tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-285506602024-03-14T04:58:48.214-04:00Mixed ForecastThis endlessly fascinating life we get to lead goes through storms and calms, snow and sun. Herein are the reflections of a progressive Christian, navigating the weather just like you.Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383135510620898499noreply@blogger.comBlogger98125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28550660.post-66424085238732250212015-05-28T21:11:00.001-04:002015-05-28T21:11:43.506-04:00<div dir="ltr">Living in the Law of God<div><div><br></div><div>They are like trees</div><div> planted by streams of water,</div><div>which yield their fruit in its season,</div><div> and their leaves do not wither.</div><div>In all that they do, they prosper.</div><div><span class="" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- Psalm 1:3</div><div><br></div><div>The psalm singer is pointing out the rewards of the virtuous, those who follow the law. The law is the law of God and the Bible talks about the law of God in some distinct ways. </div><div><br></div><div>There are the laws of myth, where trees, birds, night and day follow the word of God. Note that everything follows this kind of law, e.g., "Let there be light!" except for Adam and Eve who in choosing to do what they please have not considered how God will feel about it or the consequences.</div><div><br></div><div>There are the laws that aren't spelled out but were apparently obvious to God who in Genesis 6 is grieved "to his heart" at the wickedness of people. Later, some laws will be spelled out and the first ten are pretty memorable. Those commandments multiplied over time (613!) and it is likely that these are "the law" that the psalmist was thinking of. Then there is the distillation of all the law that I, probably like you, first encountered in a couple of public conversations Jesus had a few centuries afterwards.</div><div><br></div><div>Deuteronomy 6 - <i>You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.</i></div><div><br></div><div>Leviticus 19 - <i>Love your neighbor as yourself.</i></div><div><br></div><div>The variation of divine law that has been most powerful for me is found in John 15, "<i>This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you</i>." </div><div><br></div><div>These words are spoken by Jesus and, so, in order to figure out what this kind of loving one another would look like, one has to study Jesus, imagine Jesus, use Jesus, invite Jesus, challenge Jesus, grieve Jesus, hope Jesus, and, as our communion liturgy sometimes says, "allow oneself to be loved by Jesus."</div><div><br></div><div>Another way to say this is that one has to live in the presence of that which transcends our lives, that which is divine.</div><div><br></div><div>I just want to emphasize that in all things that we do, I hope that you and I are operating in an ancient context of myth, story, commandments, arguments, song, prayer, praise, and lived experience of the holy. It is that sense of the virtuous life, that sense of following the law which I commend to you. It is in living that way that we become like the trees the psalmist held up, nourished by streams of living water, bearing fruit in our season. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr">Peace and Blessing,<div>Brad</div></div></div></div> </div></div> Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383135510620898499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28550660.post-45429420033132793672015-03-30T20:10:00.001-04:002015-03-30T20:10:17.820-04:00Open to the new thing happening even if it is not so simple<div dir="ltr"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt"><i>For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.</i> - Matthew 7:14</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt">In the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 5, the writer places Jesus on "the mountain" where he begins to teach. The next few chapters contain some of the most moving and important parts of Jesus' ministry and ours. "You are the light of the world." "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." "Pray then in this way: Our Father, …." They also contain a few chestnuts, like the one quoted above from chapter 7. Perhaps you will recognize it a little differently if you read it from an earlier translation, "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." That's right. This is the source of our ideas about sticking to "the straight and narrow."<i></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt">Is this important in your life?</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt">Maybe it is not. Maybe you would never try to live a "narrow" life. After all, you are no Puritan!</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt">Finding the one set of lessons from parents, lessons from your faith tradition, lessons from school, from literature, from culture, from philosophy, from history can be complex and incomplete. In response to the complexity, some of us collapse the whole problem and grab onto something simpler. Because we've grabbed on, we also have to claim that we've chosen correctly. If you've followed this path, you may find relief from the difficulty of complex and incomplete rules to stay on the straight and narrow. You may also have a tendency to dismiss or denigrate other sets of rules; dismiss or denigrate those who follow truth that is not the truth you have chosen.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt">Sigh. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt">Don't do this.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt">The faith tradition I claim in the United Church of Christ, is one that tends to broadening and deepening – not one that tends to narrowing and completeness. We look to all those sources for inspiration and guidance I mentioned above and we remain open to God who is still speaking, still creating.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt">Biblical examples are often told to show how the most faithful, the great paragons of our faith story, were true to their root story, their covenant. To read some modern works based on this concept is to read how a church can't go wrong if it emulates the practices of the early church, revealed in the Acts of the Apostles and the Letters of Paul and his ilk to the new Christian communities of the eastern Mediterranean. Or one can read how if a modern church leader or pastor will just follow the leadership lessons of Moses, then all will be well. Also, in this style of narrative, Jesus makes no mistakes and God is perfect.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt">That's not what the Bible says, though. The early (and later) churches twisted away from the teaching of Paul & Co. Paul himself got a number of things completely wrong. Moses stumbled, David did vile things, and in a couple of instances, Jesus was, shall we say, a little slow on the uptake. …and there's that whole divine "oops" called the flood where God ended up having to promise never to do that again. What the stories really capture is how God is open to us and our positive and destructive twists and turns. God remains engaged with us in this complicated life. The people who told all those stories in the Bible made sure that we would see that even a powerful prophet like Elijah would visit despair <i>and </i>that there, in the midst of despair, God remained engaged. God did not leave Elijah alone. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt">That is what forgiveness looks like. In practical terms, forgiveness is remaining engaged with someone when there's every reason to turn away. That's who God is in these stories; the one who stays, the one who is there. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt">That, beloved, is the way you are called to be as well.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt">No, it is not always possible for you or me to forgive. You should make no mistake about it though, it is what God is hoping for from us, it is what Jesus recommended to us, it is the true north of our moral compass.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt">Let our longing be to find a way to live life that is connected to the deepest meanings of life. Take up this compass and head on out!</p> <div><div class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><br></div></div></div> </div> Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383135510620898499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28550660.post-33791556224564276952015-03-06T12:47:00.001-05:002015-03-06T12:47:37.631-05:00By the Oaks of Mamre and Your Front Door<div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal">Dear Ones,</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i>He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground. He said, 'My lord, if I find favor with you, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.' –Genesis 18:2-5a</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I have always been charmed by stories of travelers in certain parts of the world who encounter hospitality in ordinary households. I hear some recurring themes in these stories. The visitor is shown to the most comfortable place to sit, be it a nice chair or the better pile of skins. There is some bustling around, perhaps the assembly of something to eat or the heating of a pot of water for tea or coffee. Conversation is pleasant as both host and visitor without anxiety allow the time to grow and flower in conviviality. The food and drink are served and more pleasantness is sustained. At some point, the talk turns to whatever business has brought this meeting into being.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The fascinating and inspiring book of a few years ago "Three Cups of Tea" drew its title from the measurement of that point at which conversation could turn more purposeful in some households of Pakistan.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Have you encountered a practice like this yourself?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Do you have a habitual way that you handle visits, perhaps learned when you were little? I confess that I don't. I kind of make it up on the fly. It depends on who the visitor is, what else I'm doing, is this an expected visit or a drop-in, the time of day, and, perhaps most importantly, what the purpose of the visit is. I don't necessarily have to get down to business right away, but often enough, that's the most significant aspect of the visit for me and the strongest determinant for what hospitality I will offer.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">That is very different from the stories of hospitable hosts that I find so charming.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Where does my habit come from? Where does yours? Do you consider your habits of hospitality to be Christian? </p> <p class="MsoNormal">With that last question, you can hear me asking whether your habits mimic the practices of Jesus. We have very few images of Jesus' example or idea of hospitality as such. One that we should remember, of course, is the Breakfast on the Beach, in the Gospel of John, Chapter 21. Another story is the powerful moment, when in response to the query, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?" in Matthew 25, Jesus shared this startling and eternal insight, "…just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me." </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Do you root your practice of hospitality in those stories?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I am asking another question too. Are your personal habits of hospitality informed or drawn from the rich history of hospitality in Christian communities, such as churches, such as homes? Some of these are revealed in the Acts of the Apostles and the letters at the back of the Bible. Consider this instruction from The Letter to the Hebrews, in Chapter 13, "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares."</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The anonymous author of this book of the Bible is referring to the story excerpted at the beginning of this Note. That story is about Abraham, who is sitting outside the tent where he and Sarah are resting.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">That story is the foundation of Christian hospitality, of Jewish hospitality, and, it turns out, of Islamic hospitality. The Pakistanis whose practice included those three cups of tea? Their cultural practice of hospitality is instructed by the hospitality of Islam. That hospitality of theirs is further illustrated by a story about one of Islam's heroes. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i>Abu Talha welcomed a hungry traveler into his home even though there was very little to eat. So he instructed his wife Umm Sulaim to bring whatever provisions they had and give it to the guest. As the guest ate his fill, these two devout Muslims pretended to eat in the dim candlelight.</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Perhaps we should have a conversation about what practices we think are best, most welcoming, most nourished by the tradition we claim, and most holy. Holy? Why holy you ask? Well, here is the first line of Genesis 18, omitted earlier. It is a good verse to memorize today!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i>The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. – Genesis 18:1</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Peace and Blessing,</p><p class="MsoNormal">Brad</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> </div> Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383135510620898499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28550660.post-418698943013814532015-02-14T15:47:00.001-05:002015-02-14T15:48:15.115-05:00Finding Strength in Winter<div dir="ltr">
<br />
<div>
<div class="gmail_signature">
