Weeks 33-34 combined, especially Ezekiel, Ephesians, and British Missions

Present:  Bill and Jen Nowicki, Jeff Karkula, Susan Rouse, Bill and Lynn Lovelace, Smoot.

Discussion seemed to center on "love," as Ezekiel and Isaiah both speak of God's ultimate love, to save the nations through His chosen people, and Ephesians (which may not be Paul's) speaks as often of "love" as Corinthians does. 

Next week, the 19th:  Finish the readings:  Daniel, Revelation, and "Culture Wars."  Susan will provide supper.   We plan an end-of-year supper "out" June 2 to catch up with Bill and Lynn, who will miss next week.

Mission

Present:  Bill N., Bill L., Lynne, Sarah, Jeff, Steve, Susan, Scott S.

We considered the traditional view of the church's mission, measuring success by how many people switch to Christianity from other religions or from non-belief.  Our answers brought in some of last week's reading, some of the article, and some lessons learned at St. James' from sermons, teaching, and experience. 

Next week:  Smoot will be out.  Readings will be those in the RRG for week 32. Food, Lynne;  Worship, Sarah; TR, Bill N.

For May 5:  We have a Cinquo de Mayo theme for dinner, as we continue to invite people to join us for the open house.  
Taco shells soft and hard:  Smoot
Meat:  Bill L.
Guacomole: Susan
Cheese:  Steve
Salsa, and dessert:  Jeff (and Sally!)
Corn/bean salsa: Sarah

Globalization, Gender, and Peacebuilding

Present:  B. Lovelace, L. Lovelace, S. Thompson, J. Karkula, S. Rouse, S. Windham, S. Smoot

We considered Kwok Pui-Lan's three lectures collected in Globalization, Gender, and Peacebuilding. We had some expressions of strong disagreement with some of her statements in this book and a supplementary essay about the Anglican church as a "hybrid."   Much of what was agreeable also seemed unremarkable to us. 

However, we all found something to appreciate, if nothing more than the reminder that anyone engaged in dialogue with people of other religions should aware of so many pitfalls that Kwok identifies.  

For TR, see the separate TR page on this blog.   

Next week, we read pp. 174-180 in the RRG.   Susan will bring food; Bill L. will provide worship; and Lynne will bring material to start the TR.

Wk. 27: Amos, Hosea, James, and "Protestant Awakenings"

Present:  Bill N., Jen, Steve, Susan, Scott S., Bill L., Lynne, Jeff

Many of us were struck by the "Seven stages of the Resurrection" found in St. Augustine's Prayer Book.  Steve recommended the booklet, found at the Forward Day by Day website.

"Coming on board," many of us expressed how different aspects of the Holy Week services were moving, beautiful, and even funny and energizing.  

We found strong connections between the messages of Amos and James, and several expressed strong affinity for these books. We found the cautions to the rich.

Hosea's story seems very sad, and then he seems to develop a split personality, according to one web source.  Collins has a different take on that, and on prophets, too, not as "seers" but more like modern-day political commentators -- who make predictions only in the way that an editorialist or candidate might predict consequences "if we don't correct what we're doing."

Asked the question from the RRG, "What are the ddep hungers of those to whom James wrote?" we had answers that tended to see James as someone trying to bring back the sense of community and first sense of belonging to a church dispersed, losing its first fervor.

We saw differences in approaches to evangelizing natives and African slaves among the French, Spanish, and English who settled in North America in the 1600s.  English stood out for not engaging in evangelizing efforts, partly because the Puritans' doctrine of "election" made the effort seem superfluous, and the diseases that destroyed tribes seemed confirmation that these peoples could not be favored by God.  Divisions among the Puritans resulted in new colonies outside of Massachusetts Bay -- in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and eventually in Maryland and Pennsylvania, founded by outcasts of England's religious establishment.

Next week: We read Kwok's short book (three lectures) and the RRG chapters 28 (one page) and 29 (four pages).

For TR, see the TR page.

Ezra, Nehemiah, Timothy, and the Counter-Reformation

meeting of March 24.  Present:  S. Thompson, B. Nowicki , J. Nowicki, B. Lovelace, L. Lovelace, S. Rouse, S. Smoot.

We discussed Ezra and Nehemiah.   The call to give up foreign wives and to come back to the laws of Moses seemed to lead to centuries of strife.

About Timothy I and II, we heard Paul's pastoral letters to fledgling churches, warning them to stick to the right ways, and, significantly, to conform to the ways of the Roman empire, insofar as possible.  "Don't make waves" was Susan's sum up.

We heard about Henry VIII and his offspring, Protestant and Roman Catholic.  The MacDonald's chapter on the Counter - Reformation was refreshing in how much was motivated by sincere efforts to recall the heart of our faith.  So much of previous chapters had to do with politics and wealth!

A question came up about the Protestant emphasis on marriage and children v. the R.C. mandate for celibacy of clergy.  We were reminded that the celibacy idea had its origin in problems regarding inheritance; the idea of "marrying the church" was an ex post facto justification for this Roman Church doctrine.

Next week:  The Lovelaces will provide food, and Lynne will bring worship;  Jeff is doing the TR. 

What does Transubstantiation Mean to You?

meeting of March 17.  Present:   S. Windham, S. Thompson, B. Nowicki , J. Nowicki, J. Karkula, S. Rouse, S. Smoot.

Our discussion of Philippians, Collassians, and "A Church Divided" brought us to the dilemma for believers who hear different things from different sources of authority.  "Scripture alone" was not a satisfactory answer, for we saw deadly conflicts that arose among those who studied Scripture closely.

The historical disagreements among Church "magistrates" and clergy over meaning of the Eucharist brought us to enunciate our own different positions on the topic.

Our TR featured a 1927 recording of Blind Willie Johnson's wordless performance of an old hymn. Writing about this now, I wonder that we didn't think about the line from Romans 8:26 about prayer, and how the Spirit "intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words."

We decided to schedule our open house for May 5. 

Weeks 22 & 23

Last week, we all read and discussed Diana Butler Bass's essay about integrating belief, behavior, and doctrine in a multicultural world.  (Scott's blog post about it is part summary, part reflection. See here.)  This week, we're back to reading in our own texts.

Our TR grew from a poem by Ella Wilcox Wheeler, "An Inspiration."

For the 10th, Bill N. has TR, Stephen has food, and Susan will bring worship.