Come on into the Essex Room of the Crowne Plaza, to see a simple set-up: a circle of chairs with a small table completing the circle. On the table are some candles and a lovely ceramic goblet and matching plate holding a round loaf of bread. The people already there welcome you, and you all check in with each other about what your weeks have been like. You each find your way to a chair, and the group enters into the gathering with the lighting of the central candle and some words of settling prayer.
The first two readings of the night are part of the same story, from the book of the Bible called John, a story that takes place on that first Easter, in the evening, and continues one week later. Take a look at the first reading, imagine a candle being lit (better yet, light your own) and some words of prayer follow.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2020:18-23;&version=72;
I can only imagine, O God, the exhilaration Mary must have been feeling as she ran to share the good news… Help me to get in touch with that feeling, God, that joy of knowing you are alive here with us, giving us peace… relief of stress with each breath… forgiveness for all the stupid mistakes we’ve made… forgiveness for all the ways we haven’t saved the world yet… forgiveness, peace, release. In your name we pray… amen.
There’s the same pattern for the next reading, part 2 of our story, with reading, candlelighting and prayer
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2020:24-31;&version=72;
Friend Jesus, how cool it would be to have you showing up in person, so we could see and feel your healing wounds… and feel our own wounds healing, too. Be present for us now, Lord, in the touch of each other’s hands, in the sharing of our woundedness, our realness.
Be present in the bread we eat, the wine and water we drink, the very air we breathe. In your name we pray… amen.
Some words of song form the third reading, printed below:
Lord Jesus, you shall be my song as I journey;
I’ll tell everybody about you wherever I go.
You alone are our life and our peace and our love.
Lord Jesus, you shall be my song as I journey.
Lord Jesus, I’ll praise you as long as I journey.
May all of my joy be a faithful reflection of you.
May the earth and the sea and the sky join my song.
Lord Jesus, I’ll praise you as long as I journey.
As long as I live, Jesus, make me your servant,
to carry your cross and to share all your burdens and tears.
For you saved me by giving your body and blood.
As long as I live, Jesus, make me your servant.
I fear in the dark and the doubt of my journey;
but courage will come with the sound of your steps by my side.
And with all of the family you saved by your love,
we’ll sing to your dawn at the end of our journey.
(J`esus, je voudrais to chanter, Les Petites Soeurs de Jesus and L’Arche Community; tr. Stephen Somerville )
Give us, Lord, such courage that comes with the sound of your steps by our side. Give us moments of courage to face our fears… that we might draw closer and closer to you. In your name we pray… amen.
The group talks about how this story is a familiar one to many, and often we think of this as just “Thomas’ story” and miss out on the pathos of the earlier characters… the exuberance of news-spreading Mary and the wild mix of feelings of those disciples hanging in the security-enhanced shelter. Joy and pain, fear and courage. They knew one witness had seen Jesus alive, but what did that mean for a bunch of followers who stopped following when the going got tough?
The conversation shifts to our own time and place as those gathered reflect on that mix of extreme highs and lows existing together… especially in relation to how sometimes a time of sad memories coincides with a really happy time… and how do we deal with that? Like when the anniversary of a death happens within a week of a birthday or a graduation day. It’s a challenge. It can be awful. But it can also be something we’re very intentional about: asking for support from others, giving ourselves permission to feel it all, highs and lows alike, welcoming God into the mix.
Then we get back to those disciples and their ambiguity about the news of Jesus being alive and well. We remember that Jesus doesn’t let locked doors (or hearts) stop him. He doesn’t let closed minds (or unbelieving suspicions) stop him either. He just comes.
It seems Jesus doesn’t care whether anyone “believes” he’s really alive. He just comes and gives them the experience of his aliveness: They see and touch his beat-up body. They feel the warmth of his presence as he breathes on them… and their lungs no longer feel like they’ve collapsed (as many who’ve been through intense grief can tell you about). Jesus doesn’t give them a lecture or offer explanations. He engages their senses and says: Relax. Breathe. Forgive. Heal. Know my peace.
The disinction between believing vs. experiencing is an important one. Believing/questioning/figuring it out. Experiencing/being/taking it all in.
Sometimes even when we can’t believe in God at all, we can experience God’s presence. Sometimes when we can’t sense God’s presence, we can still hang onto our beliefs. Sometimes we can’t do either one… and it’s at those times that we need community the most. Our experience of loving support can be that bridge to sensing God again.
There’s so much more that the group got into last Thursday. About Thomas and his dance of doubt, grief, and belief. About how the community of Jesus’ followers have both the gifts of “Word” (digging into words, question, and belief systems) and “Sacrament” (taking in God’s grace through our senses). And then as part of living that story of Jesus’ gifts, we shared the bread and wine that Jesus gave his followers and still gives us today. Passing around the moist, multi-grainy, honey-sweet bread that we all took a big chunk of… was a indeed a powerful experience of the sweetness of the life of faith in a God who reaches out again and again to us.
And having been fed, both physically and spiritually, we returned to the part of the story where Jesus blows his breath of life into the scared little group of folks. Not only does he breathe on them his aliveness, his spirit, his forgiveness; he teaches them how to help others experience that same aliveness. Go forgive. Breathe God’s life into others’ lives. Bring them home.
We then closed our time together by chatting about how we can be inviting others into this life of God we experience with the ‘by the way’ community.
I hope you’ve been able here to get a taste of that experience to feed you along your way.
In the peace Jesus gives,
Kari
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Courage will come
I was so taken by Bill’s “p.s.” quote at the end of his post (see below), that I’m going to give it to you again, and then see where it takes us:
I fear in the dark and the doubt of my journey;
But courage will come with the sound
of your steps by my side.
And with all of the family you saved
by your love,
we’ll sing to your dawn at the end of our journey.
(From the hymn, “Lord Jesus, You Shall Be My Song”, Les Petite Soeurs de Jesus and L’Arche Community)
Fear and courage… they come in and out of my life, changing in intensity from moment to moment. Perhaps yours, too.