<div dir="ltr">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Dear Ones,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">In the human struggle to understand the nature of truth, winter has landed in New England. There is no falsehood in the depth of snow I see outside my window, or yours I suspect. From one perspective, the snow just is. "The Teacher," the voice we hear in the book of Ecclesiastes, might regard the snow and the cold with wisdom's gimlet eye. The snow is neither good nor bad, it is just what is there.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">How about you?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">A ramble through the internet encounters reasons why people say winter is not just winter – winter is a drag. Here's a list:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Winter is cold, dark, one is trapped indoors, there is snow shoveling, hazardous driving, slush of uncertain depth, winter seems to last forever, walkways are slippery, nature looks dead, New England heating costs, chapped, heavy clothes, and banging heat pipes.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Then there is a list of why winter is excellent. Consider:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Winter air is crisp, sunrises are viewable at a civilized hour, skiing, sledding, tubing, etc., hot chocolate, quilts, snow days, no mosquitos, poison ivy, ticks, or grass mowing, winter has much of Advent and Lent and all of Christmas, cozy clothing, snow on trees, snow on houses, snow on mountains, snow sculptures, snow falling.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">How does it change our experience of this day and tomorrow to see winter as the second list rather than the first? Both lists contain truth so this question is not about what is true or "truer." My question for you, beloved, is about how you let various truths live in your speaking, your emotional response through a winter's day, and your prayers at morning and evening.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Perhaps, pastor is here advocating the theology of Pollyanna, Eleanor H. Parker's optimistic heroine in her bestselling 1913 book of the same name? Maybe. Or perhaps I am suggesting that you observe, as Masha says in Anton Chekov's 1901 play, "The Three Sisters," that, "<i>Happy people don't notice whether it is winter or summer."</i> Well, no, I would rather you notice winter (and summer when it is summer.) No, I am not trying to judge you or give you cause to judge yourself for the way you approach winter. I have something else in mind.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">I am advocating your morning and evening prayers; that you stick to them, never missing a day. And here is a way you can try to pray your way through winter. First, accept the challenge of praying daily, when you wake up and when you are about to close your eyes to sleep at night. Second, make it your intention to summon or acknowledge or provisionally accept that you are praying in the realm of the holy. You can even say to yourself, "Okay, now I'm orienting myself to the holy, toward God, in the direction of what means most to me." This is one of the reasons people get down on their knees, put their hands together, and bow their heads. It is a purposeful act to enter the outside and inside posture of prayer – even if for you it feels silly or "just an act." Do it anyway.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Third, review what you have seen of life since you last prayed. Look outward to the people you have encountered, the events, and the weather too! You are looking at the truth of life. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Fourth, look inward at how you feel about those things and if you are anxious or grieving or puzzled or angry or whatever, let yourself name those feelings and see the truth that way. Tighten. Lament.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Fifth, look again and find your feelings of joy or humor or pleasure or accomplishment and let yourself see the truth that way. Open. Honor.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Finally, say, "Amen," and move on to your day or your sleep. Let me know how it goes if you like.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">I have the feeling, or at least the hope, that this simple practice of prayer will realign you, return you to yourself, and make winter winter again. I have the certainty that the source of all we know and see, the infuser of life and grace, will be strengthened by your practice – and then you will feel how strengthened you have been in return.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Peace and Blessing,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Pastor Brad</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383135510620898499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28550660.post-59538953269507475342015-01-06T17:56:00.001-05:002015-01-06T17:56:06.657-05:00Caroling<div dir="ltr"><div>"… and he laid his hands on each of them and cured them." Luke 4:40</div><div><br></div><div>Have you unplugged from Christmas? What's that mean to you? What stories do you tell at Christmas that you don't tell at the beginning of February? I'm not suggesting that you should be telling stories about shepherds and annunciations and leading stars. I'm just wondering if you have been able to keep the best impulses of Christmas alive in your life thus far into the new year.</div><div><br></div><div>One of those Christmastime impulses led a bunch of us to go caroling in December. In case you haven't heard that story, here's one part of it.</div><div><br></div><div>Terri Taylor is attending Andover Newton Theological School and one of her classmates is now a chaplain in Wrentham at the Wrentham Developmental Center, a community for adults with developmental disabilities. Chaplain Liz Brimm invited us to come caroling. We went in three or four carloads! The building we visited had two apartments on each of four floors. Each apartment was home to three to five adults and each apartment had three or four professional caregivers. Few of the residents speak or move easily. The apartments were warm and decorated for the season.</div><div><br></div><div>We were a little shy and a lot curious. I was certainly curious. The "cottages" of which we were visiting one are the remnants of the state school at Wrentham where people with certain disabilities were housed, put away. That history is not ancient or happy. So I, at least, felt the weight of that history and felt some tension about our visit.</div><div><br></div><div>We were greeted and ushered into the first apartment where our first sight was a woman in a wheelchair with wide eyes and strong, gesticulating arms. As we shuffled into the apartment, we kind of hung together – mostly because we were looking for where to stand to sing our carols – except for Susan Spaulding. Susan walked right over to the (somewhat startling looking) woman in the wheel chair and took her hand and said, "Hello, dear, hello!"</div><div><br></div><div>I'd like to tell you that the woman calmed right down or that all the people we saw that afternoon were healed, amused, or even knew we were there. Well, no one began to walk suddenly or speak in full sentences and many of the residents seemed unaware of us. But we sang a ton of songs in the cottage that afternoon and there were some folks joining in and smiling that we were there. The staff seemed glad and that helped us grow bolder as we went apartment to apartment. Some of us grew as bold as Susan and reached out a hand to hold a hand or touch a shoulder.</div><div><br></div><div>I don't mean to sentimentalize our caroling visit. We sang some carols! The apartments were warm and bright! We were glad to go and we stuck with it through the entire building! Clearly the residents are being cared for competently and kindly. Chaplain Liz said that, "There's nothing but love in this building." We should go again!</div><div><br></div><div>I just wanted us all to remember that Jesus laid hands on people to heal them and just to make his presence tangible. I also invite us to find gifts in each other and honor those gifts. There are some of us who are not likely to use a keyboard to update a spreadsheet. There are some of us who may be unlikely to sing a solo. But each of us has moments when our gift of song, of conversation, of building repair, of crafting, of foam collecting, of garlic planting, or of approaching an intimidating/frightened stranger and reaching out to reassure and say, "Hello, dear, hello," makes our strength and gift clear. So look for the gift in yourself, look for the gift in the people around you, and give thanks and praise to the one who gave us the gift and is giving still.</div><div><br></div> </div> Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383135510620898499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28550660.post-77635277767365234392015-01-06T17:54:00.001-05:002015-01-06T17:54:58.039-05:00Jonah<div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6pt">The story of Jonah is another Bible favorite! The reluctant prophet, the ship's crew in fear for their lives, a tempest, "man overboard!" a great fish, the prophet acquiesces, a land journey, a wicked city with a wicked ruler, a prophetic voice, a repentance and mending of ways, a temper tantrum, and a prank by the creator of the universe. Maybe you remember it as Jonah and the Whale. It's an epic tale and lends itself to child's drawings, costume dramas, puppet plays, and stained glass windows.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6pt">Which part of that story is about you? Is any part of that story like you or like part of your life? </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6pt">Let me suggest a few places where you might see moments of your own journey in the journey of Jonah.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6pt">Have you felt compelled to take on an onerous or dangerous task? God compelled Jonah to go to Nineveh and tell them to shape up. Jonah really didn't want anything to do with such a fool's errand. The embarrassment would be huge. He clearly would have no effect on the wicked. His reputation as a prophet would go down the drain. It was a long and difficult journey. They might just throw him in jail, or worse. Jesus, faced with this kind of task, asked to be let off, although if that was not possible, he said he would complete his destiny. Jonah just got out of town.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6pt">How about this one? You might have realized that you were the one messing things up. Or you violated your relationship with someone; being too controlling, being unkind, losing your temper in a hurtful way, grabbing a moment of selfishness. Jonah knew that he was the one who was the cause of the tempest. He comes to a dramatic moment of truth, don't you think? </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6pt">"He said to them, 'Pick me up and throw me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you; for I know it is because of me that this great storm has come upon you.'" </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6pt">Have you ever given Jonah credit for this moment in the story? He will sacrifice himself for a bunch of strangers, people he just met. It is extraordinary! And then something else extraordinary happens. They refuse! </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6pt">"Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to bring the ship back to land, but they could not, for the sea grew more and more stormy against them."</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6pt">So, over he goes. Can you relate? Have you ever cast your fate upon the uncertain or dangerous path in a way from which there is no turning back? Or perhaps you can relate to what must have happened after he hit the water. Jonah knew he was finished. Nothing is stronger than an angry sea and he was right in the middle of it and beginning to sink. There are images stuck in my head from the end of the movie, <i>A Perfect Storm</i>. One is Bobby Shatford, played by Mark Wahlberg, who is overboard and floating. He is completely alone in the vastness. Another is Billy Tyne, played by George Clooney, who is still in his boat, underwater, staring up as all is lost. Have you been there beloved? Have you been in a place where there is no more help coming, no hope at all?</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6pt">Then maybe you have found what Jonah found. Even in the most devastating, hopeless chaos, something comes swimming as if it owned the place. The great fish swims to the rescue and Jonah is saved. God's child, leviathan, whale, giant beast of the sea, water angel, comes and saves the drowning prophet.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6pt">When you are in the place of chaos and pain, beloved, may you find the very hand of God to hold you and see you through.<br></p> </div> Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383135510620898499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28550660.post-31587502161732946042014-10-20T09:09:00.000-04:002014-10-20T09:09:04.543-04:00Homily - In Which Jesus is Found to Laugh with Delight<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Homily for the Installation Service of Rev. Greg Morrisse to the Senior Pastor Call at The Plymouth Church in Framingham - October 19, 2014</span><br />
<br />
Gospel Reading Luke 10:25-28<br />
<br />
<i>Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”</i><br />
<i>Jesus asked, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?”</i><br />
<i>The lawyer answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your</i><br />
<i>soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”</i><br />
<i>Jesus replied, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”</i><br />
<br />
Homily<br />
<br />
It seemed like any other day in the Gospels of Our Lord and Savior.<br />
- Disciples full of questions<br />
- Sadducees concerned about the integrity of the temple<br />
- Pharisees discussing everything as they adapted faith to changing conditions<br />
- …all familiar to Jesus.<br />
<br />
Actually, in the Gospel stories, not much surprises Jesus. He pretty much sees coming what’s coming.<br />
<br />
In this story, the gospel writers send yet another putz up against the hero, Jesus. This time, it's a "lawyer."<br />
<br />
//<br />
And we, the readers are more than readers. We are an audience with popcorn, bread, and grape juice and we have front row seats!<br />
<br />
‘Cause we get it.<br />
<br />
- There are people in our lives who have opinions about what we should eat, how we should fertilize our gardens, what car we should drive, who we should vote for, etc., and we would sometimes like to tell them to take a hike.<br />
- There are people in our lives who think that there is a God whose voice stopped when the Bible was “written” or a founding spirit who vanished when the US Constitution was signed and we would like to tell them that the spirit of this nation continues to change and grow and that God is Still Speaking.<br />
- There are people in our lives who don’t seem to quite "get" us and that is both wearying and irritating and we impatient with being so patient.<br />
<br />
//<br />
So, we’re all set for a Jesus smackdown.<br />
- We're ready to see him meet corruption with angry table throwing<br />
