November 13, 2016
When events overwhelm us and we find ourselves disoriented, uncertain, and unsure, we need to be together. We need each other. About 10 minutes after worship ends, we’ll gather together for Aftertalk. Bring your questions, stories, insights, doubts, musings, imaginings and whatever else you need. Join us for some fellowship, laughter and ample space for reflection and real questions to help us reflect on the implications of our faith and make the transition from worship to world.
Readings for this Sunday: Isaiah 65:17-25 • Isaiah 12 • 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 • Luke 21:5-19 Salvation or Apocalypse? Now what? One of the most divisive, troubling, and unsatisfying elections has ended. Or perhaps it is just what you've hoped for. What does it look like to follow Christ, to live out this Christian way now? What role does celebration/lament/anger/relief have to play and how do we express it all in a country that, impossibly, seems to be more divided than ever? If God is one, what do we make of us being so schizophrenic? Do these scriptures have anything to teach us? Any hope to offer? Any correction? Any encouragement? Here's what Stephen Colbert said about it as the results were beginning to become clearer (CAUTION: some colorful language here!). Do you find anything helpful in what he has to say? (click on the "YouTube" symbol for a larger image).
For Reflection
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, 20th century "Joy is the infallible sign of the presence of God." Ralph Waldo Emerson, 19th century "Sorrow looks back, Worry looks around, Faith looks up." Marian Wright Edelman, 21st century "Whoever said anybody has a right to give up?" Barbara Kingsolver, 21st century "The very least you can do in your life is figure out what you hope for. And the most you can do is live inside that hope. Not admire it from a distance but live right in it, under its roof." M. Scott Peck, 20th century "The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers." Madeleine L'Engle, 20th century, A Wrinkle in Time "'Oh, why must you make me look at unpleasant things when there are so many delightful ones to see?' Mrs. Which's voice reverberated through the cave. 'There will no longer be so many pleasant things to look at if responsible people do not do something about the unpleasant ones.'" Verna H, Dozier, 20th century "The important question to ask is not, 'What do you believe?' but 'What difference does it make that you believe?' Does the world come nearer to the dream of God because of what you believe?" Timothy B. Tyson, Blood Done Sign My Name: A True Story, 21st century "If there is to be reconciliation, first there must be truth."
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