Yr. D, Wk. 24: Prophets and Reformers

Present:  Erica, Lynne, Bill, Susan, Scott.  Erica provided dinner.

Bill led worship from a Scottish Book of Common Prayer, and asked how we responded to something "alien" in our lives during the past week.

Discussions of the readings brought some parallels in the conflicts of faith-and-word centered puritans of the North (Israel, Germans and Swiss) and Southerners (in Jerusalem, in Rome) more focused on the proper observation of rituals and hierarchy. 

Susan brought the poem "Hamlen Brook" by Richard Wilbur.  We focused on the last two quatrains and explored the world of the brook.  When we opened it up to tradition and culture, we found some surprising resonance: living water at the well, mystic desert fathers' experience of God too deep for words, Augustine's "God-shaped hole" that nothing but God can fill; an insight that a sense of the awesomeness of creation is redemptive; the lilies of the field in all their beauty - whole, provided by God, independent of us or our perception.

In lieu of a collect, we settled on Psalm 42 as the expression of what emerged from our discussion:
"As the deer longs for the water-brooks, so longs my soul for you O God.  My soul is athirst for God, athirst for the living God; when shall I come to appear before the presence of God?"


Next week:  Join the Parish for a Shrove Tuesday service and pancake supper, or bring your own. Scott brings the TR; Erica will lead worship.

Yr. D, Wks. 22-23: Dry Bones, Black Death, and Growing Up

Present:  Bill, Lynne, Erica, Susan, Scott.  We brown-bagged the meal.

For our worship time, Lynne brought a recording of a hymn with words by Jean Sophia Pigott (1845-1882), "Jesus, I am Resting, Resting." She drew our attention to how we can rest, not just from work, but in work.  We responded to three related passages from Scripture, telling how we've been able to trust God, reach peace, or find contentment in the past week.

We discussed the essay "Living into Wholeness" in the Reading and Reflection Guide, and shared what we found in readings for years I and III.   (Scott's reflection on the essay, and a response to Slaying Your Goliaths from the Forward Day by Day people, are posted to his personal blog here.)

For the TR, Erica brought an anecdote.  We focused on a moment for which she was not present, because it seemed to be a metaphor in itself, when children confronted adults dismantling  their "fort."  We proceeded from the question, "What is creation like in the world of the fort?" and so on. The reflection took some unexpected turns, as we found ambivalence about the nature of childhood in our tradition and culture (Peter Pan won't grow up, but the father in Mary Poppins needs to re-connect to childhood).  We collected key ideas in our ...

Collect for Children of All Ages
Abba, Father of all creation, You have watched over us since we were children who contructed walls from sticks and paper; as we put away childish things, help us yet to keep a child's wonder and joy in creation and community.  Amen.


Next week: We do the readings listed for Week 24.  Bill brings worship, Erica brings dinner, and Susan will bring something for theological reflection.

Yr. D, Wk. 21: Orthodox Church, Unorthodox Spy

Present: Scharme, Susan, Lynne, Bill. Scott arrived late, following rehearsal.  Bill and Lynne brought dinner.

Worship, shared by the mentors, consisted of the Beatitudes, read responsively by half verse, followed by a question, "Which of these beatitudes speaks to your experience since our last meeting?" 

As I arrived, discussion had brought out some connections between the epistles I,II Peter and the Russian Orthodox church.  All saw a connection between physical isolation of churches and a preservation of orthodoxy; we also saw that isolation made local clergy influential.

For a TR, we tried something new: We simply considered an iconic figure of contemporary culture, "James Bond."  After considering many aspects of the character, we focused most on his unorthodox approach to his duty, how he sometimes disobeys orders, blows up things, and comes back to fight another day. In fact, several times, he has come back from the dead.

After considering what constitutes wholeness, brokenness, reorientation and restoration in the world of Bond, and connecting this icon to our own experiences, our beliefs, and our tradition, we then answered this question:  "How do your personal gifts apply to the Bond-aspect of our world?" Our answers, listed in lieu of a collect, were these:

• Perseverance, a kind of stubborness: "Close enough for government work is not good enough for me."
• Empathy - Bond always loves and tries to rescue those "Bond girls" who are caught in unhealthy relationships with super-villains; one of our gifts is this kind of empathy and an ability to work with people who are suffering with tough emotions
• Strong sense of duty - and won't let go
• Analysis, an ability to find patterns, to survey the situation and make decisions
• Being a team player, feeling enlisted in "His Lordship's Secret Service," the Church.

Next time we meet will be February 14: With surgery and a play coming up, we'll be down by two next week, so we'll read the short essay in the RRG for wk. 22 as well as the readings for wk. 23 before our meeting on Valentine's Day.  We'll brown bag our dinner;  Erica will be back with us, and will bring the TR;  Lynne will lead worship.