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| Anyone want to move to New Zealand? |
Jessica led us in worship from the prayer book of New Zealand. Then Jessica invited us to her patio with its fire pit.
Her question for gathering us was based on Sunday's Gospel reading: When in the past week have you felt like a leper? We answered variously about being the teacher in a class, the newbie at work who asks why they do it that way, the outsider, the one who expressed doubt, and being rolled through the airport in a wheelchair.
Nuno told of seeing someone else being treated like a leper. The staff of a Starbucks was paralyzed to see a person in a blanket lying alongside the drive-thru lane. We had an impromptu TR on this situation, bringing thoughts from the tradition and from the culture to bear.
Living Faithfully in a Multicultural World:
1st yr: Jessica; 2nd yr: Susan; 3rd yr, Pete, Nuno, Marilyn, Kathy ; 4th yr, Scott. Mentors: Susan and Scott. Absent: None.
"I've found a friend in Paul," Marilyn said, to her own surprise. His concern for equality of those shut out of the early church has put a dent in his image as combative and disdainful of women. "Without him," Pete said, "we wouldn't be here now" as a church. "I'm not mad at him anymore," Kathy said.
We also found ourselves feeling some sympathy with the Gnostics, and wanted to know more. "Heresy" comes from a phrase for "self opinion," which lacks the fire-and-brimstone connotations of the word "heretic."
The first year readings helped Jessica to appreciate the interplay of legend and history in scripture. We digressed to think of legends in American history, e.g. Thanksgiving.
Hospitality, the patron-client relationship, and the ancient concept of honor: these are foundational elements of culture in the ancient world that modern readers may fail to appreciate. [That may go the other way: Susan has reminded us that our concepts of history, rights, and freedom were not known in Biblical times.]
Following the wide-ranging discussion, we responded to the question on page 51 of the RRG, looking for a core value that emerged for each of us as we considered our past for the spiritual autobiography exercise. We heard to give room to grow, kindness is a choice, openness to all, to speak out the truth, the dignity of all people, all beloved of God. These are some of examples from the "Position Source" in the TR process.
We heard spiritual autobiographies from Marilyn and Kathy, and responded with thanks: For what has been, for what is, for what will be, we thank you, O God.
Scott brings worship; Nuno and Jessica will share their spiritual autobiographies. We're doing the readings for week 7.
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