- We can't wait for him to respond to pedantry with devastating truth<br />
- He's about to put the lawyer on the ground with a folding chair!<br />
<br />
//<br />
Not only doesn’t that happen, but Jesus doesn’t fall for the trap at all.<br />
I mean, he doesn’t fall for the trick-question trap that the writer of Luke places in the mouth of the lawyer.<br />
He also seems not to fall for the writer’s trick either – I mean the setup for a dramatic refutation and confounding of someone opposed to Jesus’ story about the kingdom of God.<br />
<br />
//<br />
And you won’t fall for it anymore either, will you?<br />
Greg has shown us all how the stress and anxiety of this life, of his life, and of this church do not command his behavior. Greg chooses again and again not to fall for the trick.<br />
Beloved, if you haven’t realized it before this minute then this minute is your time to pivot – to turn the tables on the trickiness of life. After now, you won’t fall for any political ad trying to get you angry. You won’t be fooled by anyone’s attempt to put you down.<br />
When someone tries to make their anxiety into your problem you will take a dancer's step back so it doesn’t land on you and listen kindly – without taking it on.<br />
Now you will leave that manipulation behind.<br />
<br />
So Jesus turns the tables on this trick situation – and I propose that the Bible narrative fails to fully report the surprise ending. And I hope you like surprises, ‘cause…<br />
<br />
//<br />
Here’s the picture of Jesus I want to paint for you today, I want you to imagine!<br />
See him there in his rough clothes and a rough beard,<br />
See him there surrounded by some who love him, some who aren’t sure, and a bunch of strangers.<br />
See him ready for people in need of a kind word, in need of healing,<br />
...People yearning for deeper meaning, "leaning out for love," for just one touch of the hem of his garment<br />
…and he expects it all – he’s expecting the dust, the mixture of people, the suspicion, the anxiety, the expectations, and, yes, the trick questions,<br />
…and sure enough, here comes the lawyer.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
//</div>
<div>
<i>From wherever Lawyer is sitting, Lawyer pops up, raising a hand high and </i></div>
<div>
<i>speaks. </i></div>
<div>
Lawyer: Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?</div>
<div>
Brad: And expecting just one more of these interactions, Jesus turns<br />
patiently and asks,<br />
“What is written in the law? What do you read there?”</div>
<div>
And I think the lawyer might have paused briefly to think. And<br />
then eagerly said:</div>
<div>
Lawyer: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,<br />
and with all your soul, and with all your strength,<br />
and with all your mind; - and your neighbor as yourself!</div>
<div>
And Jesus is so surprised by the beautiful answer that he wraps the lawyer in his everlasting arms with a great shout, “Yes!” And Jesus, filled with delight, laughs and laughs and laughs!</div>
<div>
<br />
//</div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Beloved, God grieves when we grieve. And the source and
spirit of life itself rejoices when we get it right. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
//</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Oh, one more thing. Jesus doesn’t at this time make a promise about eternal
life, no, Jesus says, “Do this and you will live.” Period. This life. Right
now. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
//</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And we all know now that there is solid ground on which we
can stand and that ground is to love our God and from that ground we can go
forth to love our Neighbor and with that confidence, we need no longer be
tricked by the world’s trivialities, we can live and live with joy, and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that</i></b>
beloved friends, will make Jesus laugh and laugh and laugh!<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>88</o:Words>
<o:Characters>507</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Grace Congregational United Church of Christ</o:Company>
<o:Lines>4</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>594</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-language:JA;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383135510620898499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28550660.post-11961398016206955512014-09-30T18:12:00.003-04:002014-09-30T18:12:30.774-04:00<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Losing
- or Keeping - Your Faith<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">From
a Letter to a Student<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Flannery
O'Connor<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Reprinted from www.bruderhof.com</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Burdened
by a crippling disease but armed with a razor-sharp mind and unshakeable
convictions, writer Flannery O'Connor left a large and impressive body of
spiritual writings when she died at 39. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Though
not as widely known as her gothic novels and short stories, these pieces are
more readily accessible, and (probably because so many are letters) they speak
with a highly personal, immediate voice. In this one, written to her good
friend Alfred Corn, she decries what she once called a "tired
cliche": the idea that education in general, and collegiate / university
life in particular, must inevitably lead to a shipwrecked faith.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">I think the experience of losing your faith, or of
having lost it, is an experience that in the long run belongs to faith; or at
least it can belong to faith if faith is still valuable to you, and it must be
or you would not have written me about this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">I don’t know how the kind of faith required of a
Christian living in the 20th century can be at all if it is not grounded on
this experience that you are having right now of unbelief. “Lord, I believe;
help my unbelief” is the most natural and most human and most agonizing prayer
in the gospels, and I think it is the foundation prayer of faith.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A friend once wrote to the poet Gerard Manley
Hopkins and asked him to tell him how he could believe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He must have expected a long philosophical
answer. Hopkins wrote back, “give alms.” Perhaps he was trying to say that God
is to be experienced in Charity (in the sense of love for the divine image in
human beings). Don’t get so entangled with intellectual difficulties that you
fail to look for God in this way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Faith is what you have in the absence of knowledge…
and that absence doesn’t bother me because I have got, over the years, a sense
of the immense sweep of creation, of the evolutionary process in everything, of
how incomprehensible God must necessarily be to be the God of heaven and earth.
You can’t fit the Almighty into your intellectual categories.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">If you want your faith, you have to work for it. It
is a gift, but for very few is it a gift given without any demand for time
devoted to its cultivation…Even in the life of a Christian, faith rises and
falls like the tides of an invisible sea. It’s there, even when he can’t see it
or feel it, if he wants it to be there.</span></div>
Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383135510620898499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28550660.post-15820661496507264412014-09-29T11:46:00.000-04:002014-09-29T11:47:07.468-04:00<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #000090;">Homily at a Wedding<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #000090;">I want to tell you two stories.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #000090;">Look at these two people! We
know enough about human sexuality and culture to see how they might discover
each other and be interested, right? In the musical “Guys and Dolls,” the
character named Sky Masterson called it chemistry. It’s not so surprising that
they would find a connection. It is reasonable. This man and this woman make
sense together. It is a good story to tell.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #000090;">Look at each other. Go ahead. We
know enough about how guest lists are assembled to figure out who is here
today. Humans are social beings and a kinship analysis would reveal how everyone
you see around you is connected by one or more threads of relationship to other
people here. We can talk about family ties, ties of friendships long and short,
we can understand the “Who’s Who” of this gathering. It is reasonable. This
gathering makes sense. We make a fine story – call it chapter two of our first
story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #000090;">Now expand your vision to this place.
There is light and sea and air. We see the Maine coastline revealed in the
stone ledge under our feet; formed from the slow shifting of tectonic plates,
the grinding of giant ice sheets, the gradual erosion of the elements. We know the
geology is mapped. The meteorological explanation of a sunny day is also something
we can find on the web. When you dig into it, it is rational and makes sense. So
we have chapter three of our first, good story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #000090;">Here is another story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #000090;">Can you see the poetry in the
shapes of these stones? Do you feel the thrill of this sea air? Does your heart respond to the expectation of the open
horizon? Are you brightened by the wonder in our spirits? Breathe it in! Let it fill you up - at the
same time that it makes you empty and yearning for something more. We are in a world that has been made by a
love well beyond our sense of time and understanding. There is surrounding us a
flow of something ancient and unimaginable. It is right here and also elusive.
Something or someone is delighted with all this and filled with wonder, just
like we are.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #000090;">Can you see that this gathering
is extraordinary? We will never recreate this particular gathering of people
and relationships another time. You are right here, right now. There is nothing
else in your life you can really be sure of but this precious moment in which
we are alive together. This couple and their parents have given us this moment
as a completely unexpected and impossible gift, a completely unexpected
blessing. Maybe like me, you can hardly believe it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #000090;">Can you imagine the complex web
of choices that brought this particular man and this particular woman to this
season in their lives and to this particular moment? A missed train, a
different friend, some alternate decision about staying or going – it is as if
they have been guided here. You know, God loves a romance as much as any of us,
where boy and girl eventually find each other. And what God really loves is a
story that starts this way and just keeps going.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #000090;">So. I have set before you two
stories. You can be happy with the fascinating story about chemistry, kinship
ties, and the geology of coastal North America. You can be happy with the story
about a creating love that is greater than time and space, the unexpected
blessing of this moment together that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">you
will never forget</b>, and a destiny fulfilled and ready for the next step. I
suggest you keep the first story in mind but choose the second.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>504</o:Words>
<o:Characters>2879</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Grace Congregational United Church of Christ</o:Company>
<o:Lines>23</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>6</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>3377</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-language:JA;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #000090;">Beloved, choose the better
story!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383135510620898499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28550660.post-42014183935943367702014-09-29T11:41:00.000-04:002014-09-29T11:41:12.041-04:00Illustrating "Who's Garden?"<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2XGiAQBuUlYJ5wIX8tPABc7tGOdT1uL_ckOdRYQbjckUpmds5TF7NL7-ciaAo1pESY5CypGT66PIa5BetkSRPOGzrF8aXJ3fBKBXjVSZu9RTt-KUNlg5IugWbbWBy129e5t7q5A/s640/blogger-image-2075268588.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2XGiAQBuUlYJ5wIX8tPABc7tGOdT1uL_ckOdRYQbjckUpmds5TF7NL7-ciaAo1pESY5CypGT66PIa5BetkSRPOGzrF8aXJ3fBKBXjVSZu9RTt-KUNlg5IugWbbWBy129e5t7q5A/s640/blogger-image-2075268588.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfSNXqzFOz7PReujb_INsvzDMlvAEmJv0Bj8z1Mb-s1Ldh8ccGTuvS1fF7I9kDUDIgbWaQ6APz2wcWzJknLsDOWanxyr85kLoucxKQw-wV3QmRdpC9uLbVxCzBn3O-jgLRMKfFpA/s640/blogger-image--1099705024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfSNXqzFOz7PReujb_INsvzDMlvAEmJv0Bj8z1Mb-s1Ldh8ccGTuvS1fF7I9kDUDIgbWaQ6APz2wcWzJknLsDOWanxyr85kLoucxKQw-wV3QmRdpC9uLbVxCzBn3O-jgLRMKfFpA/s640/blogger-image--1099705024.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouN4CN5mpkJvLY9Nsvp18E3Za0RuoGR1-Unl6AXJFFEo6ED46NK9Qk9rClx8ZHq0390gMd2a5U7F8A5vD0PT97Wd8570k3knLqvp73kHO0BwcizVyFKEkVCWrt3Qs-8nfVJa4Ew/s640/blogger-image-932338577.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouN4CN5mpkJvLY9Nsvp18E3Za0RuoGR1-Unl6AXJFFEo6ED46NK9Qk9rClx8ZHq0390gMd2a5U7F8A5vD0PT97Wd8570k3knLqvp73kHO0BwcizVyFKEkVCWrt3Qs-8nfVJa4Ew/s640/blogger-image-932338577.jpg" /></a></div>
Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383135510620898499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28550660.post-29713124825149085792014-09-29T11:40:00.001-04:002014-09-29T11:40:20.944-04:00<div class="MsoNormal">
I can well imagine an atheist’s last words: “White,
white! L-L-Love! My God! – and the
deathbed leap of faith. Whereas the
agnostic, if he stays true to his reasonable self, if he stays beholden to dry,
yeastless factuality, might try to explain the warm light bathing him by
saying, “Possibly a f-f-failing oxygenation of the b-b-brain,” and, to the very
end, lack imagination and miss the better story.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>67</o:Words>
<o:Characters>387</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Grace Congregational United Church of Christ</o:Company>
