Sarah made dinner for us. Worship by Scott took off from Forward Day by Day's meditation on Scripture about baptism by water and by fire, which related to our question: We wrote on paper what habit or thought holds us back from growth, crumpled and threw it in a bowl of water, while all repeated, "That we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways...."
We began discussion with Allen's chapter about Jesus as both Lord and Servant. Allen shows how Jesus is lord without needing servants, and we are servants without losing our personalities. Sartre's statement that one cannot believe in God and be free shows his different understanding of God. We were struck by the comparison of Jesus' significant death to that of Socrates. We noted how often Paul refers to himself as a slave or servant.
Discussing Hebrews, Lynne recalled how N. T. Wright summarized its theme: "The best just got better." The author of Hebrews seems to set up a hierarchy, too. Christians sometimes discount the Hebrew Scriptures as superseded by the New Testament; we discussed this implication in Hebrews. We found a nuance in that idea: the big story of God's relationship with His creation didn't start with the Hebrews, and it didn't finish with the Gospels.
Our look at Isaiah and Micah demonstrated that idea: not just the messianic passages, but attacks on empty ritual were always a strand in Hebrew / Israeli prophecy.
TR: glass blower
Bill brought a poem that reflected on how great people of the past who live on the other side of a "glassy wall," seen, but separated from us. "The wall is thick," and, "These bubbles known as men / When once they burst, cannot be blown again." We focused on that image. Susan cautioned us midway against settling for the most obvious implications.
Collect for Created Individuals
Creator God, we are in your hands as clay in the hands of the potter; you have made us unique, with free will. Help us to see each others' flaws as the distinguishing marks that make us beautiful, that we may see You in all. In the name of Jesus, who modeled how to know and love the people he encountered. Amen.
Next week: Bill and Lynne bring food; Jane brings worship; Scharme brings the TR.
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