That could be why I’m so intrigued by the image of Jesus’ followers huddled in a locked-tight room… right after receiving the news that Jesus was alive again. What a mix of fear and courage these folks must be feeling! (Click on the title of this post to get the picture.)
They have plenty to be afraid of, such as soldiers coming to cart their carcasses to crosses. They may even be afraid of Jesus. After all, if he really did rise from the dead, if he’s really THAT powerful, then what’s he going to do with all those cowards who abandoned him when the going got tough?
But there’s also plenty of reasons for courage to be creeping in. If their great teacher and friend really is alive, then all they had hoped for might really come to be. If Jesus really loves them and all of humanity as much as he seemed to back then, if he's really so at one with God that death could not defeat him, then that changes everything! Hanging between fear and courage, they waited… and hoped… and barricaded the door, just in case.
How would you manage such a confused mix of fear and courage? How do you do it? Does God have any part in it? Are you all on your own?
The hymn quoted above asserts, “But courage will come with the sound of your steps by my side.” Courage will come. And so will doubts and fears. Sometimes both at the same time… or alternating with each breath. It's nothing to be ashamed of. It's who we are as God's searching people.
For this week’s Bread for your journey, let’s explore this dance of fear and courage, of wavering doubt and stand-firm assurance. Come to the Crowne Plaza, 7pm, Thursday night, or tune in virtually here at the blog one of the following days. In the meantime feel free to write any thoughts you may have about all of this. This is your space, your community, no matter who you are and who God is to you. Keep coming to be fed, and offer any feedback on how that can best happen for you.
Peace,
Kari
I fear in the dark and the doubt of my journey;
But courage will come with the sound
of your steps by my side.
And with all of the family you saved
by your love,
we’ll sing to your dawn at the end of our journey.
(From the hymn, “Lord Jesus, You Shall Be My Song”, Les Petite Soeurs de Jesus and L’Arche Community)
Fear and courage… they come in and out of my life, changing in intensity from moment to moment. Perhaps yours, too.
That could be why I’m so intrigued by the image of Jesus’ followers huddled in a locked-tight room… right after receiving the news that Jesus was alive again. What a mix of fear and courage these folks must be feeling! (Click on the title of this post to get the picture.)
They have plenty to be afraid of, such as soldiers coming to cart their carcasses to crosses. They may even be afraid of Jesus. After all, if he really did rise from the dead, if he’s really THAT powerful, then what’s he going to do with all those cowards who abandoned him when the going got tough?
But there’s also plenty of reasons for courage to be creeping in. If their great teacher and friend really is alive, then all they had hoped for might really come to be. If Jesus really loves them and all of humanity as much as he seemed to back then, if he's really so at one with God that death could not defeat him, then that changes everything! Hanging between fear and courage, they waited… and hoped… and barricaded the door, just in case.
How would you manage such a confused mix of fear and courage? How do you do it? Does God have any part in it? Are you all on your own?
The hymn quoted above asserts, “But courage will come with the sound of your steps by my side.” Courage will come. And so will doubts and fears. Sometimes both at the same time… or alternating with each breath. It's nothing to be ashamed of. It's who we are as God's searching people.
For this week’s Bread for your journey, let’s explore this dance of fear and courage, of wavering doubt and stand-firm assurance. Come to the Crowne Plaza, 7pm, Thursday night, or tune in virtually here at the blog one of the following days. In the meantime feel free to write any thoughts you may have about all of this. This is your space, your community, no matter who you are and who God is to you. Keep coming to be fed, and offer any feedback on how that can best happen for you.
Peace,
Kari
Friday, April 24, 2009
Along the Emmaus Road
As you enter the dimly lit room you notice there is a big round table in the center of the room. People are gathered at the table engaging in quiet conversation. There is a beautiful cloth covering the table, a round loaf of rustic crusty bread, and a single candle. Someone notes that it is much like sitting around a comfortable kitchen table.
The candle is lit, the evening’s roadmap reviewed and prayer is offered. The group gets out of their seats and gathers in a corner of the room. Scripts are distributed and the group reads the Emmaus Road story adapted from The Message while walking around the room. The candle flickers on the table in the center of the room much as the setting sun did in the story.
The group sits around the table again where the smell of the freshly baked bread fills the air and prayer is offered: Stay with us for it is evening and the day is almost over. Thank you for revealing yourself through the Word and the breaking of the bread. Make known your walking with us each day and feed us to sustain our journey. Amen.
“On the Road” a short poetic reflection of Luke 24 by George Slanger from Theology Today, January 2003 is read by one of the travelers at the table. Following the reading a prayer is offered: During the long and lonely walks in our lives that seem filled with sorrow and doubt, you are there. During times of hurt which seem difficult and confusing to bear, you are there. Open us to the strangers among us who may be hungry, who may need to be invited, who may be the face of Jesus. Open us to you, the One who can make the deepest loneliness and the longest journey full of purpose and hope. Amen.
Another traveler reads “Emmaus” by Rowan Williams from Connexions. Responses to the cadence and imagery in the poem are shared and prayer is offered: Lord God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The travelers gathered around the table share a time of reflection and refreshment. The breaking open of the crusty loaf makes the sound of low rumbling thunder and it is passed around the table for all to eat. Cool water is poured for each person, the sound of clanking ice cubes and pouring water reminiscent of pebbles dropped into a pond. An Emmaus image (above) by Chinese Christian artist He Qi is reflected on. A reflection is shared and questions discussed (and taken away) as food for thought for our ongoing journeys...
The candle is lit, the evening’s roadmap reviewed and prayer is offered. The group gets out of their seats and gathers in a corner of the room. Scripts are distributed and the group reads the Emmaus Road story adapted from The Message while walking around the room. The candle flickers on the table in the center of the room much as the setting sun did in the story.
The group sits around the table again where the smell of the freshly baked bread fills the air and prayer is offered: Stay with us for it is evening and the day is almost over. Thank you for revealing yourself through the Word and the breaking of the bread. Make known your walking with us each day and feed us to sustain our journey. Amen.