<o:Lines>3</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>453</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:PixelsPerInch>96</o:PixelsPerInch>
<o:TargetScreenSize>800x600</o:TargetScreenSize>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yan Martel, <i>The Life of Pi</i>, (Knopf Canada, 2001), Chapter 22<o:p></o:p></div>
Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383135510620898499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28550660.post-36713410122064808892014-08-19T19:06:00.001-04:002014-08-19T22:04:06.339-04:00Whose Garden?<div dir="ltr">
<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-a86a52d6-f084-cc05-86a1-ec0701b8d50e" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">Dear Ones,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">"Is it by your wisdom that the hawk soars,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;"> and spreads its wings toward the south?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;"> and makes its nest on high?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">It lives on the rock and makes its home</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;"> in the fastness of the rocky crag.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">From there it spies the prey;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;"> its eyes see it from far away.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">Its young ones suck up blood;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;"> and where the slain are, there it is."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">- Job 39:26-30</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">That text of Job is in quotes. Someone is speaking. Can you remember who speaks thus in Job's grand story of misfortune and fate? It is part of the song God sings - or hollers - at Job when God decides to set the record straight. The speech is another of the creation stories, among the many in the Bible, and this one comes from the very voice of God!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">I love these passages. God is upbraiding Job (although God's real targets are Job's “learned friends") with a voice dripping with sarcasm...and yet poetry. "Is it by your wisdom" is sarcastic. Then notice the beauty of "that the hawk soars, and spreads its wings toward the south?" "Is it at your command," is sarcastic. "That the eagle mounts up and makes its nest on high," is beautiful.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">Then something even more compelling happens in the passage. God loses it. God is caught in wonder at creation even though it is the work of God's own word, God's own will. The voice </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">seems to lose track of the scolding and go off in another direction entirely, marveling at how the hawk hunts and how its "young ones" are fed. Do you hear it? God is in love with all that is created. God's delight and awe in the face of nature is overwhelming even to God; just like it is to you!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">Earlier this summer, I noticed that some of our church garden vegetables were nibbled to the nub. I suspected a few local residents. In particular, I had my eye on the groundhog who lives under the Grace Church shed. I did not forget to suspect the bunny (undoubtedly one of many) who is fond of the grass that grows beneath the elevated garden, where the lawnmower doesn't go. I also had the seemingly infinite number of turkeys who make a daily promenade through the field on my list. Only just now am I considering that deer, chipmunks, mice, opossums, racoons, skunks, and squirrels are also potential diners, although I haven't observed them myself. And there are other kinds of birds too.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">It is tempting to think of them all as pests; vermin determined to thwart our attempts to grow some herbs for human consumption. I suppose they are. They may in fact thwart my plans to grow a tomato in the yard this year.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">Perhaps another way to think of it is that they are operating from another plan. Perhaps our rational approach to creating free food for Framingham is only one plan. After all:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">"Is it by your wisdom that the groundhog digs deep,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;"> and makes an exit from under the shed to all the compass points around?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">Is it at your command that the bunny watches</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;"> and turns like lighting to vanish from the yard?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">They live near the earth and make a home</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;"> where it is cool and dark and invisible.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">They see wider than 180 degrees</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;"> and notice every shadow, every quivering leaf.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">They might know the coming weather</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;"> and how to escape the flood.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">They make many young</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;"> for the meek shall inherit the earth."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">Enjoy your vegetables, flowers, and all your gardens, beloved. Then give a sweet prayer of thanks to the one who finds joy in all growing things, who longs to heal all blighted and benighted things, and who, most particularly, loves you, loves you, loves you.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">Peace and Blessing</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">Brad</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span>
<div style="line-height: 1.15;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383135510620898499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28550660.post-33855236466775899742014-05-29T10:53:00.001-04:002014-05-31T16:03:33.354-04:00Joseph in Jail<div dir="ltr">
<div>
How is your memory of the Book of Genesis? With all the drama, epics, and archetypes, Genesis is just packed! Let's run through a few. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Creation, creation again, Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah and the Flood(creation yet again,) the Tower of Babel(that would be another creation story,) Abraham and Sarah and Hagar, Lot & Co., Isaac and Rebecca, Jacob and Esau, Leah and Rachel, playing host to angels, wrestling with angels, brother-betrayals, famine, journeys to Egypt, and a whole mess of "begats!" Some of these moments, characters, and plots resonate with my life. How about yours?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
One dramatic moment happens when Joseph was first a servant, a slave, for Potiphar, who was "an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard." Joseph gets on well in his job until the day he is falsely accused of inappropriate physical contact by Potiphar's wife.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>And Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined; he remained there in prison. </i>Genesis 39:20</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There was no trial, no evidence-gathering, no judge, and certainly no jury. The way Egypt worked in those days was the way that authoritarian systems work most of the time. The most important factor in the economic, justice, and social system is the relative power of each person. What is important is who has power, who carried the day, and can be expected to show power in the future. The playing field isn't even supposed to be level. It's supposed to be the way it is.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In our time and nation, we hold to ideals of a justice system that is based on something other than the preferences of those in power. We have tried, with varying degrees of success, to establish a law enforcement that is just. It may be that for you law enforcement has been just, appropriate, reasonable, consistent – fair. That wasn't the case for Joseph.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Joseph needed circumstances – fate – to turn around for him. That's just what happened. He made his way back into trust, out of jail, and upward in the Egyptian realm until he was as powerful as anyone, anyone who wasn't the Pharaoh himself. Actually, the Bible attributes the turnaround using its well-known explanation, "because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper." In fairness, the text also gives some credit to Joseph's skills, although if we say Joseph was a gifted steward we consider who it was gave Joseph the gift.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Have you been falsely accused? Have you been locked up or just locked? Have you been in a position where you didn't and couldn't move forward in your job or your relationship with someone? Have you ever been stuck? If in your difficult time you have longed for deep sustenance, then you know the direction God's help comes from. Consider your heritage.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
You inherit the love of God that God has for all creation – open yourself to the possibility that God's love is available to buoy you up. You inherit a practice of praying for just what you need (your daily bread) and no more – open yourself to the hope in that prayer. You inherit a way of living in which each of us shares with each other (see Acts 4:32) – open yourself to your brothers and sisters in faith that they might know your need and share with you their strength.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Joseph did find his way out of the fix where he was stuck. May this be your story too! May you always find your way through the stuck places you encounter and realize that those stuck places do not completely define your life. Your life is alive in the very being of God, the Holy One, the Source. That is where you live and move and have your being. The place where you're stuck? That's just a place you are in "for now!"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383135510620898499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28550660.post-30125135773041570172014-05-03T17:56:00.001-04:002015-05-15T07:50:13.347-04:00Clearway School, Inc. - Foundations<div dir="ltr">
<div style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Clearway School, Inc.
– Foundations<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the current co-directors at Clearway School asked
about how it all began. So I wrote this version of the history trying to
capture the best reasons that we did things the way we did them. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 4.0in;">
With Respect and Love,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 4.0in;">
Brad Watters, May 2014<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Backstory<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In 1974-75 school year, David, Holly, Alan, Sally, John, and
I were teachers and Victoria was the office manager of another small school
like Clearway. That school had in its past shared the leadership in some sort of
co-director model. By September 1974, when I started, there were two
co-directors. While these two had experience and skill, they also held
information closely and so decisions seemed arbitrary or perverse. Through the
year, things grew bad and by March and April, staff began to resign
"effective the end of the year." We would gather after school and sit
around feeling pretty sorry for ourselves until one day, someone started
talking about starting a school. My wife Debbie joined the effort to make us seven. We were all in
our 20's and early 30's.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Flatten the Org Chart<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As those conversations progressed, our late-60's early-70's
mistrust for authority, which had been fertilized by the,
"experience" of the school year past, made various alternative models
of governance appealing. Think Summerhill. Recall that then current education
models had been shown to be discriminatory (Boston busing decision) and
inadequate (Chapter 766.) We thought we would create a school that combined a)
the best professional practices and innovations in teaching children with
learning disabilities and b) the opening of educational possibilities that the
alternative school movement was exploring. If avoiding a hierarchical model was
our starting point, we gradually made it our hallmark. We postulated that with
a clear focus on the healthy growth and education of our students and with the
clear advantage that we were all friends, we could make a school work. So
that's how we started thinking of ourselves as co-directors.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Personalities<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We were friends and we were also a group of strong
personalities. There would be problems because of that (e.g., no founders
working at Clearway by 10 years out.) We knew there would be hassles and we
wanted to make sure we were at least making a tradeoff. What are the benefits
of having a bunch of strong individuals? Well, we varied enough from one
another that every kid ended up finding connection with at least some adult. So
we figured that as long as every kid was spending some time or had access to
every adult, those connections could happen. Tutoring became a mandatory part
of each kid's program. Also, we had an expectation of individuality for our
staff, as if it was written somewhere, "If you want to roll with us, you
needed to stand out." That expectation was exactly our approach to each of
our students. We wanted the ones who didn't fit in. We wanted them to learn
that what had been a handicap was going to turn out to be their strength.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My Classroom: My Rules<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We were idiosyncratic about classroom and playing field
discipline. We had the idea that while some people (Hello, parents?) find
themselves saying, "I’m not going to let you talk that way to me young
man," others are just going to think you're funny. Some behaviors were
acceptable in Sally's classroom that made David nuts - so the kids had to
practice in school their already somewhat developed perception that those
differences existed. In response to "it's not fair! Holly let's
us..." my response could be "Oh, it's fair. It's just not the same.
