Weekly Recap for Tuesday, 9 August 2016 from ProgressiveChristianity.org in Gig Harbor, Washington, United States 
"Is God Loving or Vengeful? This and more in our Free Weekly Recap of our most viewed and new resources from last week."
Last Week At ProgressiveChristianity.org ...
We delved into the topics of: How To Read The Bible, Orlando- Pulse Worldwide Vigils, Starting a Church Today, and Unity Consciousness.
Visit our website to join in on the discussion and to view our thousands of spiritual resources!
We are entirely reader supported, please support us today.
ProgressiveChristianity.org is a global portal for authors, scholars, theologians and liturgists to share their resources for the progressive spiritual journey.
“The greatest New Testament scholar of our generation” (John Shelby Spong) —grapples with Scripture’s two conflicting visions of Jesus and God, one of a loving God, and one of a vengeful God, and explains how Christians can better understand these passages in a way that enriches their faith.
READ ON ...
The acclaimed Bible scholar and author of The Historical Jesus and God & Empire — “the greatest New Testament scholar of our generation” (John Shelby Spong) —grapples with Scripture’s two conflicting visions of Jesus and God, one of a loving God, and one of a vengeful God, and explains how Christians can better understand these passages in a way that enriches their faith.
Many portions of the New Testament introduce a compassionate Jesus who turns the other cheek, loves his enemies, and shows grace to all. But the Jesus we find in Revelation and some portions of the Gospels leads an army of angels bent on earthly destruction. Which is the true revelation of the Messiah—and how can both be in the same Bible?
Crossan explains how to navigate this debate and offers what he believes is the best central thread to what the Bible is all about. He challenges Christians to fully participate in this dialogue, thereby shaping their faith by reading deeply, reflectively, and in community with others who share their uncertainty. Only then, he advises, will Christians be able to read and understand the Bible without losing their faith.
Reviews
“Crossan’s treatment of the text is nothing short of spectacular, even when I didn’t agree with his assertions. With skill, wit, and all the finesse of the intellectual giant that he is, Crossan manages to successfully navigate those troublesome texts and…begins the redemptive process of the text.” (The Clarion Journal of Spirituality)
“Crossan, one of the most prolific popular writers among the scholars of the historical Jesus . . . proposes viewing the nonviolent movement of the historical Jesus-and not some apocalyptic bloodbath-as the end or center or climax of Christian time.” (Booklist (starred review))
“When studying the Bible, Christians are met with opposing versions for God: one of vengeance and one of compassion. Crossan confronts this conflict and challenges readers to engage in conversations about faith and the historical Jesus.” (U.S. Catholic)
Orlando United – PulsePerformed by Beautiful Chorus
Photos and video of vigils held around the world in solidarity with Orlando, FL
READ ON ...
Orlando United – Pulse- performed by Beautiful Chorus
Photos and video of vigils held around the world in solidarity with Orlando, FL //Song title: Pulse
The song, ‘Pulse,’ was written and titled by Chakra Khan on Jan. 9, 2016 and – by pure coincidence – performed for the first time on the night of June 11th, in Orlando, FL just across town at another LGBTQ venue. We offer this song in love.
- Stream and download it free here: https://soundcloud.com/chkrkhn/pulse
- http://www.CHKRKHN.com
- #LoveISTheMajority #OrlandoStrong
“What If”?Tom Ehrich
What if you were starting a church today, what would you do? You can do this... You can live free of negative overhead, dysfunctional practices, and old expectations.
READ ON ...
“What If”? by Tom Ehrich
Let’s start with a “what if”: what if you were starting a church today, what would you do?
(I know you aren’t starting a church, but bear with me.)
If you were starting a church today, here’s some of what you would probably do:
You wouldn’t call it a church, but a “faith community,” a “fellowship,” or as a friend did, a “sacred tapestry.” Why? “Church” carries too much baggage as a term.
You wouldn’t apply a denominational label. Even if you were launched or blessed in launching by a denomination, you wouldn’t buy into the negative overhead of denomination.
You wouldn’t put up a building or buy a building. You would meet in homes, then rent space as needed. Owning a bricks-and-mortar church might never be your plan. You would avoid the negative overhead, potentially millions of dollars, going into space used only occasionally.