“On the Road” a short poetic reflection of Luke 24 by George Slanger from Theology Today, January 2003 is read by one of the travelers at the table. Following the reading a prayer is offered: During the long and lonely walks in our lives that seem filled with sorrow and doubt, you are there. During times of hurt which seem difficult and confusing to bear, you are there. Open us to the strangers among us who may be hungry, who may need to be invited, who may be the face of Jesus. Open us to you, the One who can make the deepest loneliness and the longest journey full of purpose and hope. Amen.
Another traveler reads “Emmaus” by Rowan Williams from Connexions. Responses to the cadence and imagery in the poem are shared and prayer is offered: Lord God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The travelers gathered around the table share a time of reflection and refreshment. The breaking open of the crusty loaf makes the sound of low rumbling thunder and it is passed around the table for all to eat. Cool water is poured for each person, the sound of clanking ice cubes and pouring water reminiscent of pebbles dropped into a pond. An Emmaus image (above) by Chinese Christian artist He Qi is reflected on. A reflection is shared and questions discussed (and taken away) as food for thought for our ongoing journeys...
- Who do you share your journey with? Who are you not inviting to join you along the way?
- What distracts you in your daily routine and in your longer journeys? What “feeds” you along the way… in your work, in your relationships, in your faith?
- Where do you find spiritual connections or encounters along the way? Where do (or could) you find refreshment or sustenance along the way?
- How do (or could) you break out of the rut of not seeing God in the midst of your life? How do (or could) you connect with others to share moments of hospitality?
A final prayer is offered to send those gathered on their way and into the crisp spring evening: O God, Help us to “find” Christ, follow his path and share ourselves along the way. Mark us with your hospitality and join us to others to share the journey wherever the road may lead. Inspire us to live with a radical receptivity and authentic honesty in our lives, communities and world. Amen.
P.S. The closing line in a great French Canadian hymn from the Les Petite Soeurs de Jesus and L’Arche Community ran through my head as I wrote and reflected on the experience…
I fear in the dark and the doubt of my journey;
But courage will come with
the sound of your steps by my side.
And with all of the family you saved by
your love,
we’ll sing to your dawn at the end of our journey.
Wishing you fellow travelers peace along the way,
+Bill Petersen
Monday, April 20, 2009
Road Trip... from loss to life
From Dr. Luke’s bio of Jesus comes this moving story of two friends on the road… friends or frolleagues or maybe even marriage partners… two people who had at least one thing in common: They were huge fans of Jesus. They had been certain that he was The One: the surge of power that they’d been hoping for.
Then the Power Surge got himself in deep trouble. Arrested. Executed. And a big “The End” scrolled up on the film credits. In one night they lost their dear friend, their big dream, and probably their whole concept of who God is. That’s a lot to lose.
You know what it’s like to have all the oxygen squeezed out of your lungs? when the loss is so intense you’re not so sure you even want to breathe again? Yeah, I know it, too.
Luke says, “They stood still… looking sad.” Don’t we all know what those words mean? Numbness, confusion, swimming in losses. Treading. Dreading. Wondering if anything good could possibly come from all that is your life.
What does it take for these two crushed Jesus-fans to get on the road again? Well, it takes… Jesus. He comes and joins them and listens intently and opens up worlds of new meaning.
Does Jesus still do this? I think so. I know so. And it’s by jumping into stories like this one that it can happen. Jesus steps onto the road beside us as we struggle together, as we see and hear Jesus in one another and in ourselves. It’s happening every Thursday night as by the way gathers. And you’re invited to hop on the road anytime.
This Thursday’s Bread for your journey will be a time to explore this Road to Emmaus story and the road that is your own journey. Your guide for this walk will be Bill Peterson, someone who’s on my Top Ten of people most likely to spot Jesus about to join me on my road. That is to say: I know Bill to be one who can nail that insight when I’m wandering and wondering what’s up… so it’s easy for me to see God busy at work in and through him.
Do come by the Crowne Plaza if you can Thursday night, 7 pm. Or come back here to the blog one of the following days for a virtual walk down the Emmaus road. There’s nothing like being with others who know what it’s like to lose a dream, to stand still looking sad – and then to learn to live again.
And by the way, if you want to immerse yourself in the story on your own, it’s from Luke 24, and you can click on the title of this post for a link.
Peace,
Kari
Then the Power Surge got himself in deep trouble. Arrested. Executed. And a big “The End” scrolled up on the film credits. In one night they lost their dear friend, their big dream, and probably their whole concept of who God is. That’s a lot to lose.
You know what it’s like to have all the oxygen squeezed out of your lungs? when the loss is so intense you’re not so sure you even want to breathe again? Yeah, I know it, too.
Luke says, “They stood still… looking sad.” Don’t we all know what those words mean? Numbness, confusion, swimming in losses. Treading. Dreading. Wondering if anything good could possibly come from all that is your life.
What does it take for these two crushed Jesus-fans to get on the road again? Well, it takes… Jesus. He comes and joins them and listens intently and opens up worlds of new meaning.
Does Jesus still do this? I think so. I know so. And it’s by jumping into stories like this one that it can happen. Jesus steps onto the road beside us as we struggle together, as we see and hear Jesus in one another and in ourselves. It’s happening every Thursday night as by the way gathers. And you’re invited to hop on the road anytime.
This Thursday’s Bread for your journey will be a time to explore this Road to Emmaus story and the road that is your own journey. Your guide for this walk will be Bill Peterson, someone who’s on my Top Ten of people most likely to spot Jesus about to join me on my road. That is to say: I know Bill to be one who can nail that insight when I’m wandering and wondering what’s up… so it’s easy for me to see God busy at work in and through him.
Do come by the Crowne Plaza if you can Thursday night, 7 pm. Or come back here to the blog one of the following days for a virtual walk down the Emmaus road. There’s nothing like being with others who know what it’s like to lose a dream, to stand still looking sad – and then to learn to live again.
