Yr. C, Wk. 27: Authority, Poetry, and the Voice Inside Your Head

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Worship and Gathering
Since Y1 read Psalms this week, Scott brought worship consisting entirely of verses from Psalms that praised God, confessed sin, taught us a lesson, and pronounced assurance of God's love and forgiveness.

Isn't modern technology wonderful? Marilyn joined us from a car inching through snow somewhere in the West. Tom sent a note that an HOA emergency had erupted, so we thought of him as we prayed. (That helped, he told me later.)

With St. Patrick's Day coming up, Scott asked about what kind of luck we've had recently. There was the lucky discovery of a button on the dishwasher marked DRAIN before the serviceman had been called... lucky discovery of a pool slide that keeps the kids fascinated endlessly... a vaccination that was painful but protective... lucky appearance of a parking space just in time... good news from a doctor.

Image for Song of Songs

Yr. C, Living as Spiritually Mature Christians, Unit 4 Integrating Belief, Behavior, and Doctrine: 1st yr: Tom, Joyce, Donfred, Scott; 2nd yr: Jessica; 3rd yr, Susan; 4th yr, Pete, Nuno, Marilyn. Mentors: Susan and Scott. Absent: Pete, Tom.

Discussion of the Readings
The first theme to emerge was authority of the texts. Jessica was kind of delighted to discover that Paul probably was not the author of Hebrews. Does that weaken the authority of the letter? She felt the letter stands on its own, so well-written, so well-reasoned. Answer to Jessica's question about Greek influence on Hebrews: the author of Hebrews alludes to Platonic ideals when he refers to the high priest and temple as mere copies or "shadows" of Christ the True High Priest in his True Temple.

Susan reported how Protestants, accepting the authority of Scripture alone, opened themselves up to sectarian conflict. The religious groups that landed in New England and the Middle Colonies splintered into competing colonies over disagreements of interpretation. (Ironic: none of them acknowledged that they interpreted anything; they felt they were just reading the text plainly.)

Nuno shared an apposite insight from Sedgwick: Splintering happens when people tell others what the relationship should be instead of inviting them into it. We express brokenness and expect healing… Sedgwick would subsume arguments over doctrine in the practices of faith, unity in character of prayer, a conversation more than solo contemplation.

Y1 responded to the readings in and about Psalms and the Song of Songs (a.k.a. Song of Solomon). Donfred cited Psalm 23 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death… you are with me.” When out in the world, he felt so glad to get home safe. Donfred wondered about Psalm 8, "love is as strong as death." Nuno helped by observing that there's no sense in old Testament times that death could be overcome… so love of God cannot be overcome. Scott wondered what others thought of the fact that God is not mentioned even once in the Song of Songs. Consensus was that God is in the beauty and delight of creation and relationship that the SOS presents so wonderfully.

Theological Reflection
Donfred brought a poem by a personal friend about faith. While we all found lines of interest to us, the discussion really took off when Donfred made the surprising comment that "this poem is like my mother." He focused on the line about what's "unspoken," he explained, because "I felt Mother in my head when I left Haiti." We could all buy in as he explained how her voice still speaks to him, though she passed away over 20 years ago.

While there's comfort in the way Mother's voice carries with us, we did think of ways that the mother's voice could be a sign or even a cause of brokenness, as when the mother is controlling the child's life, not letting the child grow. We immediately saw a parellel to the way God deals with his creation, from Genesis to the present.

Connecting, Joyce spoke of a photo that symbolizes her relationship with her mother and Joyce's assertive sister. When we wondered whether "father" is the same, Nuno told about this weekend when he kept the three children while Mom was away. He had been fun and exciting, but since Mom came home, there’s the peace that wasn’t there with Dad. Donfred spoke about Caribbean culture, mother has to take care of her baby, even when you’re grown up. He said that it's not easy for the mother to let it go.

From all these, positives and negatives, we collected these insights: Even when the mother gives up control, you feel the love.... The good mother makes opportunities for growth... God at creation gave something up when he allowed us to be free.(Diogenes Allen, theologian). Pain is wrapped up both in motherhood and GODHOOD... In general, we must respect boundaries. We cannot think we have the right/wisdom to make their decisions for them. Bad mother is example of bad behavior in all of us.