You know I’m not Holly!" "Mom and Dad" don't actually agree all
the time and teacher independence inside and outside the classroom brought that
challenge into the social development curriculum.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It also removed one of the main functions the principal and
assistant principal have in most schools. So we made it a virtue that there was
no higher authority than the adult on the spot.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Community<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The school was going to be small because that's all we could
imagine, really. Again, we chose to make this a hallmark. A small school would
have a good shot at creating community. We asserted that the power of the
community to self-regulate wasn't just a pipe dream of that guy over in England
(Summerhill, again.) We turned away from certain things that make some schools
run with a different logic. For example, we didn't segregate activities by age.
We did use some classroom leveling but we emphasized that we're all in this
together; school spirit! (The teams then were the Clearway Bulldozers. Don't
know how long that survived!) I think this is the impulse that led to the
community coming together on Fridays for an hour or so in a gathering we called
"moot." (Some of us were Tolkien fans, what can I say?) There were
certain rules and habits about moot and I forget most of them. In my mind, the
valuing of each person's contribution was somehow non-negotiable. If you had
something to say and were being appropriate, you got to speak. Also, each moot
was run by a different co-director. Moot was sometimes an activity, sometimes a
film, sometimes ... you get the idea. We tried to take advantage of the
differences in style and content. Friday's were half days.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Making Decisions<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The biggest problem of having too many head chefs was, of
course, decision-making. We had a lot of decisions to make because we were
starting something new. We had a lot of decisions to make because we were full
of ideas. And, even though having every one of us taking that vaunted
idiosyncratic approach to kids was important to us, we needed the counterbalance
of a shared understanding of each kid and his or her needs.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
School Decisions<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our pattern was to meet in our major meeting from lunch
Friday until we were done. Those meetings could run late! We all had thick
enough skins to handle them and, as painful and interminable as those meetings
could be, the group was very funny and we got through it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Focus on a Kid<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of our best changes was how after a couple of years, we
teamed up with the extraordinary therapist Tod Gross of the Adams Street Associates
in Newtonville. Debbie and I had met Tod and his wife Jackie when taking
classes for our Masters at Lesley. They taught a class in adolescent psychology
that was clear and useful. We arranged for Tod to come to Clearway at the end
of school on Mondays. Staff would gather in a circle and one teacher would
present one of the kids he or she tutored. Then others of us would fill out the
picture of the kid with Tod drawing us out. There were two amazing aspects of
this arrangement with Tod. The first was that Tod is one of the more amazing
(did I already say amazing?) listeners and he drew out of us our best insights.
The second was that Tod is just good about adolescents, and people in general.
I think he did share his expertise with us sometimes but mostly, he made us the
best we could be. Maybe it would have worked with any outside group leader
because it definitely changed the chemistry of this group of co-directors to
have outside ears in the circle.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Divide and Trust<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I also ought to mention that we did a lot of trusting.
Perhaps this flowed from us being friends but not all of us were friends to
start with. Still, we trusted each other to take on different roles. Victoria
and Sally became the gurus of state approval, of one sort or another. Victoria
and Debbie paid attention to how you do payroll and cash flow. I fixed
furniture. We trusted the ideas that each other produced. David and I took kids
to New Hampshire and stayed in cabins along the Appalachian Trail. At some
point, we hired Mark. This was a big deal because in our model, every newly
hired teacher would become an instant co-director. Mark fit in fine but I'm not
sure if the model could have been sustained any longer than we did.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>1205</o:Words>
<o:Characters>6874</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Grace Congregational United Church of Christ</o:Company>
<o:Lines>57</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>16</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>8063</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-language:JA;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am pleased and proud to have been part of Clearway's
beginnings. But I'm also clear that it was the arrival of Mary Ryan that
positioned Clearway to survive and flourish and grow into what you are today.
It is her life's work.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
</div>
Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383135510620898499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28550660.post-8455894924244690572014-04-14T12:15:00.001-04:002014-04-14T12:15:45.378-04:00Wells from Wounds<div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr">Emotional and spiritual traumas gouge aching, empty holes; holes that some of us feel as physical emptiness in our precious bodies. Betrayal, heartbreak, cruelty, and isolation leave us empty and aching and with our feet pacing down the path of despair. <br> </div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">Should we make it through those dismal regions and find the way to life, we will have got past a part of mourning. And yet we will find that we are no longer in the same part of the forest, as it were. (There was never a return path, only a way forward.) </div> <div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">As we live into our new bodies, we may wonder about those deeply gouged hollows that the difficult days and nights created. </div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">If we let it happen, those excavations can fill with a broth of spirit and life, as old quarries sometimes fill with deep, clear water. In the midst of breathtaking hurt, our inner space has expanded. </div> <div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">Those holes become wells that fill with compassion.</div></div></div> </div> Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383135510620898499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28550660.post-839556066302520112014-04-09T15:33:00.000-04:002014-04-09T15:33:39.814-04:00Palm Sunday 2014 - The Whole Service!<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Welcome
to Grace!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">An
Open and Affirming Church<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">of
the<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">United
Church of Christ<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">In<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Framingham
Massachusetts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">and <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">a
Green Congregation!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">April
6, 2014<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Singing into Worship<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 13.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">My Lord, What a Morning</span></i><span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma; font-variant: small-caps; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Chalice</span><span style="font-family: Tahoma;"> 708<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 13.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">O God of Earth and Altar</span></i><span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">New
Century </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">582</span><span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Welcome<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 49.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">One:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>… Let
us say who is welcome here!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 49.5pt; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">All:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>No matter who you are or where you are on
life’s journey, you are welcome at Grace Congregational United Church of
Christ!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 49.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">One:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Please
be seated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How have we been in ministry?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Reading 1 - Genesis 6<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 13.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">The
Lord saw that the wickedness of humankind was great in the earth, and that
every inclination of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually.
And the Lord was sorry to have made humankind on the earth, and it grieved the
Lord, deep loss in the heart of the Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Comment 1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 13.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">This
is the premise of the story of Noah’s Ark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is the part of the story that we look away from because we are a
people of the new creation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We want to
watch the brave ark forging through the storm and then the animals repopulating
a new earth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 13.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">The
movie Noah is just out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This part of the
story, the set-up if you will, is a big deal in the new movie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The wickedness of humankind is convincing in
the way movie evil is convincing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
leads us to our morning’s consultation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Take a moment to think about the evil you encounter in your life, that
stings you in the news, that worries you when you let it worry you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Hold Silence<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Consultation 1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 49.7pt; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">One:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Come, let us sit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let us consult with each other.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 49.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">All:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We
will speak to each other in the presence of our God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 49.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">One:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>What do
we fear? What do we dread? About what are we outraged?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Why?<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></i><span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Sing! Prayer and Praise</span> 47<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Prayers of the People<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; tab-stops: .75in 189.0pt 3.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">One:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Holy God,<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>One:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Holy God, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 13.5pt; tab-stops: .75in 189.0pt 3.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>in your loving mercy,<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>with
joyful hearts,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 13.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; tab-stops: .75in 189.0pt 3.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">All:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hear
our prayer.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>All:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We give you thanks!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Reading 2 - Genesis 6<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 13.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">So
the Lord said, ‘I will blot out from the earth the human beings I have
created—people together with animals and creeping things and birds of the air,
for I am sorry that I have made them.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Comment 2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 13.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">So
this epic story tells us how God responded to the problem of evil of the world,
once upon a time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 13.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">These
stories of great evil and injustice are your stories, your inheritance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 13.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Think
about the people, “when Israel was in Egypt’s land, oppressed so hard they
could not stand.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Evil in the world,
oppression, captivity, slavery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What was
God’s response then?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Send a prophet-hero, send supernatural
violence to meet the violence of that bondage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 13.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Now,
today we observe Palm Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We see
that Jesus is riding into Jerusalem like a prophet-hero of old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did the people lining the street expect a
response to the evil they experienced like the cosmic responses of old?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What were they rejoicing about?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What was arriving?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 13.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Think
back to the things we said gave us pain, made us outraged, shocked us with evil
in our own day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Consultation 2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -40.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">One:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>What
solutions do we seek? What will ally our fears?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Confession<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 49.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">One:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>O Jesus, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 49.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">All:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>we confess.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 49.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">One:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We tell the story of how you walked the roads
of old Israel for a time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the day
that you rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, the people greeted you by putting
their coats on the ground in front of you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They waved the green leaves from palm plants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bible says they sang out loud,
“Hosanna!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 49.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">What did you know that
day?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Were the loud voices sweet to your
ears?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Were you glad to see those people
who were so hungry to see you? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 49.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">One:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>O Jesus<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 49.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">All:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>we confess.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 49.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">One:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Like those people, we are cheering as you come
into our lives!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 49.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">One:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>O Jesus<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 49.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">All:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>we confess.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 49.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">One:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We hope you are coming into the lives we are
living.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 49.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Come and fit in with our
television shows, our video games, our busy days, and all the things that we
care about. Comfort us when we are sad!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Lead us in a big, loud parade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Rescue the people in danger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Feed
the people who need food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Save us and
protect us from a scary world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 49.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Our confession reveals our
guilt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 49.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">One:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>O Jesus<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 49.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">All:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>we confess.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 49.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">One:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>For we only welcome you if you come in the way
that fits who we are and the life we live.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We expect your miracles to make sense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We want your presence to be the kind of mystery that we will be able to
explain with electrons some day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have
defined what kind of savior, teacher, and friend you will be to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have stopped believing that you can
surprise us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have stopped listening
to the ways in which you speak in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is our sin today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 49.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Forgive us!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Forgive our small imagination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Break the chains of our trite ideas about you
like God broke the bondage of the Israelites in Egypt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The liberation we need is from the
trivial.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The liberation we need is
liberation of our spirits. The liberation we need is from structures we have
built ourselves. Break us open, so that we may let you in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 49.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">One:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>O Jesus<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 49.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">All:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>we confess.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 49.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">One:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We only know you as best we can. In this
humble way, we ask these things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Hold silence<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Lord’s Prayer<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">(Traditional Grace Church)</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 13.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Our
Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thy kingdom come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thy will be
done on earth as it is in heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Give
us this day our daily bread.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And forgive
us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And lead us not into temptation, but deliver
us from evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory, forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Assurance<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">On Eagle’s
Wings</span></i><span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Chalice</span> 77<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">And I will raise you up on eagle’s wings,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Bear you on the breath of dawn,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Make you to shine like the sun,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">And
hold you in the palm of my hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Passing the Peace<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 49.5pt; text-indent: -35.8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">One:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Peace be with you!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 49.7pt; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">All:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And also with you!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 49.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -35.8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">One:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Let’s
share a sign of peace with each other!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Light Candles, Share Palms<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<a href="" name="OLE_LINK2"></a><a href="" name="OLE_LINK1"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><i><span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">Let There Be
Peace on Earth</span></i></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><i><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></i></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; font-variant: small-caps;">Chalice</span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;"> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">677<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Let there be
peace on earth, and let it begin with me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Let there be
peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">With God as our
creator, brothers and sisters are we.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Let us walk
with each other in perfect harmony.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Let peace begin
with me; let this be the moment now.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">With every step
I take, let this be my solemn vow:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">To take each
moment and live each moment in peace eternally.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Let there be peace on earth, and
let it begin with me!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Reading 3 – Luke 19<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 13.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">When
he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of
Olives, he sent two of the disciples, saying, ‘Go into the village ahead of
you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been
ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, “Why are you untying
it?” just say this: “The Lord needs it.” ’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 13.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">So
those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. As they were
untying the colt, its owners asked them, ‘Why are you untying the colt?’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 13.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">They
said, ‘The Lord needs it.’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 13.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Then
they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set
Jesus on it. As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road.