And by the way, if you want to immerse yourself in the story on your own, it’s from Luke 24, and you can click on the title of this post for a link.
Peace,
Kari
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Journeying inside the resurrection story
As you’re stepping into the room, you are met with the welcoming smell of fresh grainy bread and the sweet scent of lilies. You see a circle of chairs with a large wooden cross in the middle. Placed around and on the cross are different items from the natural world as well as a lovely grouping of candles, glass, and stones. You chat a bit with others before settling down on a chair, taking a deep breath to relax from your day’s activities.
Peace and Joy,
Kari
As the central candle is lit, you’re asked to consider which of the items in the middle of the circle reminds you of what state of mind you’re in as you enter into this gathering time. You look more closely at what’s lying there with the cross and candles. There’s an Easter lily trumpeting its blooms, some forsythia branches whose golden flowers are giving way to greening leaves, and a dried-up daffodil plant looking lifeless, except for the bulbs hiding beneath the soil. All of them seem to be saying “new life” in some stage or form, and you ponder which one best nails down your mood.
Then you’re invited into a time of thought-provoking readings and reflective prayer, and you’re given a hand-out on which the readings are printed. The first reading is a saying of Jesus, from the Gospel according to John, chapter 12, verses 24 and 25, read in two different translations one after the other. You reflect on how interesting it can be to see how different emphases come out with the two perspectives.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2012:24-25;&version=72;
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2012:24-25;&version=65;
A candle is lit and words of prayer are spoken.
The next reading is a brief quote from Thomas Merton’s New Seeds of Contemplation:
In order to become myself I must cease to be what I always thought I wanted to be, and in order to find myself I must go out of myself, and in order to live I have to die.
Again, a candle is lit and words of prayer offered.
Before the third reading, pens and pads of paper are passed around, and you are invited to mark the moments during this resurrection story that are somehow intriguing or stir up some feelings or questions inside. Here’s the link to John’s story of the empty tomb:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2020:1-18;&version=65;
For that “moment” you chose, you’re asked to enter into that part of the story as a “witness” to what’s going on. Your witness might be a person or an angel, or it might be an inanimate object… like the linen shroud, the stone rolled away, or the tear leaking from Mary’s eyes as Jesus says her name. You write down on your pad of paper a few lines about what that “witness” has to say about that piece of the story. It’s pretty cool to imagine yourself in the story that way and to hear the creative thoughts of others.
The group begins to discuss who are the characters in the resurrection story and how we are like them… or completely different from them. There’s some discussion about how the other gospel writers introduce other characters as well, telling the story of Jesus’ new life in a different way, because each author has in mind a different audience with their unique situations and faith challenges.
Your eye returns to the natural objects near the cross, and you and others think through where you are in your own faith journey and your ability to feel and see new life happening in your relationship with God and with your world…
Maybe you’re like the trumpeting lily, feeling joyful and free… maybe more like the daffodil, whose blooming days are over but there’s plenty of life down in your rooty bulb… or maybe you’re growing and greening like the forsythia branch… or maybe some other image is better for you…
You have a chance to discuss this with others, and it feels good to see that they also have lots of questions about what Jesus’ resurrection means, how it could be possible, and what it has to do with our relationships with God…
Peace and Joy,
Kari
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Where in the story are you?
Which Disney prince/princess are you? What character from the Wizard of Oz? What Pokémon are you? which Jane Austin hero/heroine? which one from the Twilight saga? and on and on it goes… the list of quizzes you can take.
Next thing you know, they'll have a quiz to see which quiz is most revealing of your TRUE identity.
No one likes quizzes in school, so how come people like them so much on Facebook? (other social networking sites, too?)
Why do we do these quizzes when we’ve got so many real things we’re supposed to be doing? It’s more than just a fun diversion, don’t you think? Is it that we like to figure ourselves out? or we like to proclaim who we are for all the world to see?
Lots of them have to do with seeing what character you are in a particular story. When stories really get to us, really move us, we like to put ourselves right into the action, the character development, the drama… so we can get lost in it all, or maybe get found…
You know, I haven’t seen a quiz yet that asks, “Which character from the story of Jesus’ resurrection are you?” And I’m intrigued by the prospect. It’s a wild story. And putting yourself into it could be revealing. Easter is too important a holiday to let it go by after you’ve eaten enough chocolate eggs. How do you put yourself into this great drama of life-giving death and tomb-busting new life? (click on the title of this post to read one eye witness account)
Is there anyone out there who has seen such a quiz already? anyone who wants to create one? I’m planning to make one in the next 2 days, but it’s very possible you could do a much better job than I, so do let me know. Or just let me know your ideas and I’ll include them.
This Thursday night, ‘by the way’ is hosting our weekly gathering at the Crowne Plaza… and we’ll be putting ourselves into the resurrection story, seeing where we fit in and what the story can reveal about us (and about the God who’s the main character of the story). I’m really looking forward to it. Whether you live nearby or far, far away, I hope you can join in this conversation. Any thoughts that my questions here have shaken loose in you, please share…
Emitting Easterjoy,
Kari
Next thing you know, they'll have a quiz to see which quiz is most revealing of your TRUE identity.
No one likes quizzes in school, so how come people like them so much on Facebook? (other social networking sites, too?)
Why do we do these quizzes when we’ve got so many real things we’re supposed to be doing? It’s more than just a fun diversion, don’t you think? Is it that we like to figure ourselves out? or we like to proclaim who we are for all the world to see?
Lots of them have to do with seeing what character you are in a particular story. When stories really get to us, really move us, we like to put ourselves right into the action, the character development, the drama… so we can get lost in it all, or maybe get found…
You know, I haven’t seen a quiz yet that asks, “Which character from the story of Jesus’ resurrection are you?” And I’m intrigued by the prospect. It’s a wild story. And putting yourself into it could be revealing. Easter is too important a holiday to let it go by after you’ve eaten enough chocolate eggs. How do you put yourself into this great drama of life-giving death and tomb-busting new life? (click on the title of this post to read one eye witness account)
Is there anyone out there who has seen such a quiz already? anyone who wants to create one? I’m planning to make one in the next 2 days, but it’s very possible you could do a much better job than I, so do let me know. Or just let me know your ideas and I’ll include them.