While we usually work towards a general prayer, we started this time from a prayer/poem. A few stanzas will be our collect.

Lord, at times we come to you, our faith is not as strong.
But in your loving arms we fall; you show us that we belong.

You carry us when we think we can't go any longer.
The love you have can only grow stronger and stronger.

You are my strength, my deliverer, the rock that makes me unbroken.
You lead me to be righteous with things I feel are all unspoken.

For the next few weeks
Meeting time changed to 7:45 Tuesday the 19th to allow participation in a worship service for the Feast of St. Joseph. We will discuss The Cross and the Lynching Tree to the end of chapter two. No TR this week.

No meeting Tuesday the 26th during Holy week.

When we return to routine on April 2, our discussion will become our TR.

April 9 is our first and only chance to see Marilyn in person! If all are willing, we will meet at St. James for worship and discussion of the reading. Then we'll walk to dinner on the Marietta Square. Details will be worked out together during class.

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Yr. C, Wk. 26: From Nehemiah to Neruda

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Worship and Gathering
For worship, Susan brought the text of a song, "Even Here," as in, "Can God's hand reach me, even here?" The question was, "What question would you wish me to ask?" Are you doing Lent meditations? (Yes, three! Also, yes, Forward Day by Day) Are you fasting? (Yes -- until 3pm).Read any good poems lately? (Yes, in Kwame Alexander's collection of contemporary Black poets celebrating joy.) What are you looking forward to? (Glass class, fish tacos.) Are you feeling better? (Yes, thank you.) When is Mommy getting home from her trip? (Implied answer: I can't wait, either.)

Yr. C, Living as Spiritually Mature Christians, Unit 4 Integrating Belief, Behavior, and Doctrine: 1st yr: Tom, Joyce, Donfred, Scott; 2nd yr: Jessica; 3rd yr, Susan; 4th yr, Pete, Nuno, Marilyn. Mentors: Susan and Scott. Absent: None.

Discussion of the Readings
Jessica started us off: I still don’t love Paul but he’s growing on me. His pastoral letters are so different from today’s world, BUT – interesting how Powell brings to light the theme of Paul opposing “false teachers” who taught what people wanted to hear, and led special classes on secret knowledge: SCIENTOLOGY SAME THING!

Paul, Ezra, and Nehemiah are all leaders seeking to spread justice, defined by Sedgwick as "the realization of love" at the scale of community. Marilyn: justice is giving up self for others – “covenant needs to move from economy of exchange to one of mutual benefit” Tom – “Binding social capital” – (paying it forward, what goes around comes around, karma) In some European countries its customary to buy two coffees and give one away. Tom saw Nehemiah as a good model for leadership: He saw things as they were. He saw competing interests, enemies, bad things on his own side, and he made decisions, and he led his people with weapons in hand… And he pays artisans… and the singers!

How do you connect Love and Justice? Pete said, HOSPITALITY is the root covenant for both LOVE and Justice. Justice includes law, reconciliation, caring for the poor, sacrifice. Sedgwick defines HOSPITALITY as putting yourself on an equal footing with the other. Nuno – “distributive justice” decide what is good, what should be done, and deciding WHO should decide! Nuno says, a lot of good in theory, but in real world, other problems come up and you need another answer.

Joyce got mixed signals on hospitality with the exiles returning, finding Jews left behind and immigrants, and saying NO WE DON’T WANT YOU – WE ARE THE PURE ONES! Tension between Jewish community and everyone else in the land! Susan – distressed – counter-reformation spreads beyond Europe to the world in “age of exploration” She calls “age of exploitation” – to Americas and Asia. Land grab, carving up the peoples who already live there. Church didn’t have sovereignty over lands, but acted as he did. Colonizing lands, people, exterminating… Bartoleme de las Casas – priest feels bad for indigenous peoples’ forced labor: his solution is tragic -- to bring hardier Africans to the Americas.

