Sunday, January 12, 2014, a group met with a common interest in our spiritual formation and a belief that the shared life experiences of those attending would offer a deep collective wisdom to each. Bible exploration with an emphasis ultimately on the "so what" that asks us to discern what conduct is invited given understandings of the scriptures held. It may be, is likely, that individuals in the class do not always concur with others understanding of passages studied. In that likely event the class purposes will still seek to have us ascertain what our own interpretation asks of us in personal conduct. The combined thought and preparation that Kathy Goulet and Patricia Gates have given to this effort were immediately evident and enabled the group to start with a keen sense of anticipation, comfortable engagement and participation. Journals were given to each as gifts from Kathy and Patricia with the hope that we might keep personal observations, preserve thoughts generated to share or privately contemplate, list topics and issues for the group to consider across the weeks of mutual exploration and more. Further, a focus question for each week was provided by Kathy and Patricia which offers journal response for subsequent class discussion. Some of us may wish to provide some of our thinking on this blog so that others can incorporate that thinking into their own journal and might come to class better prepared to discuss what others have posted. No intention is evident to "hammer" others into agreement with our personal advocacy of any position. Understanding each other, seeking to relate to others experience, making good faith efforts to apply insights we have or reach during the class is the desire.
Kathy and I discussed following worship on the 12th, whether a blog to offer easy communication among us would be helpful. We concluded it was worth checking out and thus this simple blog to give each posting opportunities and to offer ideas across the weeks. We can ascertain whether it helps and continue or discontinue its use accordingly. Your sharing of links to articles, images, your own observations would be of great interest and value to me and I believe others. We meet in the library just off the Parish Hall. It was virtually full on day 1 and we had about a dozen in attendance. If we outgrow the space--good.
Taught/Led by:
(Kathy Goulet)
(Patricia Gates)
plgates2614
January 12, 2014 looked at the two creation accounts in Genesis chapter 1 and 2. Each of the accounts provided different perspectives for potential shaping of our personal images of God. Journal writing suggestions ask for our personal views of God--how you see God--how do I.
January 19, 2014 will examine the covenant God made with Adam and Eve, Noah, and Abram (Abraham). The great narrative will permit us to look at the covenant and to examine what it means to be in a covenant relationship generally and with God particularly. The journal response for January 19, 2014, asks consideration of how the covenant God made with Adam and Eve, Noah, and Abram (Abraham) relates to us.
Whether you journal or comment via blog now or later or not at all you are invited to come and be a part of this adventure. Your experience will be treasured, your ideas respected.
Check out our Church of the Intercession-Stevens Point, WI 54481 Website at www.intercessionsp.org for calendar events, announcements, sermons, newsletters, and more. The site is attractive, informative, and updated regularly.
The profile picture of me and info was placed a while ago when I had another blog. Google kept it as profile for this additional blog. There is more there than you want or need. I may edit or obliterate. Or...you might offer an introduction and maybe a picture yourself as a way to further our acquaintance with each other. Anyway, the blog is seeking to know your ideas and to gain insights from your life experience to help us all grow as the class proceeds.
http://www.newrepublic.com/article/116200/moral-design-latest-form-intelligent-design-its-wrong?a&utm_campaign=tnr-daily-newsletter&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=11639354 Class spent some time on creation story and perceived or real (depending on one's view) clash between science and religion. This article in today's New Republic Daily (Online edition) included some thinking on the matter. bit.ly/1hTxIlG
ReplyDeleteClass will not meet next Sunday, January 26, 2014, so we can all hear the budget presentation in Parish Hall at 9:00. Class will then pick up once again on Sunday, February 2, 2014, at 9 a.m. in Library just off Parish Hall.
ReplyDelete"Knowing" or claiming to "know" should be an exercise in humility and qualification. All epistemological routes to knowing including empirical keep on churning and learning and rejecting and making new affirmations. The fundamentalist claim to have "the answer now and forever" is too fraught with historical, philosophical, and other turbulence for my comfort.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2014/01/22/264504218/the-problem-with-a-clockwork-universe?ft=1&f= Copy and Paste in browser to read an interesting take on "creation."
ReplyDeletehttp://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2014/01/15/261716096/the-choice-is-yours-the-fate-of-free-will Copy/Paste into browser. Article on FREE WILL. We touched idea of free will versus determinism in our class.
ReplyDelete