This Thursday night, ‘by the way’ is hosting our weekly gathering at the Crowne Plaza… and we’ll be putting ourselves into the resurrection story, seeing where we fit in and what the story can reveal about us (and about the God who’s the main character of the story). I’m really looking forward to it. Whether you live nearby or far, far away, I hope you can join in this conversation. Any thoughts that my questions here have shaken loose in you, please share…
Emitting Easterjoy,
Kari
Friday, April 10, 2009
Following along the way of the cross
For last Thursday night’s bread for your journey,we had an experience of Jesus’ journey to the cross and what it really means for us. If you weren’t able to be there, you can try out this virtual journey… As you walk into the darkened conference room, your eye is caught by the colorful image projected on the wall you’re facing. It's a painting by Palestinian artist Sliman Mansour of Jesus and his disciples eating together, in an open-air roof-top room, sitting at a round table sharing a feast, under a canopy of grape vines.
The next thing you notice is there are several places to sit. Lots going on in the room. There are people sitting in a circle of chairs, so you head over to join their conversation. In the middle of the circle is a huge cross made from two tree trunks bound together with leather thongs, and in the very center is the gathering candle waiting to be lit.
After everyone introduces themselves to one another, someone lights the candle and you’re invited to join in a centering prayer. The leader talks a bit about the flow of the evening, what to expect, and then she hands out booklets of a dramatic reading of the story of Jesus’ journey to the cross, according to a writer named Mark. All read together the story, with those who volunteered having special parts to read.
(Here’s a link to the reading: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%2014:1%20-%2015:47;&version=65 )
The leader than explains that now that we have the big picture, we’ll be entering into the story for a more experiential version. Spreading out on the floor some shawls that look like those that might have been worn in Jesus’ day, she talks about how Jesus and his followers were welcomed into the great city of Jerusalem. Some people were so thrilled to see him that they threw their cloaks on the road in front of Jesus, while others were so threatened by Jesus’ charismatic presence that they started plotting to do away with him.
That was on Sunday. The next few days after that, the tension increases, with Jesus continuing to teach his radical views about God’s love being accessible to all. By the time Thursday comes around, and it’s time for the festive Passover meal, Jesus’ followers have got to be a mess of emotions: Is this all going to end badly, with Jesus getting in trouble bigtime?
The group that’s been sitting in the circle of chairs now gets up to walk over to the corner where a blanket and picnic basket are waiting. Someone carries the big cross over and puts it in the middle of everything, while everyone finds a seat on the blanket. You hear about what that Passover meal might have been like on that night, with all the joy of eating your favorite festive foods but all the tension of the looming reality of the executioner's cross that all realize may be Jesus’ fate.
The leader takes out of the picnic basket some round loaves of bread and a cup of wine, recalling how Jesus gave these items of the feast new meaning, saying the bread was his own body and the wine his own lifeblood. Just as Jesus’ followers ate and drank, this group also passes around the bread and the wine, talking about what this meal means to us today.
Then you leave the Passover picnic to go to a third area of the room, a half-circle of chairs facing a counter lined with votive candles. Here you have time to remember Jesus’ struggles in the Garden of Gethsemane… and your own struggles as well. You light a candle, remembering how Jesus knew the full range of human suffering, including doubt and fear and arguments with God.
The group returns to the place where the evening started and once again, the cross is in the middle of it all. Here you listen to others talk about what Jesus’ gift of his life on the cross means for them. The discussion is sometimes quite deep and other times light-hearted, but always respectful of the views and experiences of others. There are so many ways we experience the saving love of God, the forgiveness and second chances, the accompaniment in our times of pain and grief, the transformation that happens inside when we long to make Jesus' visions come to life in our world, the assurance that God will never let us go.
It seems like those gathered don't want the night to come to an end! They linger and get to know each other better, agreeing to come back next Thursday to share how the Resurrection becomes real and meaningful to us, as we celebrate the new life of Easter.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Giving it up for your friends
You see them all over, in various shapes and sizes, decorating buildings and around people’s necks, even hanging from the ears of random rock stars: crosses… those ornate symbols of… what? What does the cross really mean anyway?
Of course, crosses identify places as churches and people as Christians or followers of Jesus. And many know that Jesus died on a cross and that that was a gift of life to us. Plenty of people value that symbol of their identity and their love for Jesus. But many more people are left wondering: What’s so significant about Jesus’ death? How, exactly, does his death accomplish anything for us?
As a small child I was told that Jesus died to save me from my sins. That worked for me for a little while… and then I started asking questions. The answers I heard were for the most part unsatisfying. And yet, when I worshiped during those days before Easter, remembering Jesus’ death on the cross, I felt strongly that it was a gift of love for me. That it brought me close to God’s heart. I didn’t have the words to explain intellectually how Jesus’ death affected me, but I experienced it powerfully.
I’ve learned since then that there are many different words that can explain how the cross brings God’s love to the world. There’s not just one way of understanding it. But I do believe that understanding the cross is beyond words, too. Sometimes the best understanding comes through experience.
I invite you to come to the Crowne Plaza this Thursday night, 7pm, to have both a “head” and a “heart” experience of the power of the cross… an evening gathering with the theme: “Giving it up for your friends”. Please feel free to bring a friend who may be curious about this cross business. And bring your own questions and answers about what Jesus’ gift of life means for us… and what difference it makes for our world.
Peace,
Kari
Of course, crosses identify places as churches and people as Christians or followers of Jesus. And many know that Jesus died on a cross and that that was a gift of life to us. Plenty of people value that symbol of their identity and their love for Jesus. But many more people are left wondering: What’s so significant about Jesus’ death? How, exactly, does his death accomplish anything for us?