Tom won a trip to Albany (NY, not GA) to see the NCAA Women's Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight over the Easter Weekend.

Theological Reflection
After Nuno read an evocative love poem by Pablo Neruda, both in English and in Spanish, we focused on such closeness that the poet confuses the lover's hand on his chest with his own. We realized that this intimacy could also be parent-child. We also explored the idea that it could be Creator - Creation. (Funny, we didn't think of the Virgin Mary with infant Jesus).

We offered this collection of prayers or promises inspired by the poem, our discussion, and the memories that both had stirred up:

I pray to continue love God the way he loves me
We pray to bring our hearts and minds to the knowledge and love of God so that in turn we may draw those who cross our path to the knowledge and love of God through the Good News
I pray for guidance and candid introspection for myself, and for the health and wellbeing for my loved ones.
I thank You for the gift of writing, as I feel You most intensely when I struggle to describe You.
I pray for a world where less is more...that maybe in the silence, love can be shared and experienced in a real way...where we will see ourselves and others as children of God...loveable and beautiful...no boundaries.
What I cannot speak of, remain silent. Language has its limits.
I pray to be that love that never leaves in my children’s lives, even when I’m not there.
I promise to trust Him. Not to attepmt to try and figures things out on my own, but to wait for His guidance to what is His best.
I pray for a closer connection with You, Your love, and Your will for me.

For Next Week
Scott does worship; Donfred brings the TR.

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Yr. C, Wk. 25: From 2D to 4D

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Worship and Gathering
Pete's worship was a collection of opening prayers. He started with Howard Thurman's plea to God to "open unto me" in several ways. Pete's gathering question was, "How do you set aside time for prayer and reflection?" We agreed that it has to be intentional. Scott and Pete agreed on Forward Day by Day. Nuno opened up another angle when he said that his children give him reminders to pray all day long, and watching them play can be his quiet time of reflection and gratitude. They give "little tugs" to do spiritual reading, too. "It all feeds me."

Yr. C, Living as Spiritually Mature Christians, Unit 4 Integrating Belief, Behavior, and Doctrine: 1st yr: Tom, Joyce, Donfred, Scott; 2nd yr: Jessica; 3rd yr, Susan; 4th yr, Pete, Nuno, Marilyn. Mentors: Susan and Scott. Absent: Joyce, Donfred. Technical issues kept Tom out around 40 minutes.

Discussion of the Readings
The intertwining of faith with politics is an old story. Susan saw it in the counter-reformation as the Hapsburgs built power on taking sides in religious conflict. Pete observed that Hapsburgs and other royal houses going back millennia have derived their authority from God or gods. For Jessica, there’s a parallel between the RC response to Lutheranism and Paul’s sensitivity to Thessalonians' fear, stoked by teachers, that the Second Coming had already happened.

Love came up a lot, too. Paul loved the Thessalonians so much that he set up a shop to live among them awhile – and his fondness shows in his writing. (Jessica thought 2nd Thess was like Paul's "cover" of his love song in 1st.) Marilyn’s takeaways from Sedgwick’s chapter on Incarnate Love turned out to influence our conclusions to the TR she brought: Looking out towards the other – neighbors, giving – mutual recognition – to be seen and valued as the other in best possible way – mutuality – “embrace” --

Nuno – responding to Marilyn, brought out some more from Sedgwick: the world sees love as a means to status, or property, or self-fulfillment. But it's looking out for the other person’s benefit. Nuno related this to the Counter-reformation: What are the real motives of the Church – power, self-legitimacy, or this other kind of love?