As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole
multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for
all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 13.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">‘Blessed
is the king<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 13.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>who comes in the name of the Lord!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 13.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Peace
in heaven,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 13.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and glory in the highest heaven!’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 13.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Some
of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, order your disciples to
stop.’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 13.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">He
answered, ‘I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">All
Glory Laud and Honor</span></i><span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"> <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>v. 1&2 </span><span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">New Century 216</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 40.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -40.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Comment 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 13.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">In
Jesus’ time, the oppression was great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
yet, the oppression was not so clearly economic or a matter of being enslaved
as it was about being occupied and controlled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You can read through the Gospels and find an amazingly small number of
references and stories about the Roman government.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>…and of the ones you find, they are as apt to
be favorable as not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 13.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">In
the time after Jesus lived and died, the early Jesus Movement struggled to
clarify why their experience of Jesus was different from the other creative and
active movements within first century Judaism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Paul’s letters show us some of this struggle to clarify.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The gospel stories came together to assist
this clarification.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So what you have
with the triumphal entry into Jerusalem is not primarily something that looked
to first century Jews like a march against the Romans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They knew what that looked like because there
had been rebellions, repeated and devastating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>By the time the gospels were available as gospels, which was about the
end of that century, there had been one too many rebellions and the Romans had
flattened the existing temple in Jerusalem.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 13.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Jesus
entry into Jerusalem was not a call to arms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was a sign to the community that this man partook of some of the
destiny of the great king David of Israel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He could be trusted for this link to the accepted past history of the
people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 40.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -40.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Offerings of Ministry and Financial Gifts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 40.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; tab-stops: .75in; text-indent: -27.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">One:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>How
shall we next act as caretakers of creation?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 40.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; tab-stops: .75in; text-indent: -27.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">One:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>How
shall we next be in ministry?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Rejoice, You Pure In Heart</span></i><span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma; font-variant: small-caps; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">New Century</span><span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">55, verse 5<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Praise God who rules all
worlds;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The risen Christ adore.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Praise God, the Spirit,
Holy Fire,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">One God for evermore!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 13.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice, give thanks and sing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Blessing and Offering of Commitment<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 58.5pt; text-indent: -44.8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">One:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We shall not offer to God<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 58.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -44.8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">All:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>That
which costs us nothing!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Comment 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 13.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Jesus’
entry was not like the other actions of restoration, justice, liberation, and
holiness in the stories of the Bible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 13.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">For
one thing, even within the story, it didn’t accomplish anything, did it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, what can we do with the Palm Sunday story?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 13.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">For
us, it is an opportunity to do some spiritual work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By this I mean the emotional and mental work
to accept the call of God, the call of Jesus to refuse the violent solution,
refuse the triumphal, in-your-face flash of victory through might and physical
power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 13.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">He
said, “If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make
for peace!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 13.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Do
you see?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time, God’s response to
the violence and evil of the world was to send one who would never choose the
satisfying, seemingly effective way of violence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 13.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">If
we choose to follow Jesus, we must first put our weapons down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our actual guns and missiles and warships.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Put them down!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And also, lay down our barbed comments, our
indifference to others’ pain, our acceptance of violence by others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Put them down!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 13.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">And
pick up what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As you hold your palms and
keep them around your home in some way this week, you’ll have a thing that will
dry out and wither, which is sad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the
other hand, if you hold your palm and know it as a symbol, a token of coming
near to all that is holy, it won’t matter if it dries out and withers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 13.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Here
in this place, we tell the story and sing the songs of a day we can only
imagine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What Jesus says in the story is
“you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 13.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">So
imagine this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 13.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Imagine
that the holiness at the core of you and all that exists is coming up the
street.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine that the source of
living-water, of deep love, and of new creation is just there, beyond those
people who, like you, are trying to catch a glimpse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine you are frantic to catch the
attention of the one who comes to bear us up on eagle’s wings and you grab the
only thing you can grab, your coat or – this palm leaf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And now you raise your hand above those
around you and wave that palm like it’s the only chance in the world you’ve
got!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Reading 4 – Luke 19<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 13.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">As
he came near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, ‘If you, even you, had
only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are
hidden from your eyes. Indeed, the days will come upon you, when your enemies
will set up ramparts around you and surround you, and hem you in on every side.
They will crush you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they
will not leave within you one stone upon another; because you did not recognize
the time of your visitation from God.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">O Jesus
Christ, May Grateful Hymns</span></i><span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">New Century 212</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Blessings<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 58.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -45.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">One:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>May
the blessing of the source of life whom we name God, the blessing of Jesus our
brother in service and love, </span><span style="font-family: "MS UI Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS UI Gothic";"> </span><span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">and the blessing of the Holy Spirit which moves
among us and around us, be with you and remain with you, this day and
forevermore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Grace Church Parting<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 58.5pt; text-indent: -44.8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">One:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Go in peace, to love and serve your God!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 58.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -44.8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">All:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We
go in the name of Christ!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>1833</o:Words>
<o:Characters>10452</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Grace Congregational United Church of Christ</o:Company>
<o:Lines>87</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>24</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>12261</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Music
After Worship<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383135510620898499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28550660.post-57435870255989726702014-01-23T15:47:00.001-05:002014-10-03T11:50:39.761-04:00Empty<div dir="ltr">
<div class="MsoNormal">
Empty</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last night was Christmas eve. At the evening service, I somewhat regretfully informed the gathering that they, we, are "the rich." That our topsy turvy God put our fate in the mouth of Mary as she sang, "God has filled the hungry with good things; the rich God has sent empty away." I observed that we were all glad of the message that God fills and will fill the hungry with good things. The observation that God has sent the rich "empty away" is okay, we think. After all, is any one of us what we consider to be rich? Mary's song isn't referring to us, is it! Well, among those gathered for worship, few miss supper on a regular basis. Compared to so many in the world, we are certainly rich. Does that mean God has turned away from us because we have enough?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I suggest that God does give us a gift. Consider that in the midst of what we have, what we've been given, what we've worked for, what we've baked and wrapped, in the midst of all our plans and good intentions, we have <i>filled ourselves</i> <i>with good things</i> ... and left ourselves full. Like an inn with no room for the savior of the world, we have left ourselves full. <br />
<br />
"The rich God has sent empty away."<br />
<br />
God's gift to us is the gift of emptiness, the gift of yearning.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Beloved, we won't have Christmas until we hear and respond to the call from the carol, "Let every heart prepare him room!"<br />
<br />
So that is God's gift to us; emptiness we can't fill ourselves. The emptiness that lets us be, "where meek hearts will receive him still, the dear Christ enters in."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
May you have the gift of emptiness today, that there be space for the holy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Peace and Blessing, ...</div>
</div>
Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383135510620898499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28550660.post-34529900782301542732013-12-20T13:35:00.001-05:002014-04-09T12:35:00.453-04:00Annoyed and Twisted<div dir="ltr">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;">
Do you walk around your neighborhood? I walk my dog, Briar, on the sidewalks around our part of Needham, passing one house after another. Sometimes, we encounter a house whose people have parked their car across the sidewalk, blocking it completely. I am annoyed. We may also pass by some shrubs that have overgrown the actual yard in which they are planted so that they require that Briar and I again detour off the sidewalk. Again, I experience annoyance. I may begin to have an opinion about how "some people" have a sense of entitlement that I do not admire. One more real-life example you say? Fine. We are on an evening stroll, when suddenly, someone's automatic lawn irrigation system clicks on, throwing arcs of cold water across the sidewalk and even into the street. And I haven't even mentioned snow removal, dog-unfriendly salt, and barking dogs outraged that we are inches on the wrong side of an invisible "fence."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;">
It is not hard to grow annoyed with this suburban world. It is not hard to grow annoyed with the people we encounter. After all, we're just trying to mind our own business and get on with our lives, right? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;">
The first point I'd like you to consider is how, when we are annoyed, we are likely to have an accompanying rationale for how right we are to be annoyed. We may even have a mental dialogue going on wherein we make the airtight case against those who have failed to get in the right line at the checkout or pick up after their dog. The person who is annoyed sees himself or herself on the moral high ground.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;">
Perhaps at this point, you would expect the minister to point out how Jesus taught us not to be annoyed at small inconveniences. Well, there is that business about "Do not judge, so that you may not be judged," and "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life…" from Matthew 6 and 7. But, let's be clear, beloved. Jesus is not Oprah. Oprah and her posse are a great source for strategies and philosophies for living life. Jesus is up to something related but distinct from good advice. What could it be?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;">
Debbie Watters and I attend a community Messiah sing as part of each year's season of Advent and Christmas. This year, we went to the one in Lexington, attended by a thousand people, diverse in too many ways to recount. At a very quiet, beautiful moment, someone's baby let out a couple of fussy shrieks. Shortly after that, the two Chinese women behind me had a chat, none too quietly. There were some "shushing" sounds then. Places like concerts and churches are full of annoyances aren't they.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;">
Then it hit me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;">
The baby had been audible just when the contralto was singing, "Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel, 'God with us.'" Of course! Any baby worth his onesie would fill his tiny lungs with air and holler at that! Then I also realized, that baby was <i>waiting</i> for the moment when everyone would be paying attention. And he, or she, nailed it. I began to smile more.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;">
The two women behind me had never been to a Messiah sing before, clearly. I'm pretty sure only one of them spoke English. Of course! They were trying to figure out where they were in the huge book that one gets at a Messiah sing. They <i>should</i> be asking questions! I turned and showed them how to relate the bulletin to the score, and how there were high and low parts to sing, and how the music moved very fast. I kept checking with them and kind of laughing with them. So I was really smiling now.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;">
My neighbors who always have a car parked across the sidewalk have an extra car in their household because their son is home, for now, and, having no other place to park, brings that extra car with him. They are so glad to have him there and to be able to help! You gotta love family.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;">
The woman whose shrub sticks out across the sidewalk loves the flowers on that bush. She can't bear to cut it back but she doesn't mind if you take some blossoms for your house. She is kind of amazed that the bush is so healthy. It makes her smile.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;">
When the automatic sprinkler came on, I yelped and broke into a run. Briar figured that fun had just broken-out and she ran with me but in that kind of bouncy, joyous way that dogs sometimes run when the game is <i>on.</i> That made me laugh and whoop it up some more. We flew down the block and some folks in a nearby yard turned to watch us. They began to laugh: at our ridiculousness? Sure. And maybe at seeing the sheer joy of running down a street whooping. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;">
