Yr. A, wk. 4: History, Ancient and Personal

Members:  Lauren, Thomas, Eugene, Mariel, first year;  Erika, second year; Scharme, third year; Bill and Lynne Lovelace, fourth year; Scott and Susan, mentors. Absent:Lauren.

Sandpiper over water

Scott prepared chicken Caesar salad on-site.  Lynne led us through a Celtic prayer service, including "Expressions of Faith" such as

Lord, You have always given bread for the coming day; and though I am poor, today I believe.
Lord, You have always given strength for the coming day, and though I am weak, today I believe.
Lord, You have always givenpeace for the coming day; and though of anxious heart, today I believe....

Lynne's "on-board" question was, "Which expression of faith fits your recent experience?"  We had a wide range of answers, and we found some things we had in common.

Our discussion of the readings began with Erika's interest in the ancient approach to biography,  focused more on moral truth than in accuracy.  We thought of more recent examples of that same approach to history.  Erika offered a personal experience of the opposite when she heard someone at a conference re-cap their shared experience with accurate facts that missed all the meaning.

Scharme built on the "history" angle by giving us a broad overview of 1000 years of Judaism up to the century after Jesus, the ups and downs of the Northern Kingdom, Southern Kingdom, and later home rule under successive empires.  The group was especially interested to hear that "Hebrew" originally designated any dispossessed or wandering peoples.  

The first year students picked up on a theme that the others raised, of important articles of faith that emerged over time, as we see the development of the concept of "Satan" starting with the "crafty" serpent, and the development of the idea of an afterlife in the last prophets and exposures to Hellenistic ideas of a soul separate from the body.   Students enjoyed highlighting two "accounts" of creation in Genesis, which Mariel saw as two approaches to the same story rather than different stories.  (The first story is told in terms of "project management" on a schedule with "quality control": "It was good.")

Fourth year explored theology between two extremes of atheistic denial of faith and fundamentalist denial of anything outside the believer's creed.  The most important point, they said, was that theology should not be a purely academic exercise, but must apply to society.

Following our break, we heard four remaining spiritual autobiographies.  Without divulging personal details, we can remember the stories by their forms:

One told of discovering at St. James a second chance at living with family, work, and play "under new standards."  Another took a haiku about a sandpiper "conducting the waves" for an image to describe the ebb and flow of spirituality, connected with disengagement and re-engagement with church.  The story of another student developed between two texts, Psalm 121 ("I look up" -- to the hills, to the stars, to a new perspective on earth-bound life) and a hymn, "Draw nearer to God and He will draw nearer to you."  Another student focused on two anecdotes of being in the right place at the right time for grace -- receiving grace, and dispensing it.

Next week:  Readings for Week 5. Bill and Lynne will provide food, and Mariel will lead worship.  Scott and Susan will introduce Theological Reflection through the "Wide Angle Lens" method, applied to our stories.  See p. 275 in the RRG.

Yr. A, Wk. 3: Ancient Worlds and Texts

Members:  Lauren, Thomas, Eugene, Mariel, first year;  Erika, second year; Scharme, third year; Bill and Lynne Lovelace, fourth year; Scott and Susan, mentors. Absent: None.

Lauren provided our meal of "sliders."  This week's worship by Erika came to us from a reading on her phone, and her question about the intersection of faith with technology brought answers of surprising depth.  

Each year's readings seemed to center on the ancient Greek / Roman / Hebrew  world.  An interesting observation was that the Jewish world in the time of Jesus was very different from the Jewish world of the Hebrew Scriptures, texts already centuries old in his day.  

St. Nick punches Arius

A side conversation concerned St. Nicholas as the one who physically stood up for the Incarnation against a flavor of Gnosticism that would deny it.   (Link to my summary of Fr. Daron's sermon on St Nicholas.)

Our fourth year students picked up on what they'd heard others say.  Lynne applied something that struck her in the reading, that we need a sense of the past to make sense in a time of cultural flux.  Bill picked up on the words "tradition" and "ritual," which can be "dry and dead," but which also anchor faith -- so that we don't seek truth just anywhere.  (He cited recent sermons at St. James.)  He liked the idea in theology of "dialogue" among eras, and that we shouldn't automatically go to the middle, NOR to one side.

After the break, we heard four spiritual autobiographies, each in a different form. We heard a completely - written short story about a single afternoon of early childhood that contained in it lifelong spiritual principles; a development of a metaphor from gardening (turning up soil); an account of the way that spiritual practice has been a source of strength, just as sports practice can be; and a story that reminded the teller of the prophet Jonah, who tried to get away from God, but God kept drawing him back.     

Next week: Readings and questions for 4th week as listed in the RRG.  Food: Scott. Worship: Lynne.  Four remaining spiritual autobiographies.

Yr. A, Wk. 2: "Faithful Living is Contextual"

Members:  Lauren, Thomas, Eugene, Mariel, first year;  Erika, second year; Scharme, third year; Bill and Lynne Lovelace, fourth year; Scott and Susan, mentors.  Absent: Eugene.

