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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Yr. C, Wk. 20: God Reaching to Us, Our Reaching to Others

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Worship and Gathering
As a last-minute substitute for Donfred, Scott's liturgy allotted lines from recent collects by Nuno and Jessica for the start and end of our meeting. For a gathering question, he asked what sport or game would make a good analogy for your recent week? Jessica said Jeopardy, because answers have led her to more questions, both at work and at home. We had several games of ping-pong being played by Marilyn, Joyce, and Susan. After a tough week with little sleep, Pete said he's playing chess, moving slowly, considering lots of options. Nuno is trying to get back to a simple game of checkers after the big-world fast-paced game of Risk he's been playing. Tom's life has been like track meets of his youth: long periods of waiting for a few seconds of frenetic activity. Scott is playing Scrabble each week, finding new combinations for the same tiles.

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: Donfred.

Discussion of the Readings
Scott kicked off the discussion with Collins's chicken-and-egg question about Amos and Hosea: is the humane, just, international God they describe a recovery of the original covenant, or did the prophets add a dimension of morality to those books through editors who compiled the early sources into the scripture we now know? Nuno sees how editing can be divinely inspired as well as the original texts. Susan gave examples from Y3 of revisions to long-accepted histories of the Churches East and West.

Aside from the editing question, Tom and Joyce both spoke strongly about the emotion and love in those prophets. “They reveal the heart of God,” Tom said. Joyce was touched by the hope at the ends of the books.

Jessica continued the theme of looking beyond what was written to how scripture was written. She begins to appreciate the difficulties Paul had in communicating to the Corinthians, as he urged them to enter into "the mind in Christ."

In an aside, Jessica feels the Spirit working in our study, as the readings seem to be giving her texts that she needed to read just now. For Marilyn, what Jessica said about the “mind in Christ” relates to McIntosh – it's human “disintegration” and our self-preservation that keeps us separated, our unwillingness to risk vulnerability. Marilyn added, “The hardest times in my life were when I saw myself as alone…” Scott recommended poet / essayist Christian Wiman, whose return to faith occurred just before he was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer. Central to Wiman's faith is that vulnerability of the Lord, who called out from the cross, “My God why have you forsaken me?"

Theological Reflection

Susan brought a cartoon depicting a young man's dog responding joyously to the attention of a young woman on the sidewalk, who is evidently a stranger facing the opposite direction. The artist is Ali Solomon. Her work appears in The New Yorker. (See an interview with her at BoredPanda.com)

The group's interest lay in the young man's evident disaffection, even discomfort. As we got further away from the source, we got into a metaphor -- someone out in the water, seeing lively activity among people on shore.

More than usual, we found applications to our own churches, especially with regard to newcomers and members who feel excluded or timid about getting involved. "Being friendly" is not a simple answer. From our reflection, Tom wrote this collect:

Collect regarding OutsidersAlmighty and all-knowing God, having created us, You know all of your people, Your sons and daughters, better than we know ourselves, what gives us joy and what gives us devastating agony, where we are healthy and where we are in debilitating pain, when we are competent and when we are absolutely helpless, when we feel loved and when we feel it is hopeless that anyone will ever love us, even You, Merciful Father; since we ourselves are in such desperate need of your restoration and redemption, and we ourselves are unable to help ourselves in any good and meaningful way, give us such sensitivity to the needs of each member of Your family around us, especially of the newcomers in our midst, so that we may be to Your sons and daughters Your heart, Your shoulders, Your arms, and Your hands to guide them to that which You know they need, to that which brings them Your restoration and redemption, and to that which gives them greater knowledge and life-giving connection with You, Who with our Great Kinsman-Redeemer, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory, now and forever, Amen.

For Next Week
We do the readings for Week 21. Donfred will lead worship and bring a question to gather us in our community. Joyce will bring a source for the TR.

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Yr. C, Wk. 19: Here Am I!