What changed annoyance into something else?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;">
Somehow, the child born in the hay of a manger grew up to tell stories with a twist, the ones we call parables. In Luke 6, he spoke to crowds about how to see the world with a twist:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Blessed are you who are poor, </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
for yours is the kingdom of God.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Blessed are you who are hungry now,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
for you will be filled.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Blessed are you who weep now,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;">
for you will laugh."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;">
This is a different expectation about bad, sad things. This is a twist on reality. And then he said this:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;">
"Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;">
Jesus wanted to show his listeners how the world works when you see it through the eyes of the one who made it and makes it all. He called it the kingdom of God. Because they didn't understand his twisted view of the world, or maybe because they did and grasped how it threatened the status quo, they killed him. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;">
We who have so much choice about how we greet each other, greet each change, greet each annoyance, we can choose to ignore his view of things, to silence his clear message, to behave as if he meant nothing and does not require of us that we see things in any way other than the way we always see them. Or, we could make a different choice.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;">
As you move away from shepherds, angels, twinkly lights, and Christmas songs, don't leave behind the newborn child, even though newborns can be annoying. Use your heart's imagination, your religious insight, and your curiosity to turn what annoys you into that which is a blessing. When you find yourself ready to judge, set your well-earned wisdom aside and consider that there is probably a different story to be learned. And when you are about to object that something isn't the way it should be, pay attention to that dissonance. It is in twisty times such as those that we glimpse the effect of some other force of light and life than our own. If you can open yourself to times like those, get ready to smile. Get ready, beloved, to laugh out loud.</div>
<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;">O Holy One, protector of "the other side of the story," defender of the annoying and the annoyed both, get us ready for whatever's next. We want to be prepared to laugh, to listen, and to love as you love this twist-ridden, surprising life, this blessed world. Amen.</span></i> </div>
Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383135510620898499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28550660.post-80228273390778305962013-10-24T13:13:00.001-04:002014-04-09T12:36:15.193-04:00From Last February, As Winter Approaches<div dir="ltr">
<div>
We have canceled Sunday activities at church for tomorrow</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
but you won't cancel worship, will you?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For coming safely through a storm,</div>
<div>
For making safe choices about travel,</div>
<div>
and about shoveling,</div>
<div>
For making caring choices about checking in with neighbors,</div>
<div>
and making sure you drink enough water.</div>
<div>
For those who are in distress,</div>
<div>
from cold,</div>
<div>
from injury,</div>
<div>
and any other kind of danger.</div>
<div>
Holy One, in your loving mercy, Hear our prayer!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For throwing snow at your brother on a snowy deck,</div>
<div>
For working side by side on a big task,</div>
<div>
For having something special like cookies in the oven,</div>
<div>
For the gladness of neighbors,</div>
<div>
For the power of the plow, the blower, and the shovel,</div>
<div>
For having prepared,</div>
<div>
For laughing with delight at the beauty of this creation,</div>
<div>
this new world,</div>
<div>
And for all angels, in balaclavas, in weather centers, and in the snow,</div>
<div>
Holy One, with joyful hearts, We give you thanks!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383135510620898499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28550660.post-36642118236914158472013-03-23T17:59:00.001-04:002014-04-09T13:33:08.031-04:00<div dir="ltr">
<span class="" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span><br />
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b>A Morning Offering<u></u><u></u></b></span></div>
<span class="" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> <div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
I bless the night that nourished my heart</div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
To set the ghosts of longing free</div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Into the flow and figure of dream</div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
That went to harvest from the dark</div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Bread for the hunger no one sees.</div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
All that is eternal in me</div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Welcome the wonder of this day,</div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
The field of brightness it creates</div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Offering time for each thing</div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
To arise and illuminate.</div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
I place on the altar of dawn:</div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
The quiet loyalty of breath,</div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
The tent of thought where I shelter,</div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Wave of desire I am shore to</div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
And all beauty drawn to the eye.</div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
May my mind come alive today</div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
To the invisible geography</div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
That invites me to new frontiers,</div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
To break the dead shell of yesterdays,</div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
To risk being disturbed and changed.</div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
May I have the courage today</div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
To live the life that I would love,</div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
To postpone my dream no longer</div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
But do at last what I came here for</div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
And waste my heart on fear no more.</div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
~ John O'Donohue ~</div>
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
from <i>Bless the Space Between Us</i></div>
</span></div>
Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383135510620898499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28550660.post-7861464193266594142012-12-08T16:47:00.001-05:002014-04-09T13:39:11.226-04:00Prayer<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Template>Normal</o:Template> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:Pages>1</o:Pages> <o:Words>92</o:Words> <o:Characters>527</o:Characters> <o:Company>Grace Congregational United Church of Christ</o:Company> <o:Lines>4</o:Lines> <o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:CharactersWithSpaces>647</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:Version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:DoNotShowRevisions/> <w:DoNotPrintRevisions/> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:UseMarginsForDrawingGridOrigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dear Lord,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You are life and the foundation of life</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Now we test your design; to draw upon your strength.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You are Jesus, bridging and crossing the bridge to us.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Now we set our feet upon your bridge.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You accompany us and keep us company.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Now we lean on you.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is all your creation,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>yet we call upon you to create again and again.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You said<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>you would be with us to the end,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>yet we search for you in every face we see.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Your whirlwind and your silence speak out</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>yet we wish you would interrupt us, shake us awake, and be plain.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>(Take a deep breath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take three.)<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thy will be done.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Your will be done.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Not mine but thy will be done.</div>
<!--EndFragment-->Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383135510620898499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28550660.post-27232075489926127812012-11-02T16:46:00.001-04:002014-04-09T13:38:55.275-04:00Patience<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Template>Normal</o:Template> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:Pages>1</o:Pages> <o:Words>572</o:Words> <o:Characters>3262</o:Characters> <o:Company>Grace Congregational United Church of Christ</o:Company> <o:Lines>27</o:Lines> <o:Paragraphs>6</o:Paragraphs> <o:CharactersWithSpaces>4005</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:Version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:DoNotShowRevisions/> <w:DoNotPrintRevisions/> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:UseMarginsForDrawingGridOrigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
Consider the story of Jesus' healing of Bartimaeus, a blind beggar who called out from the roadside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can find it in Mark 10.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the story the disciples are impatient and dismiss the man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Jesus calls him over and utters one of his signature healing pronouncements, "Your faith has made you well."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
If we were in the crowd of disciples, trying to follow Jesus that day, we would either have been the ones who tried to shut Bartimaeus up or the ones who didn't say anything while that exclusion was happening.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
In our own lives, who are we impatient with?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are impatient with people:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .15in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .2in; text-indent: -.1in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->for being tiresome</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .15in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .2in; text-indent: -.1in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->for not being logical</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .15in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .2in; text-indent: -.1in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->for trying to sneak in the side instead of waiting in line</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .15in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .2in; text-indent: -.1in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->for asking yet again for what they've asked for before</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .15in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .2in; text-indent: -.1in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->for not changing their tune after all these years</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .15in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .2in; text-indent: -.1in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->for not waiting quietly</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .15in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .2in; text-indent: -.1in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->for being indiscreet</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .15in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .2in; text-indent: -.1in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->for having a problem that can't be solved</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .15in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .2in; text-indent: -.1in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->for refusing to be overlooked</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .15in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .2in; text-indent: -.1in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->for not doing "what any normal person would do"</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .15in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .2in; text-indent: -.1in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->for not showing up on time</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .15in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .2in; text-indent: -.1in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->for not dressing correctly</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .15in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .2in; text-indent: -.1in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->for not filling out the right forms</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .15in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .2in; text-indent: -.1in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->for having done something in the past that means they can't get a job now</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .15in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .2in; text-indent: -.1in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->for having done or said something in the past that was offensive to us</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .15in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .2in; text-indent: -.1in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->for forgetting something</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .15in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .2in; text-indent: -.1in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->for not hearing us the first time</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .15in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .2in; text-indent: -.1in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->for it being their own fault<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
What would you add to the list?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go ahead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is easy to come up with reasons to be impatient with someone who is driving in front of you, driving up behind you, or sitting on the seat next to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is easy to make the list, right?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
Okay, so we know that we are impatient sometimes, but surely that's not a great big deal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, we attend to those in need as we can, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And those annoying people are annoying, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are, many of us, busy and tightly scheduled, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's not really got anything to do with religion, with Jesus, or with spirituality, right?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
I find it significant that Jesus in this part of the Gospel of Mark, is on his last journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next chapter begins the great drama of Jesus' final week with what we call Palm Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because the end is near, it should sharpen our attention to what is important enough to still be included in the story and how this is God still speaking to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
I suggest that there is a lesson Jesus' behavior imparts in this story that matters to your life this very day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus demonstrates patience instead of impatience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This alternative has two important purposes to offer you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
The first is that the practice of showing others, however annoying, the face of kindness and attention makes the world more like the kingdom that Jesus is always teaching us to live in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This story calls you to follow Jesus' lead in being kind and focused on those who we and the world tend to push aside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How will that change your next encounter with your neighbors?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
The second purpose is that the practice of turning toward those who are irritating and problematic is frequently the path to spiritual growth, to unexpected experience, and to emotional maturity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What Jesus chooses to do is to drive home the message that there is something deep, something profound in our interactions with each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus chose to demonstrate and repeat how our salvation, the path to your salvation in this world, leads straight to those people with whom you are most impatient.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is the place where your growth is stunted now and your growth will flourish if you stop sending them to the back of the line.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
It's tough medicine for you to take, I know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus invites you to give it a chance anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Try to notice the next time you are impatient.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In that moment, practice finding a way to move to patience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Draw your focus more directly to the object of your impatience and try to see him or her as deserving of your attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Breathe. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is an opportunity for you to bring the kingdom of God a little more into being, today, this very day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep trying too, because you'll get better at it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I promise.</div>