Scharme brought pizza for dinner, and cookies for dessert.  Bill provided worship from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, "f" and "s" confufed all the the way through.  On this evening after a weekend of Hurricane Irma, he drew a question about "frailty" from the collect.  We related recent events regarding parents, physical pains, and vulnerability to the weather.

We used the "mutual invitation" method to draw everyone into discussion of the reading.  We asked, "Why is it 'your' world?... Can we listen without thinking of what we want to say? ... Do I already divide things too much -- is context just another division?  ...What ministry will I be called to?  ... Can I listen to (my son) (my daughter) and not merely "hear"?... What can I draw from the image of water shaped by its cup? ... It's common sense how the contexts of our lives shape our views, but who knows that? ... How can I use "listening" as a teacher? ... What are the implications of the observation (p. 23) that 'God works in different contexts?'

Scott drew particular attention to rules on p. 22 - not to repeat someone else's story, even within the group, even to someone who was absent.

After the dessert break, we moved to the other room for two mentors' ten-minute spiritual autobiographies.

Next week: Lauren provides food, Erika leads worship, and the autobiographies will be shared by Mariel, Scharme, Erika, and Lauren.Year One, add to your assignment the final chapter of Powell's book to your reading assignment -- EfM participants agree that the final chapter makes clear why we read the rest of the book!

Yr. A, Wk. 1: World of EfM

Members:  Lauren, Thomas, Eugene, Mariel, first year;  Erika, second year; Scharme, third year; Bill and Lynne Lovelace, fourth year; Scott and Susan, mentors.  Absent: None.

Susan brought arugala lasagna, bread, orange-radish salad, and cookies.  After introductions, mentors and years 2-4 all spoke to what EfM is for them, and what EfM is not (see the Reading and Reflection Guide, Week One).

We shared personal goals, hopes, and fears for this year of EfM, using "the invitational method." These are some of the ideas that emerged:

I look forward to a resolution of my questions about the history of our church... 
I need a better understanding of the Bible, a formal way in... 
I don't want to be the kind of person who quotes Scripture at people ... 
I hope to make theology more than an academic exercise -- something to help me see miracles in my life and those of others ... 
Can I move from academic theology to personal philosophy and growth? ... 
I have a goal of listening to what everyone else has to say, to keep an open mind... 
I hope that we can find commonality in this ... 
I hope we continue to make good connections between readings and our theological reflections... 
I want us to write good collects to pull our lessons / reflections together.

After a review of p. 319, we discussed norms for the group, and then explored the metaphor of "worlds."  What emerged?  

Faith itself is the center, drawing us, nourishing us, enlightening us ("faith is a way of seeing").  Other qualities of the sun might apply to our faith as well:  it's too vast to apprehend at one time, a provider of energy that is constantly in motion, exploding, not defined the way a solid would be, intangible yet felt.
When we come together, we should keep focused on that center, shutting out the peripheral issues of our own worlds. 
Thinking of another kind of orbit of electrons around a nucleus, we remember the Heisenberg principle, that the orbits may be anything but circular, very unlike each other, and yet still centered.
What happens in our universe stays in our universe.
The orbits are regular in time, synchronized with each other; our studies and schedule are likewise cyclical, and we must keep up.
Being planets in motion, we should expect our perspectives on our faith to change with time.  
Each world exerts influence on every other one: we must be aware of the effects we have on others, and avert collisions. 
When we visit another's world, we should breathe deep the atmosphere.

There are stars beyond our system: this is a start, not the end.
It's beautiful.

After a break, we repaired to the Pilgrimage room for worship from the BCP, "for close of day" with a reading from Forward Day by Day which focused on the "brokenness" of Peter when the cock crowed and he had denied Jesus three times.  Scott asked, "How have you been broken, and felt somehow stronger for it?"  We shared some answers from our recent experiences. 

Next week, we read "Week 2" in the RRG.  Scharme provides food, Bill leads worship (and brings a check - in question).  For these first few weeks, the theological reflection will build gradually via spiritual autobiographies.  Scott and Susan will model with their own versions:  The "Worlds" of their lives, focused on a five-year period, lasting around 10 minutes. 

"Be the Kingdom": Ideas for the "Action" Part of our Theological Reflections

Jesus tells his contemporaries to stop looking for signs of God's Kingdom to come: "For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you" (Luke 17.21).   Today's meditation on this gospel, printed in Forward Day by Day, suggests that we "meet a simple need for someone today," to "Be the kingdom."

I thought instantly of my buddies Kitty and her mate Terry. Before she retired to Florida to be a full-time grandmother, she was my colleague at school for some fifteen years; together, they hosted me for countless get-togethers at their home, meals out, and concerts.  But Kitty also set an example of meeting a simple need for someone every day.   When she knew that my play rehearsals were going late, she provided me with ready-made meals to take home with me.  She provided treats for my dogs.  Sometimes, she just gave me a note of support.   All around me, others received similar gifts.  "Make someone's day every day" is her motto.  Or, as FDxD suggests, "Be the kingdom."