You would rely on an entrepreneurial pastor to be your launching pad. Not a group of laity from an existing church who want to fix something wrong with that church or provide something familiar that is closer to their homes. You would want your pastor to be as creative and strong as he or she could possibly be. No games and sniping intended to keep the clergy small and under control.
You would turn your attention radically outward. Get to know your neighbors, become a known player in the larger community, develop a compelling voice (usually the pastor’s voice), bring faith to bear on actual human problems, collaborate with others trying to do good.
You probably wouldn’t have a large worship event on Sunday morning. Maybe other times, maybe not large worship events at all. Your organizing principle would be small groups.
Your pastor’s first hire would be a communications director, not a music minister or worship leader. You’ve got to reach people, not wait for them to cross the threshold. Your second hire would be a small-groups coordinator. Groups are where people will develop loyalties, community, spiritual strength, and a drive to go deeper.
Finally, you wouldn’t create a structure grounded in committees and an all-powerful lay council. Small groups would chart their own courses, under the pastor’s guidance. Money wouldn’t be an issue. People would give to mission, not to an organizational budget.
Now, I know this might seem fanciful to you. But think about it. Our churches don’t behave like this because they are held captive by overhead and by decisions made decades, even centuries ago, that no one has the heart to question. As a result, congregations tend to fall short of what they could be doing – and what virtually everyone in the church wishes they could be doing. Sure, some people thrive on three-hour committee meetings and on leadership conflict. Most people, however, want community, friendship, closeness with God, hope, and a sense of purpose.
* How do you get out of your own way? Maybe you don’t have the option of starting over. But you can make some important shifts.
* Stop relying on Sunday morning worship to do your work.
* Look outward, rather than inward.
* Cultivate small groups and grant them reasonable autonomy.
* Allow your clergy – expect your clergy – to be entrepreneurial and strong. Dial down the conflict culture you have allowed to emerge.
* Give up the old org chart and look at what truly needs to be done now and tomorrow.
* Live within your means, and stop caving in to anti-change, anti-modernity forces who threaten to withhold funds.
You can do this. It’s like the state motto of New Hampshire: “Live free, or die.” You can live free of negative overhead, dysfunctional practices, and old expectations. You can make fresh decisions – “choose life,” said Moses. Or you can die.
About the Author
Tom Ehrich is a writer, church consultant and Episcopal priest based in New York. He is the publisher of Fresh Day online magazine, author of On a Journey and two national newspaper columns. His website is Church Wellness – Morning Walk Media
-------
Liturgy Selection
Unity ConsciousnessWe believe that God is a Weaver of Oneness who wants us to live in harmony — neighbor with neighbor, communities with communities, religions with religions, and nations with nations.
READ ON ...
Unity Consciousness
Week of August 7, 2016
Living as One Human FamilyA friend once described herself as a “knitter,” but she wasn’t talking about yarn. She likes to bring people together and help create beautiful things from their unity. What a wonderful mission that is!
Let’s face it. The walls dividing people today have gotten taller and thicker, whether between men and women, young and old, gays and straights, developed and developing worlds, haves and have-nots. Yet the spiritual dream of unity persists. We believe that God is a Weaver of Oneness who wants us to live in harmony — neighbor with neighbor, communities with communities, religions with religions, and nations with nations.
We are inherently similar. One of our favorite children’s books captures this beautifully. To Every Thing There Is a Season (Blue Sky Press) weds the sacred verses from the Book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible with the breathtaking art work of illustrators Leo and Diane Dillon. Each spread depicts a different culture — Egypt, Japan, Mexico, Greece, India, Europe, North America, and others — to create a global family album that reminds us that we share in the universal rhythms of life. We can practice this unity by building hospitable and generous communities.
Yet in these tense times, just the opposite seems to be happening. Competitive individualism has given many people the ammunition they need to feel smug about separating themselves from others. The media and politicians drone on and on about enemies in our midst or crossing our borders.
Religious and spiritual people can help reverse this trend by being willing to to reach out to people outside our clans and affirm unity consciousness. As devotional writer Henri J. M. Nouwen writes in Bread for the Journey, ”Only when we have the courage to cross the road and look into one another’s eyes can we see there that we are children of the same God and members of the same human family.”