Scott asked all 4 years to say what they think of "prophecy" now that they've had EfM? Are prophets like fortune-tellers? Preachers? Political cartoonists? We had a range of answers that agreed on some points:

• Speaking what God wants you to speak – Tom – rarely about seeing the future.
• Pete – other traditions see speaking in tongues and snake-handling as a kind of prophecy
• Jessica – prophet is a messenger. Tom, agrees. Jeremiah for example: “I put my words in your mouth.”
• Susan – old testament sense of prophets is that they give messages that people don’t want to hear.
• Pete – "prophet" is an antiquated term for what Martin Luther King Jr was… We call them leaders, or activists. I have a dream sounds like old-fashioned prophecy. (King's mentor Howard Thurman, with whom Pete began tonight's worship, is described in Scott's personal blog as a prophet. See Howard Thurman: Real Prophecy.)
• Scott grateful for an insight from Yee's book, which scours the Bible for lives of those whom the male authors despised, took for granted, or did not see. Prophets, among them Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and Joel, privileged as educated men, lost everything in the exile. Beaten down, despised, disconnected from the sources of their identities, they introduced a broader perspective – Empathy – to the set of writings that became Scripture. Though their metaphors and parables can be dismissive or violent towards women, there is an aesthetic way to read the prophets for the effects they intended. (Empathy, too, came up in the TR)

Nuno didn't choose the secret square, but everyone felt that his insight deserved to win. So he's getting a professional ballet troupe to visit his home and give a private show for his family and friends. Congratulations!

Theological Reflection
We imaginatively "enter the world" of an image or metaphor every time, but this is the first time that the world we entered was this one that we live in, a world where human beings can look at an image and be sucked into it, the barriers of space and years dissolving away. From 2D to 4D: How wonderful is that?

Marilyn started with the image above, a photo long displayed in her aunt's home. Like "Mary Poppins," Marilyn as a child would "jump into" that picture and explore the place imaginatively. Marilyn paired that with a photo of very young sisters, her mother Mary being one, her aunt the other -- both now gone. We could all buy in to the notion of photographs that take us back to another time. Marilyn was also thinking of all the life and some suffering ahead of those little girls smiling in the photo.

We examined our 2D→4D idea with theological categories:

• Creation: In this world, the one we live in, we can go through into 2d image and experience 4d reality. We are created with imagination, and that’s powerful. WE are also participating in the experience, not just receptors (docile).
• Sin or brokenness: Trying to find answers where there may not be answers, getting too far into that other world or that side of yourself, or trying to use the other side for a purpose it wasn’t intended – ex. Abusing an image that was intended for joy to be used as an idol or a magical object – making it transactional. ALSO: Loss of imagination! Denial of imagination!
• Restore wholeness: Christ culture v world culture – restores wholeness – but very different from world culture… not transactional… Jesus called the disciples to throw down their allegiances to themselves, prioritizing the other… LOVE DANGEROUSLY --

We connected this experience/idea to our tradition and culture. In Orthodox Christianity, icons bring you to places you’ve NOT been before, deeper truths, inspiration; lift us out of ourselves; help us to access ourselves (truer, deeper); and expand our perspective. Such effects aren't limited to visual images: poetry and stories and the parables of Jesus all do these things. NOT movies or TV, Tom said: Power lost when the makers over-determine what we see with their CGI effects.

Insights: A picture can move us away from our own selves to have empathy for the ones in the picture. Imagination to see more deeply into others – deeper than “before you judge a man, walk a mile in their shoes." Marilyn said this isn't about the picture, but the "stretch" in us as we are drawn into it. Biblical flat earthers have a 2D perspective on a 4D world! 2D faith looks at the world without seeing other dimensions, others’ points of view, other nuances… Great humility comes from knowing that we cannot see all the dimensions.

Pete stepped up to work on the collect:

For understanding of art, life and all of the treasures we can unveil
O heavenly and omniscient Father, who aids us in the understanding of life, art, and human nature: We beseech thee to guide and help us to use our humility, our experience, and most importantly, our imagination so that we may be brought to places that we have not been before. We seek to do this in such a manner as to find deeper truths and inspiration for living in an appropriate way to honor you and your selfless Son, Jesus. We pray this in your name O Father, reigning with our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

For Next Week
Susan leads worship; Nuno brings a source for another TR.

Extra: Inspired by Marilyn, we have some baby pictures.

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Yr. C, Wk. 24: Prophets, Paul, and Protestants

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Worship and Gathering
Jessica stepped in with worship because Pete was away. She drew on the Lenten meditation for the day by Miguel Escobar of Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD), and she concluded with a closing prayer from the New Zealand BCP.