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Worship and Gathering
Tom led a worship liturgy, a mix of praise, confession, and thanksgiving. His gathering question to us was, "What were you doing when praise / awe / reverence spontaneously erupted in you?" Our answers involved listening to the awesome sound of a pipe organ; being in nature, "looking out and looking up," and exploring the creek behind the house with daughters; petting the cat while reading and listening; listening to (or singing with) favorite songs; watching the fish in a pond staying out of each others way; appreciating the confluence of art and music and words in outstanding scenes of musical theatre.

Tom posed a follow-up question: What can we do to ensure that we do these activities more often? Thank you!

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: None.

Discussion of the Readings
After sharing in small groups what stood out in our readings, each group collaborated on a statement with a "big BUT" in it (with a nod to Sir Mixalot:

• Things were very strict and by the book, but there was also a lot of prejudice (against others – tribes, worship) (Pete and Donfred)
• Joyce re Nuno – we’re striving to give our kids more things … but what the kids REALLY want isn’t the things, but their dad and his care and protection. Marilyn was reminded how, as a little girl, she'd pretend to be asleep so dad would carry her to bed
• Jessica summed up Paul's difficulty in a sentence: Christ is the end of Law, but what does that mean?
• Susan reported about the Eastern church's perspective on Church: In the Body of Christ, we’re not just following God, but becoming God.
• After reading a chapter in Yee about the period of Judges (i.e., warlords) and Kings, Scott said that it's a lot of very adolescent male culture, but it's strained through the theological outlook of the Deuteronomist(s).

Theological Reflection
Jessica brought a very short passage from scripture, the call of young Samuel, to which he responded, "Here am I!" We saw four characters in the story: Eli, Samuel, God, and the Reader. We focused on Samuel, and asked, what is that call like? We went with a couple expecting a phone call from the adoption agency.

We explored the world of the phone call. We had a lot of buy-in with this image. Getting the new dog, their was joyous excitement but then realization of responsibility and adjustments... "You want the call but your life will be completely different after"... The father-to-be had to pull over in his car when he heard they’d got the call to have the children, because he was so overwhelmed with emotion. We explored theological categories:

• Creation or wholeness: Nervous excitement, worrying and anticipating future, crying in joy.
• Sin or brokenness: you’re too busy to take the call, you were unprepared (didn’t charge your phone).
• Redemption: Shared duty to answer the phone, use your call waiting, call them right back!

Our discussion culminated in these insights/applications:

• It involves the element of waiting: we’re on someone else’s time line.
• You need to ID the caller!
• Joyful anxiety: it’s a real thing… dogs, daughters, marriage… it’s all-encompassing
• There’s joy in doing your duty, fulfilling your responsibility; it give your purpose
• The intersection of purpose and mission is imaged in The Cross
• Answering a call, we get answers – for someone else.
• God is the one who is waiting for us to call Him!

When a call went out for someone to shape our discussion into a collect, Jessica said, "Here am I!"

Collect for a Call

Holy and Gracious God, You call us to deepen our relationship with You so that through us, we may be vessels of your love and grace to go forth into the world spreading the Good News of the risen Lord. Help guide us along the way and call us back to you when we stray. Give us the strength and courage to say, “Here am I, send me” to help fulfill the mission of drawing all persons into the knowledge and love of You, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Through whom all things are possible. Amen.

For Next Week
Scott will bring worship, because Donfred will be on a training session with the diocese for "Safeguarding God's Children." He'll take his turn next week. Susan will bring a source for a TR.

Below: Marilyn had just read this blogpost about God's calling us when she ran across a prayer of King Alfred from 849 CE, a portion of which has God listening for our call:

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Yr. C, Wk. 18: Kings, Letters, and Angels

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Worship and Gathering
Scott made a point of how flexible worship can be, so long as there are these four elements (whatever the order):

• awe and praise
• confession and assurance of pardon
• God’s word
• our response.