Whereas people of different traditions don’t have to agree on everything, we can work together to advance what Christian theologian Hans Kung has called a global ethic: “a commitment to the culture of nonviolence and respect for life, to a just social and economic order, and to the ideal of equal rights and partnerships between men and women.” To adhere to these commonalities is to agree with Protestant minister William Sloane Coffin who said: “The religious community has the saving vision. It is the ancient saving vision of human unity, now become an urgent pragmatic necessity.”
Here are a few simple spiritual practices to help you deepen your unity consciousness:
• Reach out across a border or boundary to a person of a different race, age, or culture.
• The term “butterfly effect” relates to the idea that a small action here, such as a butterfly flapping its wings, could have a large impact elsewhere, such as a tornado in China. Without taking the meaning that far, it is good to think about the long-range impact of your actions on people elsewhere in the world. Write in your journal about the potential reach of something you have done recently.
• Extend your circle of intercessory prayer to those not usually included in your concerns.
• When you have a free moment at work or in a community meeting, jot down a few of the things you have in common with the others there. How can you express your appreciation to others for what you share?
• When you are watching the news about people in another country, note things you have in common with them. Find a way to act upon your feeling of unity with them.
Originally posted on Spirituality and Practice.
A Prayer from Holy Breath on Unity
Gretta Vosper offers this lovely prayer to use in community which focuses on the unity of all.read more
A Prayer from Holy Breath on Unity by Gretta Vosper
It is a lonely world
that separates us from each other.
Born by relationship,
it is through relationship
that we can come to know ourselves.
Separated,
we defend our borders,
quarrel,
dry up and fragment
into shards of what we once called life,
leaving as our epithet
a final, furious, resentful sneer.
Imagine a world beyond such barriers.
Imagine a world free of the names, titles, borders
that distinguish us, one from the other.
Imagine a world of healing and love.
Imagine, and break free.
Amen
-------
Prayer for those in need
His Holiness the Dalai Lama offers this simple prayer for others read more
Prayer for those in need by The Dalai Lama
May the poor find wealth. Those weak with sorrow find joy. May the forlorn find new hope, constant happiness and prosperity. May the frightened cease to be afraid, and those bound be free. May the weak find power, and may their hearts join in friendship.[His Holiness the Dalai Lama in God Has No Religion]
READ ON ...
Unity Consciousness
Week of August 7, 2016
Living as One Human FamilyA friend once described herself as a “knitter,” but she wasn’t talking about yarn. She likes to bring people together and help create beautiful things from their unity. What a wonderful mission that is!
Let’s face it. The walls dividing people today have gotten taller and thicker, whether between men and women, young and old, gays and straights, developed and developing worlds, haves and have-nots. Yet the spiritual dream of unity persists. We believe that God is a Weaver of Oneness who wants us to live in harmony — neighbor with neighbor, communities with communities, religions with religions, and nations with nations.
We are inherently similar. One of our favorite children’s books captures this beautifully. To Every Thing There Is a Season (Blue Sky Press) weds the sacred verses from the Book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible with the breathtaking art work of illustrators Leo and Diane Dillon. Each spread depicts a different culture — Egypt, Japan, Mexico, Greece, India, Europe, North America, and others — to create a global family album that reminds us that we share in the universal rhythms of life. We can practice this unity by building hospitable and generous communities.
Yet in these tense times, just the opposite seems to be happening. Competitive individualism has given many people the ammunition they need to feel smug about separating themselves from others. The media and politicians drone on and on about enemies in our midst or crossing our borders.
Religious and spiritual people can help reverse this trend by being willing to to reach out to people outside our clans and affirm unity consciousness. As devotional writer Henri J. M. Nouwen writes in Bread for the Journey, ”Only when we have the courage to cross the road and look into one another’s eyes can we see there that we are children of the same God and members of the same human family.”
Whereas people of different traditions don’t have to agree on everything, we can work together to advance what Christian theologian Hans Kung has called a global ethic: “a commitment to the culture of nonviolence and respect for life, to a just social and economic order, and to the ideal of equal rights and partnerships between men and women.” To adhere to these commonalities is to agree with Protestant minister William Sloane Coffin who said: “The religious community has the saving vision. It is the ancient saving vision of human unity, now become an urgent pragmatic necessity.”
Here are a few simple spiritual practices to help you deepen your unity consciousness:
• Reach out across a border or boundary to a person of a different race, age, or culture.