Jessica's question picked up on the theme of forgiveness: "What step towards forgiveness could you take today?" Write a long rebuttal to something on Facebook, and then delete it... Keep eyes on the road instead of yelling at the radio... Just don't respond... Be kind... Ask yourself, if someone has done you wrong and they refuse to acknowledge it, are you going to let that dictate your feelings?

Yr. C, Living as Spiritually Mature Christians, Unit 4 Integrating Belief, Behavior, and Doctrine: 1st yr: Tom, Joyce, Donfred, Scott; 2nd yr: Jessica; 3rd yr, Susan; 4th yr, Pete, Nuno, Marilyn. Mentors: Susan and Scott. Absent: Pete, Marilyn.

Discussion of the Readings

Donfred – the Power of God is emphasized so much, NO ONE BESIDE ME, The story of the Serpent / Dragon. Hope of the future: The Servant songs. Joyce – interesting division of Isaiah in two or three – Isaiah II seems more positive to Joyce. Cyrus of Persia conquered Israel but “won them over” – as Jeremiah said, don’t resist! Live for the Lord while you’re there… Compared to a NEW EXODUS… Let’s see if we can get it right this time! Joyce sees personal teaching here in command, don’t look back to fret, but look at what I’m doing for you now!

1 Y4 continued – Protestants v. Catholics, interpretation v. tradition…. How we worship together more than what we believe – England’s settlement of Belief, and the mixing – those Anglo Catholics in 19th century emphasizing sacraments. “BIG TENT” he loved that. Personal: Nuno and both RC and Protestant parents and how he went down the middle

Tom – nationalism – the Anglicans were able to bring together because so much nationalism turning inward At that time.

Y3 (Scott and Susan – emphasis on the Queen of England’s decision NOT to insist on a faith, so long as there’s outward compliance. “I make no windows into men’s souls.” – Susan – Protestant reformation – religious v. political melded together tied to a shrinking of the Holy Roman Empire, and pockets rising up, and leaders… “You need a score card!” As an Anglican Susan sees it as, eventually, a kind of progress. But so much violence along with reforms…

Y2 – Jessica – in Colossians esp. (says Powell): Philippians was warning against the circumcising dog and the flesh – Collossians seems more COSMIC. Powell: he’s emphasizing the Roman theology in that specific geographical area. So, Religion and Political situation related; Paul tries to keep it on Christ.

By choosing the secret square, Joyce won a trip to Singapore for the Lunar New Year!

Theological Reflection
Marilyn was ill and couldn't bring her source for a TR.

For Next Week
Pete leads worship; Marilyn brings a source for the TR.

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Yr. C, Wk. 23: Shrove Tuesday Feast begins the Journey of Lent

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Worship and Gathering
Before leading us in worship, Nuno shared the meanings he'd found for the names for the Tuesday before Lent: Mardi Gras is "fat Tuesday," Carnival is "farewell to meat," and Shrove Tuesday comes from the act of "shriving," i.e., confessing and renouncing our sins.

Following prayers, Nuno asked about a feast before a journey. Were we "sated, rested, and ready?" True to our Theological Reflective practice, we answered with metaphorical feasts and journeys:

• The tomato sandwich prepared by the beloved aunt, now gone, for Jessica to take on a job interview. Though Jessica never liked tomatoes, she says "that sandwich still feeds me."
• The festive dance out the door when Joyce got the better job she had prayed for
• Donfred's first veggie pizza ever when he moved to Brooklyn in high school, and how pizza with a Coke with teammates became a ritual meal before basketball practices
• Steak dinner in styrofoam served in the child's cancer ward, ordered in by the grateful family of Scott's student Chris for all families and staff to celebrate Chris's improvement. Scott remembers it as the last time he saw Chris feeling well.
• Nuno at college working in the student union at the ends of terms when everyone stocked snack foods using up the credits remaining on their meal cards
• Marilyn remembers the perfect poached eggs her mom would prepare sometimes on the mornings of school days, wearing one of her husband's shirts backwards as a smock
• Tom told of a raucous "Viking Night" underground in a bunker for some 40 trainees on the eve of missions from which only six returned, among whom Tom is the only one who can walk.