All four elements appeared in Hymn 124 ("What star is this that beams to bright" by Charles Coffin) when we read its verses responsively. So, especially among friends, worship doesn't have to be a formal service from a prayer book. Remember that we've had worship made from psalms, poems, and a dramatic reading about the Witch of Endor. Imagine a liturgy of images, or a liturgy of Calvin and Hobbes cartoons. Anything goes that, as McIntosh might say, intensifies our awe, our recognition, our response to God. Let's just be sure that worship and the gathering question take no more than 10-12 minutes.

The gathering question was, "Now that the holidays are behind us, what are you looking forward to?" Art class... the cat settling back into routine ... preparing for a project in Florida... good career changes coming up... the end of the month to see if tweaks to an Excel spreadsheet pay off... setting up a room to write in. We learned that Donfred has been having a rough time flying to NYC and back several times, dealing with death and illness in the family. Let's keep him in our prayers.

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. Tom came in for the TR.

Discussion of the Readings
Pete started us off with a discussion of metaphor. He sees so many ways that God is like an earthly father, but McIntosh reminds us how far from comprehensive the metaphor is: our parents are beings in this universe, and God the Father is NOT.

If archaeology reveals that Biblical reports of Solomon’s immense wealth and influence are “hyped up,” how important is that to you? What if differences of style and theology in the letters attributed to Paul suggest that some of them were written in Paul’s name by later disciples? Jessica and Pete are less bothered by this than they used to be. It's not the historical record that inspired Joyce in the story of Solomon’s praying for wisdom, his judgment about the baby claimed by two women. Joyce acknowledged that Solomon’s wisdom at first seems to be all about killing anyone who might threaten him. Besides, Jessica said, our theme is “reaching spiritual maturity,” and can’t the differences in the letters be evidence of Paul’s maturing ideas and style? Scott agreed that the Hebrew scriptures themselves show a developing spiritual maturity across 1000 years: that development is at least as important as whatever else goes on in first and second Kings.

What if the stories can be looked at from different points of view? Susan said, “ALL STORIES are culled from a perspective and a purpose – otherwise the stories wouldn’t be told.” She told how theology arose in universities of the 12th century, studying the stories and writings in a systematic way. Aristotle’s influence came into Christian thinking.

Marilyn loved how McIntosh reversed a common perspective. The problem isn’t that God’s presence gets in the way of my freedom, but that my distorted sense of self keeps me from being free…Children embrace life, but we learn to be afraid, learn to lose our freedom…

Adoration of the Christ Child by Jacob Cornelisz, Netherlandish, 1515

Theological Reflection
Pete brought us a painting that he recently saw at the Art Institute of Chicago, giving us no more details. We quickly recognized that it tells the story of the Nativity, with "pensive" Mary, the "adoring" Joseph, and "solemn" shepherds coming in from a distant field where we see their flock. We almost missed the baby Jesus (and maybe that's intentional).

We focused on the artist's extraordinary depiction of dozens of skittering, gleeful, musical cherubs evidently unnoticed as they mixed in the humans' business. We took our theme to be "the spiritual world intersecting with the physical world...God with us."

• Thoughts? We are not alone.
• Feelings? Comfort, thoughtfulness, delight, connection.
• Connections to our tradition? In the Bible, angels often have to say, "Fear not." (Annunciation, Zechariah.) "Great cloud of witnesses."
• Cultural connections? Our culture has substituted Extra-Terrestrials for angels -- some are menacing, but many come with the message "Fear not" (When Worlds Collide and Close Encounters). Instead of fear of angels and spirits, and ETs, we feel joy and awe. It's ordinary time v. eternity, Kansas v. Oz. When we check our devices, we become aware how our physical world intersects with digital data in the air around us.
• Insights? Applications? Pete said he wants to be more aware of the spiritual world in his day to day business.

When Scott read back comments by Joyce and Jessica, the consensus was, "That's our collect." So here those are:

• No matter how scared we get or worried we are or how overwhelmed by pain, God and his angels are with us.
• If we focus on Jesus we will see the Spirit and joy.

For Next Week
Tom brings worship and a gathering question, and Jessica brings a source for the TR.

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