• The term “butterfly effect” relates to the idea that a small action here, such as a butterfly flapping its wings, could have a large impact elsewhere, such as a tornado in China. Without taking the meaning that far, it is good to think about the long-range impact of your actions on people elsewhere in the world. Write in your journal about the potential reach of something you have done recently.
• Extend your circle of intercessory prayer to those not usually included in your concerns.
• When you have a free moment at work or in a community meeting, jot down a few of the things you have in common with the others there. How can you express your appreciation to others for what you share?
• When you are watching the news about people in another country, note things you have in common with them. Find a way to act upon your feeling of unity with them.
Originally posted on Spirituality and Practice.
A Prayer from Holy Breath on Unity
Gretta Vosper offers this lovely prayer to use in community which focuses on the unity of all.read more
A Prayer from Holy Breath on Unity by Gretta Vosper
It is a lonely world
that separates us from each other.
Born by relationship,
it is through relationship
that we can come to know ourselves.
Separated,
we defend our borders,
quarrel,
dry up and fragment
into shards of what we once called life,
leaving as our epithet
a final, furious, resentful sneer.
Imagine a world beyond such barriers.
Imagine a world free of the names, titles, borders
that distinguish us, one from the other.
Imagine a world of healing and love.
Imagine, and break free.
Amen
-------
Prayer for those in need
His Holiness the Dalai Lama offers this simple prayer for others read more
Prayer for those in need by The Dalai Lama
May the poor find wealth. Those weak with sorrow find joy. May the forlorn find new hope, constant happiness and prosperity. May the frightened cease to be afraid, and those bound be free. May the weak find power, and may their hearts join in friendship.[His Holiness the Dalai Lama in God Has No Religion]
-------
Opening the Heart
Take some time to join Sharon Salzberg in a seven-minute loving kindness meditation that will open your heart and calm your mind. read more
Opening the Heart
Use the metta, or lovingkindness, meditation to cultivate a deep sense of caring for self and for all of creation by Sharon Salzberg
Take some time to join Sharon Salzberg in a seven-minute loving kindness meditation that will open your heart and calm your mind.
Meditation Transcript:
You can begin by sitting down in a comfortable position, closing your eyes. Sit with your back erect, without being strained or overarched.
Take a few deep breaths, relax your body. Feel your energy settle into your body and into the moment.
See if certain phrases emerge from your heart that express what you wish most deeply for yourself, not just for today, but in an enduring way. Phrases that are big enough and general enough that you can ultimately wish them for all of life, for all beings everywhere.
Classical phrases are things like, “May I live in safety. May I be happy. May I be healthy. May I live with ease.”
You can gently repeat these phrases over and over again, have your mind rest in the phrases and whenever you find your attention has wandered, don’t worry about it. When you recognize you’ve lost touch with the moment, see if you can gently let go and begin again.
May I live in safety, be happy, be healthy, live with ease.
Call to mind somebody that you care about–a good friend, or someone who’s helped you in your life, someone who inspires you. You can visualize them, say their name to yourself. Get a feeling for their presence, and then direct the phrases of lovingkindness to them. May you live in safety, be happy, be healthy, live with ease.
Call to mind someone you know who’s having a difficult time right now. They’ve experienced a loss, painful feeling, a difficult situation. If somebody like that comes to mind, bring them here.
http://www.beliefnet.com/Health/2000/07/Opening-The-Heart.aspx
-------
Click on Amazon Smile and choose ProgressiveChristianity.org as your charity - when you shop Amazon donates .05%.
-------
Events and Updates
Bishop Spong will speak, hold a Q&A and Book Signing onSeptember 10th, Northern Michigan Diocese.
Saturday, September 10, 2016
1:00 pm at the Reynolds Recital Hall, Northern Michigan University
7:00 pm at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Marquette
Sunday, September 11, 2016
2:00 pm at the Memorial Union Building , Michigan Technological University
READ ON ...
Bishop Spong at the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan September 10th & 11th
Author and resigned Bishop John Shelby Spong will return to the diocese for three speaking engagements.
Schedule:
Saturday, September 10, 2016
1:00 pm at the Reynolds Recital Hall, Northern Michigan University
7:00 pm at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Marquette
Sunday, September 11, 2016
2:00 pm at the Memorial Union Building , Michigan Technological University
At each location, there will be an opportunity for Q&A and book signing.