As a small child I was told that Jesus died to save me from my sins. That worked for me for a little while… and then I started asking questions. The answers I heard were for the most part unsatisfying. And yet, when I worshiped during those days before Easter, remembering Jesus’ death on the cross, I felt strongly that it was a gift of love for me. That it brought me close to God’s heart. I didn’t have the words to explain intellectually how Jesus’ death affected me, but I experienced it powerfully.
I’ve learned since then that there are many different words that can explain how the cross brings God’s love to the world. There’s not just one way of understanding it. But I do believe that understanding the cross is beyond words, too. Sometimes the best understanding comes through experience.
I invite you to come to the Crowne Plaza this Thursday night, 7pm, to have both a “head” and a “heart” experience of the power of the cross… an evening gathering with the theme: “Giving it up for your friends”. Please feel free to bring a friend who may be curious about this cross business. And bring your own questions and answers about what Jesus’ gift of life means for us… and what difference it makes for our world.
Peace,
Kari
Friday, April 3, 2009
Linking into "Bread for your journey"
If you weren't able to get to last night's bread for your journey gathering at the Crowne, you can experience it this way instead, if you like...
There’s conversation going on as you walk into this Crowne Plaza room set aside for by the way. You take a seat from a semi-circle row of chairs, noticing the colorful words of welcome on the screen in front of you. Others are still arriving as the group begins to get centered… a candle is lit, and you’re invited into God’s presence with some words of prayer.
You have some time to reflect on some readings chosen to go with the theme: Fan or Follower – Considering our Commitments. You can see the brief readings up on the screen, each in turn, followed by the lighting of a candle and some words of prayer:
1st reading: exerpts from “So Tough” by Freddie Foxx
How can I find who's the real divine
when everytime I take a book and take a look
my strong mind sees a new sign…
Who do I follow and who do I lead
do they really wanna help me or is it just greed
is everybody all for self to get wealth
the street wanna dust me off and throw me on the shelves…
prayer: God, the words of this song remind us that the world is asking the questions of who to follow and how to find you. Let us see a peek of you in this time together, or at least a look into who you are… and who we are… in relationship to you. In your name we pray… amen.
2nd reading: Luke 5:27-32
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%205:27-32;&version=65
prayer: Loving God, in Jesus you went seeking for so many who didn’t fit the mold. Thank you that these stories of Jesus’ reaching out were preserved for us, so we have a chance to be found as well. Help us to hear your call to follow you… and to figure out what that might mean. In your name we pray… amen.
3rd reading: “All I Do” by St. John of the Cross
Forever at his door
I gave my heart and soul. My fortune too.
I've no flock any more, no other work in view.
My occupation: Love. It's all I do.
prayer: God, as you speak powerfully through poets like John, speak to us through the silence, through words of prayer, through the words of each other, through the bread we share. Occupy us with your kind of love, that we might be your loving servants and poets in your world. In your name we pray… amen
You are then invited to join in a discussion of the theme and the readings. Here are a few highlights…
Who do I follow is a pretty fascinating question, especially because of how Twitter and Facebook and My Space have connected us with old friends, new friends, famous people, groups, causes galore… which on one level is really great. But it can be hard to keep up with all we’re interested in.
~ Google “who do I follow” and you get a whole lineup of Twitter philosophies of how to decide who to follow.
~ Even rapper Freddie Foxx is asking the question, wondering if his followers/fans really care about him or just his wealth.
Who do I follow and what difference does it make?
Who follows me and what’s good about that?
Can I really be committed to all these people and causes?
Is it all just a blur of interests, or is there some kind of organizing principle, some way of focusing it all or sifting through what’s important and what’s not?
Not everyone is scattered and overextended and unfocused. Some are really intentional and focused, and have their acts together. Some are even hyper-focused in their fandom, knowing exactly what they center their lives on.
To go with that thought is a film clip from the movie Fever Pitch, with Ben (the obsessed Red Sox fan) introducing Lindsey (upwardly mobile workaholic) to his “summer family”, those who have season tickets in the same spot.
~ Being an intense fan can get you into something bigger than yourself, give you that exhilaration of being connected, even give you a “family” that won’t let you down (like Ben)
~ Having the Sox as his “organizing principle” only worked for Ben up to a point… then he and Lindsey had to figure out how their love could be at the center instead.
Next, we take a closer look at the story of Jesus and Levi, someone who seems to be a bit like Lindsey (wrapped up in his own successful career) and in another way like Ben (Levi’s “family” is made up of fellow tax collectors, because they’re all outsiders together and can’t get beyond that)
It’s important to know what leads into this story of Levi and Jesus (link above, 2nd rdg). See this poignant story of friends who care, and Jesus' response:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%205:17-26;&version=65
~ After this awesome healing, Jesus is poised to have tons of fans… so now all he has to do is schmooze with the right people and he’ll have more fans and followers than he ever dreamed of.
~ But what does he do now to capitalize on his big success? He goes out and sees the least popular person he could find: a tax-collector (aka traitor to his own people and therefore an outsider freak, with absolutely no fans… except for one…)
Yep, it’s Jesus, who shocks Levi and everyone else by telling Levi to follow him. This has got to be a stunning moment for Levi. This Jesus must have incredible charisma, don’t you think? How else would it be possible for the next line of the story to read: “And he did – walked away from everything and went with Jesus.”
Take a look at this Bernardo Strozzi (1581-1644) painting “The Calling of St Matthew” (Levi’s story under another name)
http://www.worcesterart.org/Collection/European/1941.1.html
~ What do you think the painter communicates about the state of mind of the one called by Jesus…. to completely re-orient himself, away from his money, his shameful but profitable career…
The story doesn’t say how he felt about this incredible turn but it does tell us what he did next: He threw a party! a huge feast for all the tax men and all the other shady characters he could gather… feeling pretty ecstatic about his new focus.