Forward Day by Day lately has added a daily feature, "Moving Forward," suggesting action to go with each day's meditation. Some are actions for others, some for our own edification. Here are a few from the current and preceding issues that strike me as good ideas:

• Inspired by Psalm 108, "Write your own poem today and share" via social media.
• Inspired by three one-word prayers that comprise Anne Lamott's latest book Help! Thanks! Wow!, "keep a list of your 'Help! Thanks! Wow' moments to use during evening prayer time.
• Inspired by Mary's seeking support from her cousin Elizabeth, we're advised to send a note or give a call to the Elizabeths in our lives. (Kitty, are you reading this?)
• Inspired by Psalm 78, we're told simply to plan a dinner party for our favorite people.
• Inspired by the lines about fig trees, we're told, "Take a walk around your home today.  What needs to be pruned, cleaned up, or tidied to ensure a fruitful season ahead?"
• Offer concentrated time to someone you love, "no agenda or strings attached."
• Inspired by Deut. 7.6 ("God has chosen you...to be ...His treasured possession"), "set apart a treasure -- a material item, a story, or simply your time -- to share with someone you love today."
• Answer Jesus's question to his followers: "What are you looking for?"
• Inspired by what happened at Cana when they ran out of wine, think, "Do you feel like you are running out? Out of time? Money? Patience? faith? How does this passage speak to these moments of running out?"
• Inspired by John's saying, "He must increase, but I must decrease," contemplate if it's time "to take up less space in someone's life?
• Inspired by Abram's packing up and leaving home, we get the suggestion to "plan a tgrip today [to] visit a neighbor or old friend."
• As the cripple took up his mat to walk, think: "Think of one thing you can do today to take up your mat and walk, to begin to become unstuck."
• After Psalm 92.1, "Write at least five thank you notes today, or write a longer one to God.  Share" on social media.
• After Psalm 23, recall when you walked in the shadow of the valley of death.
• Responding to the institution of the Eucharist in John 6, we're told to "make a list of those who have fed and nourished you with their flesh and blood."

Yr. D, wk. 33: Esther and "Amazing Grace"

Present:  Scharme, Susan, Erica, Lynne, Scott.  Erica brought dinner; Lynne led worship from the story of the women coming to the empty tomb, with commentary: "We're not told how Jesus rose."  Lynne asked us about other "unseen" processes in our lives.

Students drew cards. one at a time, and explained the card before writing a phrase of summary. We found overlaps and connections among readings in Ephesians, Ruth, Esther, and the history of Protestantism pro- and contra- slavery.

We connected to the story of John Newton, slave-trader and convertwho wrote the words to "Amazing Grace," and to that line about God's Providence from Mordecai to his reluctant niece Esther, "And who knows whether you have not come to [prominence in] the kingdom for such a time as this?"  

The TR was a personal anecdote that everyone could buy into.  Our image for the thoughts and feelings was the plight of someone launched in a canoe who reaches confidently for the oars, only to realize they're back on shore; ahead, it's Niagara Falls.  [See Susan's illustration.]

Collect for the Unprepared
Most merciful God, You promised to give Moses and Paul the words they needed; You sent out the Hebrews and the Apostles without supplies:  Help us to accept our vulnerability so that we may outgrow pride and trust that You have prepared us for such a time as this. Amen.

Next week:  We're doubling up on readings to wrap up the year before Bill and Lynne's trip.  It'll be brown bag.  Scott will be out. Worship - Erica.  Lynne - TR.

Yr. D, Wk. 32: Job, Corinthians, and Anglicanism

All present.  Bill and Lynne brought lasagna.

Scharme led worship with the Magnificat and readings from Scripture for the day.  Coming on board, we shared moments of Holy Week that moved us to tears: Everyone had something!

After everyone filled in playing cards connected by suit to experience, tradition, culture, and position, we took turns connecting cards of different years to each other.  (See image)



The TR was a family story that all of us could buy into.  We expressed the feeling in a metaphor: Trying to clean up others' mess at the park, while they ridicule you for it.  (See image, right)  When we got to the part about what could redeem the situation, we ran into the idea that just one "second" person to leave the watchers and join in would bring the painful situation to a better place.  We thought of the boy whose sharing of his lunch helped to feed the 5000 - possibly by example as others shared;  Lady Bird Johnson whose gentle exhortations made littering unthinkable; of the boy Brian who shouted across the cafeteria to Peter -- clutching lunch tray, seeing no safe place to sit -- "Hey, Peter, I've saved a seat for you over here!"

Collect for Acting Alone
O Lord, when You called Your disciples, they dropped their work to follow You and changed the world; when the people mocked You, Simon of Cyrene stepped in to help You carry the cross; empower us to act alone in Your name, in faith that others will join us and make a difference.   


Next Week: Erica does food; Smoot brings the TR; Lynne leads worship.