(Beside Pete's name, I began the word "sated" and crossed it out. Sorry, I don't remember what I was thinking when I made that note!)

Yr. C, Living as Spiritually Mature Christians, Unit 3 Integrating Belief, Behavior, and Doctrine: 1st yr: Tom, Joyce, Donfred, Scott; 2nd yr: Jessica; 3rd yr, Susan; 4th yr, Pete, Nuno, Marilyn. Mentors: Susan and Scott. Absent: None.

Discussion of the Readings
Y4s were eager to share what interested them in Practices of Piety by Timothy Sedgwick. Pete – 1st chapter lays out three different pieties (as in habitus) – habitual reverence, obedience – traditional, modern, and post modern – i.e., Old school v. more focused on the future (making a good society) v. after the collapse of belief in reason and progress. Pete, who sees himself as traditional, is interested in these other ways.

Marilyn is inspired by Sedgwick’s understanding of "church," a community of grace that holds promise that people can change, be forgiven, and have a larger purpose that gives dignity and value to life. She liked his idea that Ethics is more than a “narrow duty” but a way of living outward beyond yourself. Growing in service and love … Continual, no endpoint – (even death – a new beginning point)

Nuno delighted – re vice and virtue based on Greeks, courage and prudence and fortitude – reminding Nuno of the different approaches to the storm in last week’s TR – and all of them good. Sedgwick gets creative when he talks about those different pieties, not just in the eras of the 20th century, but also in his own personal life – (he was young man hopeful, then Vietnam broke faith in improving the world and he focused more on own development) – None of these is just right or just wrong, but we all move around these different camps – creative in his way of showing this is a spectrum. Contrasts RC v Protestant -- RC Virtue is KNOWLEDGE of the Good – it is the experience of God that imparts these virtues ( you don’t just grow into them) – versus more Protestant view that you get it by hearing the Gospel, and works flow from that… Nuno says, "Again he talks from both ends towards the center, it helps with discussing the ideas. Heart of the argument: is it experiential or knowledge based? Not that one is good and one is bad …(Original meaning of Torah, not a set of rules, but a way of living…)

Other years held back a bit.

Jessica delighted in Ephesians, happy feelgood letter… Powell reports on debate whether it’s Paul or not – parallels to Colossians – May be sort of how priests do one good sermon and then spin it to re-use in another church! Why not? Also delighted to recognize so much of Ephesians in the BCP.

Susan reported on Bubonic Plague with the rise of self-punishing cults and the new doctrine of purgatory to take care of all those who died unshriven, and then the rise of indulgences to pay for loved ones' release from purgatory --> Reformation cause celebre. Also, shifts in theology in late middle ages, esp. William of Ockham’s view supplants the Christianized Aristotelian view – changes the game towards development of Science, rise of the modern sciences as we think of them

For Y1, Joyce broke a record for speaking up in class. "Jeremiah compared to Moses – felt unprepared but did it anyway. Spoke out against social injustice, Jehoiakim using poor to build up his house… professional prophets telling what others want to hear… Ezekiel’s dramatic stories, but the only time he balked was cooking over human dung…! Impact on Joyce? Being honest with yourself – Ezekiel finds it’s hard to do…" Tom remarked on Jeremiah’s "optimistic letter to the exiles… In 70 years you’re going home… This is not the end…"

Theological Reflection
We started late to accommodate Shrove Tuesday festivities, so, no TR this week.

For Next Week
We read assignments in RRG wk 24. Advanced report from Y4 is that chapter 2 is GREAT! But ask me about chapter 3 before next week. Pete brings worship and a gathering question; Marilyn brings a source for a TR.

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Yr. C, Wk. 22: Echoes and Tempests

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Worship and Gathering
We started with concerns: our missing EfMer Kathy's tough circumstances at home, Marilyn's ailing dog Bessie, Jessica's upcoming procedure.