~ Notice there’s no family there; just a bunch of work cronies
~ These tax guys had to watch each other’s backs; no one else would claim them… again, no one except Jesus.
Jesus notices the snooty people who are peeking into Levi’s house, saying, “What in God’s name is he doing?"
~ Jesus compared himself to a doctor: I’m hanging with the sick folks, the ones who need me because they had their priorities screwed up. and I’m offering an amazing kind of healing
~ You were amazed that I could make a paralytic walk! Why can’t you get into the healing of these outsider losers!
So now… if Jesus were to butt into your life like he did Levi’s, what could he possibly do (or be like) that would so thrill you, that he could ask you to walk away from your main focus, and to walk with him and have a new focus?
~ This gets you thinking about your own experiences of how someone reached out to you with a life-changing word or action... while others share their stories of this happening to them, .
~ Maybe if we’re really open to it, we could imagine many ways this has happened to us, that God reaches out to us to shift our priorities throughout our lifetimes (little or big ways)
Jesus calls us to put God in the center of all that our lives are made of… all our following, our major commitments and our shallow ones.
~ And through this story of Levi, Jesus calls us to consider that having God at our center is not a burden or a “should”, but an incredible gift, a release of tension and insecurity, a way of feeling like it all fits together somehow
~ That’s one reason people come together to experience God’s presence and power… to feel once again that things might make sense if God is the center, and to explore with others how that might happen in real ways.
Next you see just one more reading up on the screen. This time it’s not about us following God but about God following us.
~ Take a look at this poetry, especially at the final verse:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2023;&version=76
~ The word, “following” in the original language of Hebrew, literally means “pursuing” or “chasing after” which leaves us with quite an image: of God running after us, following us in hot pursuit, to give us the good stuff we need…
With the discussion drawing to a close, the group is now invited to a time of “open space” where we can experience God’s presence in a variety of ways: lighting candles, sharing bread, talking to one another or having time to ourselves.
We gather together for a few more minutes to share announcements of what’s coming up… and then we are sent out into the world once again.
There’s conversation going on as you walk into this Crowne Plaza room set aside for by the way. You take a seat from a semi-circle row of chairs, noticing the colorful words of welcome on the screen in front of you. Others are still arriving as the group begins to get centered… a candle is lit, and you’re invited into God’s presence with some words of prayer.
You have some time to reflect on some readings chosen to go with the theme: Fan or Follower – Considering our Commitments. You can see the brief readings up on the screen, each in turn, followed by the lighting of a candle and some words of prayer:
1st reading: exerpts from “So Tough” by Freddie Foxx
How can I find who's the real divine
when everytime I take a book and take a look
my strong mind sees a new sign…
Who do I follow and who do I lead
do they really wanna help me or is it just greed
is everybody all for self to get wealth
the street wanna dust me off and throw me on the shelves…
prayer: God, the words of this song remind us that the world is asking the questions of who to follow and how to find you. Let us see a peek of you in this time together, or at least a look into who you are… and who we are… in relationship to you. In your name we pray… amen.
2nd reading: Luke 5:27-32
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%205:27-32;&version=65
prayer: Loving God, in Jesus you went seeking for so many who didn’t fit the mold. Thank you that these stories of Jesus’ reaching out were preserved for us, so we have a chance to be found as well. Help us to hear your call to follow you… and to figure out what that might mean. In your name we pray… amen.
3rd reading: “All I Do” by St. John of the Cross
Forever at his door
I gave my heart and soul. My fortune too.
I've no flock any more, no other work in view.
My occupation: Love. It's all I do.
prayer: God, as you speak powerfully through poets like John, speak to us through the silence, through words of prayer, through the words of each other, through the bread we share. Occupy us with your kind of love, that we might be your loving servants and poets in your world. In your name we pray… amen
You are then invited to join in a discussion of the theme and the readings. Here are a few highlights…
Who do I follow is a pretty fascinating question, especially because of how Twitter and Facebook and My Space have connected us with old friends, new friends, famous people, groups, causes galore… which on one level is really great. But it can be hard to keep up with all we’re interested in.
~ Google “who do I follow” and you get a whole lineup of Twitter philosophies of how to decide who to follow.
~ Even rapper Freddie Foxx is asking the question, wondering if his followers/fans really care about him or just his wealth.
Who do I follow and what difference does it make?
Who follows me and what’s good about that?
Can I really be committed to all these people and causes?
Is it all just a blur of interests, or is there some kind of organizing principle, some way of focusing it all or sifting through what’s important and what’s not?
Not everyone is scattered and overextended and unfocused. Some are really intentional and focused, and have their acts together. Some are even hyper-focused in their fandom, knowing exactly what they center their lives on.
To go with that thought is a film clip from the movie Fever Pitch, with Ben (the obsessed Red Sox fan) introducing Lindsey (upwardly mobile workaholic) to his “summer family”, those who have season tickets in the same spot.
~ Being an intense fan can get you into something bigger than yourself, give you that exhilaration of being connected, even give you a “family” that won’t let you down (like Ben)
~ Having the Sox as his “organizing principle” only worked for Ben up to a point… then he and Lindsey had to figure out how their love could be at the center instead.
Next, we take a closer look at the story of Jesus and Levi, someone who seems to be a bit like Lindsey (wrapped up in his own successful career) and in another way like Ben (Levi’s “family” is made up of fellow tax collectors, because they’re all outsiders together and can’t get beyond that)
It’s important to know what leads into this story of Levi and Jesus (link above, 2nd rdg). See this poignant story of friends who care, and Jesus' response:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%205:17-26;&version=65
~ After this awesome healing, Jesus is poised to have tons of fans… so now all he has to do is schmooze with the right people and he’ll have more fans and followers than he ever dreamed of.
~ But what does he do now to capitalize on his big success? He goes out and sees the least popular person he could find: a tax-collector (aka traitor to his own people and therefore an outsider freak, with absolutely no fans… except for one…)
Yep, it’s Jesus, who shocks Levi and everyone else by telling Levi to follow him. This has got to be a stunning moment for Levi. This Jesus must have incredible charisma, don’t you think? How else would it be possible for the next line of the story to read: “And he did – walked away from everything and went with Jesus.”
