Yr. D, Wk. 13: Judges, Charlemagne, and Potential Energy

Erica brought chili; Susan led us in a litany of Thanksgiving from the back of the Book of Common Prayer; Scharme was away.

Erica told us that she re-read the last chapter of Collins's book to deal with the stories of brutality, revenge, and carnality told in the book of Judges.   "It's like Game of Thrones," she said.  The mistake is to view these stories of human weakness as if they were intended for moral instruction, the way a preacher told astonished campers to regard Jephtha's executing a capricious vow to kill the first person he saw, and his daughter's mournful compliance, as wonderful models of obedience.  Collins gives the perspective that the ancient editor(s) known as the Deuteronomist arranged these stories to show how the people habitually fell into evils that required God to send "judges" to set things right; and therefore, the monarchy was a good, necessary thing.

Lynne and Bill took turns responding to extensive history of the Roman church ca. 900.  We discussed Gregory the Great, missionaries who found a fully established church in the British isles, the contrast between the Irish church's system of "tariffs" to work one's way back to essential goodness and Augustine's doctrine of innate sinfulness;  and the "humility" of Charlemagne in matters of faith and establishing the church in lands he conquered, establishing the Holy Roman Empire. 

For a TR, Bill brought us a photograph of Bernini's "David," from a view somewhat to the left rear of the one pictured here.  We saw in it an image of "potential energy" at a critical moment when all could be won or lost.  Our personal experiences of this coalesced around the image of the silence when the orchestra raises its instruments to await the downbeat.  

Collect in a moment of Potential Energy
Dear Lord, You have placed us, like David and Joshua, in a community of faith.  As you sustained them through their great challenges, sustain us by Your word and sacraments, so that we can realize the potential that You hold in store for us and for our community. Amen.

Next week:  Bill will lead worship; Scott will bring dinner; and Susan will provide the TR.  We read the first half of the book on atonement by Crysdale.  Looking further ahead, we expect a pizza week and then a final meeting for the first semester at the Lovelace's home.  

Yr. D, Wk. 11 & 12: Reading Double, and Learning from Mistakes

Scharme brought worship; food was brown bag.  We doubled up on readings, and yours truly was away at the chorus concert and missed the discussion.

Lynne started the TR with this quotation from George Bernard Shaw: "If history repeats itself, and the unexpected always happens, how incapable must Man be of learning from experience!"  We all contributed what came to mind, and a position statement emerged. Our discussions ranged through Scripture, Buddhism, and cultural touchstones (including Groundhog Day).  We were led eventually to a consideration of ritual as an agent of change: even just going through the motions can change us.

All of this inspired yours truly to buy a book about the Anglican tradition of the Prayer Book,  intended to change us via ritual repetition and seasonal variation. It's Inwardly Digest by Derek Olsen.

Collect for Transformation
Lord, You struck Paul blind so that he could look inwardly.  Teach us discipline to help us let go of ourselves so that we can accept the grace offered us and reach understanding of Your will and the peace it brings.

Next week:  Erica brings dinner, Susan brings worship, and Bill brings TR.  Scharme will be away.
 

Yr. D, Wk. 10: Leviticus, Luke, and "Cuisine"

Opening worship was a prayer for All Souls Day, brought by Scott, and a question about how the lovely warm weather has affected life in the past week or two.  Lynne and Bill brought food.

Erica reported that even her sons were nonplussed by some of the bloodthirsty violence in Leviticus and Deuteronomy.  Erica liked the concept of a jubilee year, even if it never was really implemented. The taboos concerning food and cleanliness were odd, but some of ours are odd, too -- and we all contributed examples.  Erica also connected to the Hebrews' complaining, and to the evils of slavery, "because we still have slavery today."

Scharme was interested in the beauty of Luke's narrative, and the ways in which Luke appealed to his contemporaries schooled in the literature of Greece.

Bill and Lynne were both fascinated and overwhelmed by the internecine conflicts of parties promoting different explanations of relationships between the Trinity and us.

Susan brought an issue of Cuisine focused on holiday cooking.  Representing the "culture" source, the issue brought out reflections from the sources we call "tradition," "action," and "belief." We followed the procedure outlined for reflection on a "social concern," p. 262 of the Reading and Reflection Guide.

Collect for Hosts
O God, Who sent manna to the people in the wilderness and angels to be guests of Abraham and Sarah: we all are guests at your sacred table every week; keep us from the sins of self-glorification and pride in our possessions, that we may share, with genuine hospitality, the bounty You share with us.  Amen.

Next time:   We meet Tuesday, November 15.  We double up on readings 11 and 12.  We brown bag it for dinner.  Lynne will bring a picture from a five-year-old for the TR.  Scharme is going to take worship for the next two weeks, eventually leading us through lectio divina.