Marilyn's opening prayer introduced the idea of echoes. She then assigned us psalms to read in pairs, one reader echoing the other. Then we told of "echoes" in our lives. The phrase "Time will tell" repeated in a significant way... the chainsaw during yardwork... the puppy that has just found his voice... lines echoing the tune in the choral anthem... "Be still and know that I am God" heard at church and then again at the doctor's office... echoes in translations. Marilyn's prayer summed up these with a petition that we may find light in sleeptime and hear echoes of different voices.

Yr. C, Living as Spiritually Mature Christians, Unit 3 Developing a Sustaining Spirituality: 1st yr: Tom, Joyce, Donfred, Scott; 2nd yr: Jessica; 3rd yr, Susan; 4th yr, Pete, Nuno, Marilyn. Mentors: Susan and Scott. Absent: After the break, Nuno came from another meeting.

Discussion of the Readings
We all read the same essay written to answer the question, "What does systematic theology do for us?" We used chat to type our answers: moves toward wholeness...is a "recommendation for life"...brings the pieces together into a whole... gives a shape for our consciousness of the world around us... helps us to consider all possible dimensions... moves us towards coherence and consistency of doctrine, belief, and behavior... helps us to communicate our faith to others through different images, explanations, approaches... builds habitus, takes time and practice... provides a methodology of developing our understanding of our faith... offers opportunity to focus on religious belief in detail through the study of the scriptures.

These themes emerged from the discussion that followed:

• Theme of dogma, its actual meaning and its negative connotations. Systematic theology finds a way between authoritarian religion and the free-form kind. Dogma is an essential belief tested by time and ecumenical councils. We only have two dogmas: trinity and two natures of Jesus (fully human, fully God). Other “core” doctrines can be tested for what they provide to use on micro-, meso-, or macro- levels.
• How institutions can be an expression of love in society, i.e., love on a meso-scale.
• Theme of EfM practice echoing through the reading. Marilyn suggested that “playing” with faith, i.e., using the imagination, is what we do in Theological Reflection.

Theological Reflection
Tom brought us Rembrandt's Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee. Our discussion eventually focused on the patch of sunny blue sky in the upper left hand corner of the canvas: the storm is about to clear, but the apostles, fighting the waves, don't see the sky.

We found buy-in to this moment of panic: Tom’s ship 1979, Pandemic (t.p. crisis) … kitchen in restaurant… airplane turbulence. Like small business owner making a decision about closing or keeping going, for sake of employees. Darkness and panic are not necessarily bad things. Scared, there’s a gaggle of guys who do whatever they can to make sure they can go forward – worry… panic goes into action …energizing – seeing hope, thinking this might be the tipping point, there’s this final push through… pressing on.

Joyce related the image to Psalm 107 about those who went down to the sea in ships and experienced storms. This is also the Hebrews freaking out in the wilderness and the apostles forlorn in the upper room, just before God is revealed in the situation. It’s Dorothy when the house lands, and when the witch sets the scarecrow on fire; when Rick’s place is closed down by the Nazis. We looked at situations in the world today, the panic of citizens in Ukraine being mentioned specifically.

Gathering insights and applications, we heard another echo of “Be still and know that I am God!” Scott saw a collect emerging from the fourth column and volunteered to complete it. Here it is:

Collect on the Waves

Eternal Father, strong to save those in peril on the sea: when we fight waves that mount to the heavens, remind us to be still inside and know You are the God who stills the waves to a whisper; and while we are in harbor, let your Holy Spirit urge us to study, pray, and serve others, for, by these habits, we prepare for storms we know will come. Amen.

Marilyn offered this prayer afterward:

Dear God, as I lay me down to sleep, relax the tension of my body; calm the restlessness of my mind; still the thoughts which worry and perplex me.

Help me to rest myself and all my problems in your strong and loving arms.

Let your Spirit speak to my mind and heart while I am asleep, so that, when I wake up in the morning, I may find that I have received in the night-time, light for my way; strength for my tasks; peace for my worries; forgiveness for my sins.

Grant me sleep tonight, and tomorrow power to live.