<!--EndFragment-->Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383135510620898499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28550660.post-38244085081156896482012-10-02T12:11:00.001-04:002014-04-09T13:42:26.385-04:00Poised Between<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Template>Normal</o:Template> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:Pages>1</o:Pages> <o:Words>587</o:Words> <o:Characters>3350</o:Characters> <o:Company>Grace Congregational United Church of Christ</o:Company> <o:Lines>27</o:Lines> <o:Paragraphs>6</o:Paragraphs> <o:CharactersWithSpaces>4114</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:Version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:DoNotShowRevisions/> <w:DoNotPrintRevisions/> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:UseMarginsForDrawingGridOrigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just at the end of Genesis 3, the story reads, "After Noah was five hundred years old…"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Five hundred years old!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the beginning of the story of Noah and the Ark and The Great Flood. History begins again at the moment the ark, laden with animals, begins to float through the driving rain, and everything else that had come before matters no longer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Is it a story of creation?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it a story of destruction?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There is the strong element of God's disgust with the sorry state of the world, an emotion we and all readers are expected to share.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is the idea to wipe everything out and start with a clean slate, which we are expected to go along with since it's God's idea (and maybe you've felt so frustrated with some situation in your life or in the world that you've had the idea yourself.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then there's the sheer power of flooding the whole world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here the power of nature and the power of God are one; irresistible force and an immovable, deaf-eared, embodiment of judgment.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In the midst of destruction is a creation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the animals, enough of all kinds of food, and a whole family of human animals to help out, are held safe in that ark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ark is like a basket of groceries with all the ingredients for a feast inside. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God takes a mulligan on the whole Adam and Eve thing and starts a new world with suitable provision.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>God expresses deep regret, once the waters had settled, and promises not to wipe us all out ever again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, there was no going back to the way things were before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Had everything changed?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, yes and no.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Certainly a lot was just gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet Noah and his family lived on and they had memories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The animals represented some substantial evolutionary adaptations and those are embedded in their continuing lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the earth was restored to the wonderful, habitable place it had been.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So there was some carryover from the earlier times.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We are, each of us, asked to live in history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have a past in which we were formed and in which we formed ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our challenges include dealing with that trail of stories, of learning, of accumulated wisdom and regret, and all the ways in which we've started over again; again and again.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We are also asked to look to the future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will face new challenges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our challenges include adapting, changing ourselves to deal the parade of joys and difficulties that tomorrow and the rest of our lives will bring.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We encounter a deep spiritual truth when we see that each moment we live, this moment right now for instance, is a moment in which we choose how much from the past we rely on and how much to change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a recurring dance between what we know, or believe, has worked before (write a letter and mail it) and what we choose to do afresh (video-chat with relatives far away.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This may feel uncomfortable to you and you may feel anxious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How are you supposed to dance this dance?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps another deep spiritual truth will open a way for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Each of these moments, poised between destruction and creation, poised between past and future, poised between repetition of the known or entering the new, each of these moments is its own "now."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We only really live in this moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So look at your hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look up at the space around you right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then clasp your hands together and look at them, at the choice you have made to hold your own hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And offer up a prayer of thanksgiving; for all that has been, for the day or days that lie before you, and for this moment, this precious now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here's a prayer you could use, if you like.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><i>Dear God, you have been there always and you choose to be in the future to which I'm going right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you for each of these moments of choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you for my capacity to observe "the now" of now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me rest in your regard, in your everlasting arms for a little while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I will take up my life, our life that you and I are building together out of the past, and move forward with you into our future together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I lift you up as you lift me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.</i></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383135510620898499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28550660.post-43189460060060483092012-09-17T10:55:00.001-04:002014-04-09T13:46:11.915-04:00Spirituality 102 - on the path<div class="MsoNormal">
I walk on woodsy paths more frequently than some of you, I suspect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Walking in the woods comes with the territory of living with a Labrador retriever who is ready at any moment to head out and find the next adventure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Briar's experience on the walk in the woods is like mine in some ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We cover some of the same ground and we start and end the walk at the same time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet anyone watching Briar, or knowing even a little about dogs, knows that Briar experiences something quite different from what I experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To authentically follow the inner, spiritual path, one must practice observing what one sees on the journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is problematic because we already have a way of seeing ourselves and what is inside us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we consider moments in our lives, decisions we have made, principles on which we have settled, etc., we may find a well-defined series of monuments to our own righteousness, our woundedness, our shame, our pride, our accomplishments, our thought processes, our taste, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I use the word "monuments" to convey that they are frequently unchanging, "cast in stone."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We see them in the way we've come to see them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet that fixed nature of what we expect and have prepared for will often prevent us from learning and growing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That fixed view of our lives makes our inner journey the same each time through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can prevent what might have been a spiritually deepening experience from being anything more than a stroll down our memory lane of what we see as the facts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words, it is not much of a spiritual journey.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Most of us take these inner journeys alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We ponder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We decide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We walk the same paths again and again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This does build our character a certain way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This solitary journey can strengthen our opinions and cement our principles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, there is something appealing about doing it ourselves, independently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I confess that my mode of introspection has mostly been of this solitary sort.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, except for my example of walking with the dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Briar and I walk a path together, what she sees changes what I end up seeing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The path is a different experience when we walk it together.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So one way to improve the depth and breadth and ultimately the spirituality of your introspection is, at least some of the time, to take someone else along. One use of therapeutic counseling is to reconsider how we have come to regard the elements of our inner life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Note that I am naming how we can revisit <i>our way of looking at</i> people, moments, accomplishments, losses, loves, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The purpose of such conversations is not so much to excavate hidden facts as it is to push past the meaning we settled upon long ago into a new meaning, freshly meaningful to who we are now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is also the domain of the spiritual director or guide. Those, then, are two kinds of people who will go with you along such journeys.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Which brings us to our religious tradition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Particularly at Grace Church, we invite people to walk the journey of life with us ("No matter who you are …")<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our part of that is to invite one or more other people to walk the spiritual path with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our part of that is to allow our experience in worship to enter into our consideration of the path we're on right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, our tradition is full of Bible study, book study, conversations, special services, prayer groups, pilgrimages, retreats, shared chores, cooking together, work in the Stearns Farm field, and shared stewardship for our church, our property, and the world beyond our parking lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of these are places of journey, places of spiritual encounter, and places where we share the path. I conclude that being part of a church can be a way to find companionship for your spiritual journey.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Which leaves you and me with the question of the day, "When is your next chance to share with someone else with the idea that you are, together, on the spiritual journey?"<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383135510620898499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28550660.post-65121959167418927362012-08-30T08:38:00.001-04:002014-04-09T13:50:10.486-04:00Spirituality 101<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Template>Normal</o:Template> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:Pages>1</o:Pages> <o:Words>864</o:Words> <o:Characters>4926</o:Characters> <o:Company>Grace Congregational United Church of Christ</o:Company> <o:Lines>41</o:Lines> <o:Paragraphs>9</o:Paragraphs> <o:CharactersWithSpaces>6049</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:Version>11.1539</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:DoNotShowRevisions/> <w:DoNotPrintRevisions/> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:UseMarginsForDrawingGridOrigin/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don't frequently look up definitions, do you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I seem to hold the belief that the last time I needed to look at a dictionary was in school, that whatever I think a word means is good enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Perhaps you recognize the reference to Humpty Dumpty's pronouncement in <i>Alice In Wonderland</i><span style="font-style: normal;">?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"'When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, 'It means just what I choose it to mean - neither more or less.'"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, the author, Lewis Carroll, wants to show that Humpty Dumpty is an arrogant egg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With good British wit, however, Carroll's H.D. is also speaking the truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For even though we acknowledge that words have meanings, the layers of meanings in what we say modify generally accepted meanings thoroughly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Consider the word "green.'" </span><br />
<span style="font-style: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Or how about the word "Christian?"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
From our conversations about "spirituality," we've discovered a variety of meanings and an uncertainty, for some of us, about any meaning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps some definitions will help.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><b>-- Spirituality: having to do with the human spirit.</b></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That's a good start, although it kind of postpones an answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><b>-- Spirituality: having to do with the soul, incorporeal, not pertaining to material things but to intangibles.</b></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That helps a little more, I think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are in the domain of the 'intangible.'<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those of us who like concrete information, this suggests, we're likely to be unsatisfied.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spirituality is not something concrete, not something you can touch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><b>-- Spirituality: to be distinguished from our physical experience, our material body.</b></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is helpful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a very old idea, embedded in much of the Bible, that the material body and the spirit, or spirituality, are separate domains.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you agree?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Separating spirituality or spirit from the physical experience of being a human is helpful, up to a point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It helps us to see clearly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, it also makes a false distinction between mind and body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For we are mind <i>and</i> body – one entity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no mind separate from the physical and chemical activity of heart, lungs, brain, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><b>-- Spirituality: belief in an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality.</b></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you believe that there is a reality beyond what we can perceive?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you assert that there is<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"more?"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><b>-- Spirituality: an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being.</b></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That's an interesting one, isn't it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now the definition is leading us to consider not so much how the cosmos is arranged or the nature of reality but how we experience and use this thing we name spirituality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I think we can stop there for this posting.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Would you consider these aspects of spirituality and let me know your thoughts?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm not asking you to go find more definitions, although you certainly may do so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather, I invite you to consider the questions posed so far in this survey of meaning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spirituality's intangibleness, the idea of a separation between you as a physical body that is alive and you as something spiritual, the idea that there is something, some reality that is "more" than our concrete experience of reality, and especially, that there is an inner path which, by taking it, you can discover the essence of your being.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And pray with me too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dear God, Dearest God, reveal to us sufficient insight into the mystery of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ourselves and our relationship to this wonderful creation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We attribute our creation and all creation to you and so we give you our attention, our love, our praise, and all the glory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<!--EndFragment-->Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15383135510620898499noreply@blogger.com