the fruitless anxieties that have distracted us from You. Amen

Pete concluded with a prayer.

Next Meeting: We will again post comments to a short article that I'll post Sunday morning. Mariel will lead worship via Zoom, and Erica will bring a source for our TR.

Yr. C, Wk. 29: Bonhoeffer's LIFE TOGETHER while we Live Apart

This week, we'll use the "Post a comment" link at the end of this article to post our thoughts. To submit the comment, use the "name/URL" button, and give only your first name. If you're using a Google or Facebook sign in, you're making trouble for yourself!

Tuesday, before our virtual meeting, let's all take a look at each other's comments. I'll invite everyone to log on for a Zoom meeting at 7:00. Our agenda will be check in, prayer, and theological reflection on our current moment.

Yr. C, Wk. 28: Bonhoeffer's LIFE TOGETHER, ch.1-2

Under quarantine, we sent our thoughts for posting here. On Monday, I'll post an article for week 29; please add your thoughts about the second half of Bonhoeffer using the "comment" button. Remember to use the "name/URL" box. Your first name is all you need to write there, without any passwords or addresses needed!:

PETE
My thoughts on Mr. Bonhoeffer’s 1st 54 pages of Life Together: 1st and foremost, a few weeks back, I had posed the question: “isn’t it enough to just be a good person”. Well Mr. Bonhoeffer has certainly set me straight! “The Christian cannot simply take for granted the privilege of living among other Christians”. He believed that Christian Life had to be lived, and not just a thought or philosophy.
• AMAZED: He was entirely committed. He laid out framework in the first two chapters of how to live in the Christian Community and how to schedule your day within the Christian Community and life.Starting the day with morning prayer within the Community along with Communion Work Noon time prayer & introspection Work Evening prayer within the Community coupled with asking for & giving forgiveness.
• BOTHERED: After doing some further research, I became aware that, such an obvious man of God, Mr. Bonhoeffer lost his life for his faith and convictions. A true martyr.
• CONFUSED: Maybe this is actually how life should be lived on many levels, but it seems (to me at least) his idea of communal Christian life is almost unachievable within my typical norms of life.
• DELIGHTED: Even though I often find myself in the looking glass of the emotional community, it was refreshing & awakening to find a good working definition of the distinct differences between the spiritual and emotional communities of Christianity.

MARIEL
Here are my reflections on the first two chapters of "Life Together":
• Amazed - Bonhoeffer recommends a full chapter reading of the Old Testament every morning and evening. (Not sure I could absorb a chapter of Leviticus first thing in the morning.)
• Bothered - He strongly advocates letting other have the freedom to be who they are in Christ, and not trying to dominate or coerce them, but Bonhoeffer's tone is frequently absolute and authoritarian. Seems a bit contradictory, although he is German, so...
• Confused - As fervent as he is, it's difficult for me to understand his opposition to human emotions. He writes so passionately about Christ and the love of God, and talks about how disillusionment can be a good thing - these are all emotions that drive us to transformation. Perhaps the translation of the word "emotion" from German to English doesn't quite convey his meaning.
• Delighted - Bonhoeffer's directive on the proper structure of the Christian community's day (early worship, work activities, midday meal, more activity, some quiet time, then evening worship and meal) reminded me of the Lutheran Bible camp I attended when I was a 6th grader. I really enjoyed the daily structure of worship in the morning and evening, having some alone time, and enjoying communal meals.

GENE
Although I cannot imagine what Bonhoeffer went through in Nazi Germany, his idea that just the chance to live in a Christian community is a gift of grace from God resonates this week with the church doors being shut. While I know we will get through this I'd rather see you all face to face!
• Amazed: I was amazed by his dedication and discipline, and although he briefly mentions those lonely Christians who have little contact.with other Christians and must rely solely on their own faith, he makes a compelling argument for being within a community of other Christians.
• Bothered: Well... he is a little particular as to what he likes and what he doesn't. Perhaps a bit authoritarian.. This crops up in a few places, some of which you all have already mentioned - one of the big ones is that I think he tries too hard to make a distinction between emotional love and spiritual love. But the most absurd example was the section on the music that should be sung - in unison, of course - and that efforts should be made to weed out vanities such as "the improvised second part" (???), bass and alto voices, horrid solo voices that drown out everything, the unmusical types and those who are not joining in due to being moody or nursing hurt feelings. As an "unmusical" type myself, I would think those sitting near me would be grateful that I only mumble along, off key and often on the wrong verse and on occasion the wrong hymn. Perhaps I need more discipline - or a second cup of coffee..
• Confused: Somewhere between we have to work and work is a prayer I got lost. This does not relate to my reality. .
• Delighted: The way he describes prayer at dinner (pg. 47) and what it is we are really giving thanks for.