For Next Week
We will begin at 7:30 to allow for participation in Shrove Tuesday events at our churches. Nuno will lead worship and pose a gathering question. We'll discuss the readings and adjourn at 8:45.

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Yr. C, Wk. 21: Like a Rolling Stone

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Worship and Gathering
For worship, Donfred assigned each of us a line from Prayers of the People Form III, saving a collect for the end. His gathering question about our favorite Christmas movie brought a wide variety: It's a Wonderful Life, Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol, Home Alone, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, The Holiday, Miracle on 34th St, any retelling of Christmas Carol, and, finally, "Christmas Vacation, because it reminds me of my own family," Tom said.

Yr. C, Living as Spiritually Mature Christians, Unit 3 Developing a Sustaining Spirituality: 1st yr: Tom, Joyce, Donfred, Scott; 2nd yr: Jessica; 3rd yr, Susan; 4th yr, Pete, Nuno, Marilyn. Mentors: Susan and Scott. Absent: Nuno.

Discussion of the Readings
Y1s were paired with other years in three breakout rooms. After sharing what stood out to them, pairs were asked to look in their readings for any evidence of spiritual growth in the collective people of God. Y1 saw spiritual growth evident in the prophets' teaching that God wants his people to take care of the weakest among them, with justice. Y2 found Paul teaching the Galatians how to grow up in their faith, as freedom from the law was not license to sin. Y3 told how the Russian people in the countryside, isolated by harsh winters, found community and spiritual depth in their village churches. For Y4, McIntosh's final chapter "hit me hard," Pete said, and Marilyn was moved too by the author's idea of “Personhood” in the stories of our lives, the thought behind the action, when you become the action. "You’ve got to do something yourself, you can’t just let it happen." That sounds like maturity to me!

oil painting by Ludwig Thiersch, d. 1909

Theological Reflection
Joyce had us reflect on John 11:39-40, Martha's warning to Jesus not to open her brother's tomb, a risk of stench and disease (which ancients thought came from bad air). Marilyn handed us both our focus and an image when she said that we all have stones that must be rolled away to make miraculous life possible. Of course, we thought of that other tomb and that other stone. We had cultural references to Oz and to Buffy the Vampire-Slayer. Personal buy-in for this one was especially strong, as several of us faced fears to make important moves in our lives. Jessica related the image to what churches face with their budgets and spending -- "we must have faith to go forward before the money is in hand, and trust that the action will yield greater knowledge and trust of God-- AND money!"

Each of us went to the "chat" function to type a line of prayer regarding the stones in our lives, whether the line be of petition, confession, or thanksgiving.

• Father, I pray that as we trust You to roll away our stones, that we would be drawn closer to You.
• Thanks for Mo Pat, our interim rector
• Lord, help me move the personal "stones" in my life to give me an unobstructed way to living in the path that you would like me to follow.
• Almighty God, please move the stone(s) blocking my way to Your path ahead for me, stones I have no ability to move by myself.
• Dear Lord, for all the burdens we carry that feel like heavy stones in our arms, we give thanks for the ability to lay those stones at the foot of the cross knowing that You are our strength.
• I thank you for the patience and persistence that has helped my family to roll away the heavy burden of debt
• Dear God, Help me find faith when dealing with obstacles, to lead me to opportunities where I can help others, and learn more about your never-ending love.
• Manifesting unexpected blessing, financial stability, peace of mind, emotional healing and strength may this day bring joy and overflowing success in Jesus name.

Jessica shared with Scott a sermon about stones and burdens that she gave to St. Teresa's on Ascension Sunday May 21, 2023. Here's the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nib-yzDtndQ. Her homily begins 30 minutes into the video. Jessica, I admire the way you acknowledge the downsides and conflicts with your church, and also how you get specific lifting up the ways the Spirit is working through individuals there. You tell them about stones laid down at the end of the the Via Santiago as a kind of sacrament, as demonstrated when your people line up to lay their stones down at the based of the cross.

For Next Week
Marilyn brings worship and a gathering question; Tom brings a source for the TR. Nuno will be out at another meeting.

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