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).
0 Comments
November 6, 2016About 10 minutes after worship ends, we’ll gather together for Aftertalk. We hope you’ll join us! 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: Haggai 1:15b-2:9 • Psalm 98 • 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 17-21 • Luke 20:27-38 Same As It Ever Was Perhaps you've heard there is an election coming up... Sundays story in Luke reminds us that gotcha questions aren't just the parlance of our age. The Sadducees seemed to know something about trying to set up their perceived opponents as well. It is precisely what they are up to with the question about this widow who has lost seven husbands. The question they ask isn't about the welfare of the woman, which, arguably, would be a worthwhile question. Instead they present Jesus with a tricky and cynical one about a scenario they don't actually believe anyway. Perhaps no surprise there. But what Jesus ends up doing in response is quite remarkable, and may just be a life-giving and hopeful model full of possibility for followers of Jesus who will have to live out our lives in the days after November 8, 2016 just as before them. Join us for conversation and reflection! For Reflection Mother Teresa, 20th century "Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile." Albert Camus, 20th century "You are forgiven for your happiness and your successes only if you generously consent to share them." Alexander Pope, 18th century "Many have been capable of doing a wise thing, more a cunning thing, but very few a generous thing." Anabel Proffitt, 21st century "May you stay in that place of wonder and wisdom that lies between the uncertainty of the world and the dependable grace of our God." Barbara Bush, 21st century "Giving frees us from the familiar territory of our own needs by opening our mind to the unexplained worlds occupied by the needs of others." Elie Wiesel, 20th century "When a person doesn't have gratitude, something is missing in his or her humanity. A person can almost be defined by his or her attitude toward gratitude." J. K. Rowling, 21st century "Abundance is the quality of life you live and quality of life you give to others." |