CHRISTINE
The depth and intensity of Bonhoeffer’s passion for communicating and leading Christians into deeper understanding of Jesus & our faith is quite intense.
• He writes of mature & immature Christians complaining scripture reading often being too long recommends reading full chapters of OT in morning and NT at night..while complete immersion is an effective way of learning, “practice makes perfect”, it seems harsh to distinguish between immature and mature, he could just say “hey, do this, it will deepen your faith, understanding, passion..”
• the instruction on “how to read scripture in community” by not inserting self and also pointing out the experienced Christian and a beginner will become evident when they read, no pressure or anything ...
• the singing in community segment was also filled with detailed instruction ...he started off with such a wonderful notion of how “spoken words are inadequate to express what we want to say, that the object of our singing reaches far beyond human words.”...then somehow things change and all of a sudden we are talking about the “unmusical” (me) and “vanity and bad taste...asserting themselves in singing...” It became confusing and I think he may not like certain instruments or voice tone/quality...”musical excesses”...
• I did especially like the section on community praying, praying freely and the idea of community member supporting those who haven’t mastered praying aloud.
• So far I like the material, but I’d run a red pen through a lot of extra words, am I allowed to say that? As you all know already I am a person of few words, but in writing I like words , just not too many. It’s a bit ironic in this case.

Scott posted his own thoughts to his personal blog in an article he calls "Bonhoeffer's Virtual Monastery in a Time of Virus"

Yr. C, Wk. 27: Psalms, Hebrews, Puritans, and Practices of Faith

Scott, away at the strings concert at school, arrived late with birthday cake and a card for Susan. For the first part of the evening, Susan took notes.

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: Matt.

What Amazed Us
How all the groups coming from Europe interacted together (Gene). He loved the irony of the list of religious insults for non-Trinitarians that couldn't be said, while they still executed them.
What Bothered Us
It's boring to read in Sedgwick about these practices of faith (Erica). MacCulluch doesn't like emotion, as he favors saner, cooler Anglican worship over extrovert religion (Mariel).
What Confused Us
Song of Solomon seems out of place in the Hebrew Scriptures, with the voice of a woman featured prominently, so much sensuous detail (Pete). Pete was actually Amazed and also Delighted. Erica remembered how Collins really likes S of S.
What Delighted Us
Mariel was both delighted and disappointed by the story of Ann Hutchinson, who taught men as well as women, who stood for those called by grace against those who preached salvation by law. Mariel wondered why MacCulloch doesn't make the connection between Ann and Jesus? Like Ann, Jesus's detractors attacked his authority as being from the devil. Erica thought Ann might like Sedgwick's conclusion that the practices of faith can become idolatry when disconnected from faith. Mariel was interested in George Whitfield, namesake of Whitfield Academy.
Theological Reflection Gene returned to the memoir for Father Wade, an influential figure in his life. In the passage that Gene presented, Wade remembers being a seminarian flummoxed by rapid-fire questions from his Uncle Fred -- a big rough-hewn tobacco-chewing profane man. We focused on the moment when Uncle Fred fixed eyes on young Wade to express an insight from scripture that shook up the nephew's life.

We could all buy in to that moment. We found examples of that same kind of moment in culture, e.g., Luke Skywalker's witnessing Yoda's power. In tradition, we found the strongest analog in Job, a passage that we read aloud: "I had heard of Thee by report only, but now I see Thee face to face." Christine volunteered to consolidate the lines we drafted for a collect.

Collect
Eternal God, ruler over all, whose son defeated death: When Peter blustered and brandished his sword to thwart Your will, a word from Jesus stopped him: So, too, when we react according to our own selfish desires, let us hear Your life-giving word and respond in Your wisdom and love. Amen

Erica concluded the evening with two prayers by the author of next week's reading, Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

Next Meeting: While Covid 19 has imposed "social distancing" on our lives, we all feel comfortable meeting as usual. Susan will provide a St. Patrick's Day repast; Pete will lead worship. Erica volunteered to bring a source for the TR.

Guidance from EfM Directors

[Friends, Susan and I would like to meet as usual Tuesday. We can decide then about weeks to come. Susan will have Irish themed dinner! Let us know if you're not comfortable coming. Please take a look at this note from EfM administrators, encouraging us to keep on learning and to keep connected, no matter what the next few weeks are like.]

Please know that for this time we are extending gracious and compassionate dispensation regarding the standard program requirements. If you must simply stop the meetings for a period without email or online options, then do so.
• Ask group participants to embrace the honor system about completing the rest of their readings and practicing theological reflection on their own. Each week's assignment in the Reading and Reflection Guide offers a way to participate in reflective practice of one sort or another.
• Most of the groups that began meeting in the Fall are within 10 weeks of finishing the year, and so have already completed two-thirds of the work. We certainly will not penalize participants for having to miss meetings because of the pandemic. Year 4 will graduate as usual. Everyone else will advance next year.
• Just remember that EfM is based in adult learning theory. What you get out of it is proportional to what you are willing to put into it. Skipping the work of the remaining weeks hurts only your own learning.
• Check in with one another as you can. One of the cornerstones of EfM is the community we build in the small group. Making an effort to keep that community life going will be well worth it.
• Reconvene your meetings if possible when this period of social distancing is lifted. Even one final meeting to end the year together will encourage your community to remain connected until the next program year.

Yr. C, Wk. 26: Ezra & Nehemiah, Timothy & Titus, Church in the World, Love and Justice

Mariel brought dinner; Matt led worship. Scott, absent, has no notes from the discussion this week. [Photo: This is a "Lenten Rose" that Susan identified in a garden near the church.]

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, Scott.

Erica brought two poems for a source. A dilemma emerged. In the end, the group composed this collect:

Collect facing the End
Eternal God, ruler over all, whose son defeated death: When Peter blustered and brandished his sword to thwart Your will, a word from Jesus stopped him: So, too, when we react according to our own selfish desires, let us hear Your life-giving word and respond in Your wisdom and love. Amen

Next Meeting: TBA