Sponsored by St. Paul’s and Trinity Church, the Commission on Ministry and the community of Unity of Inner Peace.
Start:
September 10, 2016
End:
September 10, 2016
Location:
St. Paul’s Church
201 E. Ridge Street,
Marquette United States Michigan
Contact:
Contact: Iris Erickson or Kathy Lenten
Website:
http://www.upepiscopal.org/, http://unityofinnerpeace.org/ , http://www.stpauls.dioup.org/
Email:
E-mail: kathylenten@gmail.com
Telephone:
Tel: 906 226-2912
Take some time to join Sharon Salzberg in a seven-minute loving kindness meditation that will open your heart and calm your mind. read more
Opening the Heart
Use the metta, or lovingkindness, meditation to cultivate a deep sense of caring for self and for all of creation by Sharon Salzberg
Take some time to join Sharon Salzberg in a seven-minute loving kindness meditation that will open your heart and calm your mind.
Meditation Transcript:
You can begin by sitting down in a comfortable position, closing your eyes. Sit with your back erect, without being strained or overarched.
Take a few deep breaths, relax your body. Feel your energy settle into your body and into the moment.
See if certain phrases emerge from your heart that express what you wish most deeply for yourself, not just for today, but in an enduring way. Phrases that are big enough and general enough that you can ultimately wish them for all of life, for all beings everywhere.
Classical phrases are things like, “May I live in safety. May I be happy. May I be healthy. May I live with ease.”
You can gently repeat these phrases over and over again, have your mind rest in the phrases and whenever you find your attention has wandered, don’t worry about it. When you recognize you’ve lost touch with the moment, see if you can gently let go and begin again.
May I live in safety, be happy, be healthy, live with ease.
Call to mind somebody that you care about–a good friend, or someone who’s helped you in your life, someone who inspires you. You can visualize them, say their name to yourself. Get a feeling for their presence, and then direct the phrases of lovingkindness to them. May you live in safety, be happy, be healthy, live with ease.
Call to mind someone you know who’s having a difficult time right now. They’ve experienced a loss, painful feeling, a difficult situation. If somebody like that comes to mind, bring them here.
http://www.beliefnet.com/Health/2000/07/Opening-The-Heart.aspx
-------
Click on Amazon Smile and choose ProgressiveChristianity.org as your charity - when you shop Amazon donates .05%.
-------
Bishop Spong will speak, hold a Q&A and Book Signing onSeptember 10th, Northern Michigan Diocese.
Saturday, September 10, 2016
1:00 pm at the Reynolds Recital Hall, Northern Michigan University
7:00 pm at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Marquette
Sunday, September 11, 2016
2:00 pm at the Memorial Union Building , Michigan Technological University
READ ON ...
Bishop Spong at the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan September 10th & 11th
Author and resigned Bishop John Shelby Spong will return to the diocese for three speaking engagements.
Schedule:
Saturday, September 10, 2016
1:00 pm at the Reynolds Recital Hall, Northern Michigan University
7:00 pm at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Marquette
Sunday, September 11, 2016
2:00 pm at the Memorial Union Building , Michigan Technological University
At each location, there will be an opportunity for Q&A and book signing.
Sponsored by St. Paul’s and Trinity Church, the Commission on Ministry and the community of Unity of Inner Peace.
Start:
September 10, 2016
End:
September 10, 2016
Location:
St. Paul’s Church
201 E. Ridge Street,
Marquette United States Michigan
Contact:
Contact: Iris Erickson or Kathy Lenten
Website:
http://www.upepiscopal.org/, http://unityofinnerpeace.org/ , http://www.stpauls.dioup.org/
Email:
E-mail: kathylenten@gmail.com
Telephone:
Tel: 906 226-2912
Fax: 906 226-2953
-------
View all upcoming events here!
News
Job Listings
Facebook
Twitter
Website
Email
YouTube
Our mailing address is:
ProgressiveChristianity.org
4810 Point Fosdick Drive NorthWest#80
View all upcoming events here!
News
Job Listings
FacebookTwitterWebsiteEmailYouTubeOur mailing address is:
ProgressiveChristianity.org
4810 Point Fosdick Drive NorthWest#80
Gig Harbor, Washington 98335, United States
-------
-------
No comments:
Post a Comment