Take a look at this Bernardo Strozzi (1581-1644) painting “The Calling of St Matthew” (Levi’s story under another name)
http://www.worcesterart.org/Collection/European/1941.1.html
~ What do you think the painter communicates about the state of mind of the one called by Jesus…. to completely re-orient himself, away from his money, his shameful but profitable career…
The story doesn’t say how he felt about this incredible turn but it does tell us what he did next: He threw a party! a huge feast for all the tax men and all the other shady characters he could gather… feeling pretty ecstatic about his new focus.
~ Notice there’s no family there; just a bunch of work cronies
~ These tax guys had to watch each other’s backs; no one else would claim them… again, no one except Jesus.
Jesus notices the snooty people who are peeking into Levi’s house, saying, “What in God’s name is he doing?"
~ Jesus compared himself to a doctor: I’m hanging with the sick folks, the ones who need me because they had their priorities screwed up. and I’m offering an amazing kind of healing
~ You were amazed that I could make a paralytic walk! Why can’t you get into the healing of these outsider losers!
So now… if Jesus were to butt into your life like he did Levi’s, what could he possibly do (or be like) that would so thrill you, that he could ask you to walk away from your main focus, and to walk with him and have a new focus?
~ This gets you thinking about your own experiences of how someone reached out to you with a life-changing word or action... while others share their stories of this happening to them, .
~ Maybe if we’re really open to it, we could imagine many ways this has happened to us, that God reaches out to us to shift our priorities throughout our lifetimes (little or big ways)
Jesus calls us to put God in the center of all that our lives are made of… all our following, our major commitments and our shallow ones.
~ And through this story of Levi, Jesus calls us to consider that having God at our center is not a burden or a “should”, but an incredible gift, a release of tension and insecurity, a way of feeling like it all fits together somehow
~ That’s one reason people come together to experience God’s presence and power… to feel once again that things might make sense if God is the center, and to explore with others how that might happen in real ways.
Next you see just one more reading up on the screen. This time it’s not about us following God but about God following us.
~ Take a look at this poetry, especially at the final verse:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2023;&version=76
~ The word, “following” in the original language of Hebrew, literally means “pursuing” or “chasing after” which leaves us with quite an image: of God running after us, following us in hot pursuit, to give us the good stuff we need…
With the discussion drawing to a close, the group is now invited to a time of “open space” where we can experience God’s presence in a variety of ways: lighting candles, sharing bread, talking to one another or having time to ourselves.
We gather together for a few more minutes to share announcements of what’s coming up… and then we are sent out into the world once again.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Who's following who?
The other day a friend and I were thinking back to not-too-long-ago when “being followed” was a bad thing. Either it meant someone dangerous is creeping up behind you or maybe your little sister is in your shadow, copying everything you do. Nothing good about being followed. Especially if you’re driving and the one following you has turned on the blue flashing lights.
But now, thanks to Twitter and other social sites, being followed has new meaning. It’s kind of nice to know someone else out there cares that you’re peeling carrots or thinking some profound thought. It feels good to know some little tidbit about someone you wouldn’t otherwise be connected to.
Following and being followed has never been so good. You stay connected. You learn about great (and not so great) causes. You can claim bragging rights if you have more followers than the buddy you’re always competing with.
But there’s following on the one hand (like a distant fan) and really following on the other. I can’t possibly keep up with all of my interests, so I dabble and peek in on some, while I’m totally into following other people, groups, and causes.
So what’s the organizing principle, the “something” that keeps you focused instead of scattered? What’s at your center that helps you feel like it’s possible to be balanced rather than spread so thin? What can you take the time to be truly committed to, and what needs to stay on the sidelines?
If you happen to be thinking that I think I’ve got the answers all packaged up for you nice and neat, you’d be wrong. I’m not that presumptuous. But I do have some really great questions. And a few Bible words to explore. And I know some great people who like to get together and tackle tough questions and offer insights. And we’re getting together tomorrow night (Thurs.) at 7pm at the Crowne Plaza over the theme: "Fan or follower: considering our considerable commitments".
Sorry if you’re long distance or work on Thursday nights. But if you do want to join the discussion, feel free to add your own Q’s and A’s that are on your mind here and now. Or tune in Friday to see what the btw group du jour has wrangled with. I’ll be giving you the highlights here.
Peace,
Kari
But now, thanks to Twitter and other social sites, being followed has new meaning. It’s kind of nice to know someone else out there cares that you’re peeling carrots or thinking some profound thought. It feels good to know some little tidbit about someone you wouldn’t otherwise be connected to.
Following and being followed has never been so good. You stay connected. You learn about great (and not so great) causes. You can claim bragging rights if you have more followers than the buddy you’re always competing with.
But there’s following on the one hand (like a distant fan) and really following on the other. I can’t possibly keep up with all of my interests, so I dabble and peek in on some, while I’m totally into following other people, groups, and causes.
So what’s the organizing principle, the “something” that keeps you focused instead of scattered? What’s at your center that helps you feel like it’s possible to be balanced rather than spread so thin? What can you take the time to be truly committed to, and what needs to stay on the sidelines?
If you happen to be thinking that I think I’ve got the answers all packaged up for you nice and neat, you’d be wrong. I’m not that presumptuous. But I do have some really great questions. And a few Bible words to explore. And I know some great people who like to get together and tackle tough questions and offer insights. And we’re getting together tomorrow night (Thurs.) at 7pm at the Crowne Plaza over the theme: "Fan or follower: considering our considerable commitments".
Sorry if you’re long distance or work on Thursday nights. But if you do want to join the discussion, feel free to add your own Q’s and A’s that are on your mind here and now. Or tune in Friday to see what the btw group du jour has wrangled with. I’ll be giving you the highlights here.
Peace,
Kari
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