Sunday Adult Spirituality Class Notes 12-6-09

BCUCC ADULT SPIRITUALITY CLASS NOTES, 12/6/09
(12 people attended)

In this session, we explored Dan Stern’s question, "Do we enjoy getting ready for Christmas?"

We read December 6 readings, (on p. 38) as grist for discussion, from which we pulled out the following:
1. "Live a life - circumspect & exemplary, a life that is like Jesus."
- Phillipians 1 (Supplemental Readings)
2. "Be prepared, get repaired." - John the Baptist, who was filled with the Holy Spirit.
3. "God's sunrise will break in promise." - Luke, who sets everything in historical context.

The ritual of Christmas preparation can often seem overbearing and cumbersome. We discussed that heavy preparation is not necessary to enjoy the season, but can add in important ways to the season's richness:
1. For Day, spending the day baking with his family is a rewarding bonding experience.
2. Dan Stern clearing his house for guests has become a spiritual practice, making a ginger bread house, e.g.
3. We can learn from participating with children to decorate a Christmas tree as children aren't concerned with a conceived perfect outcome, but are more in the present process.
--To get ready for Christmas truly is a process of being in the present, whether as newly exploring kids or as "good can be better" mature adults. Kids help adults to see through new ideas with flexibility and humor.
--Transformation can be hard, but if one is present and open to the process of learning and inner growing it makes it easier and more meaningful.

"Change is itself the promise. God of transformation, help me to..."
--Are You Still Listening? A Stillspeaking Advent Devotional, by United Church of Christ


FOR NEXT WEEK: Read, Week Dec. 13 (pp. 50 & 44) “

Sunday Adult Spirituality Group Notes 11-22-09

" Our Adult Spirituality Group will meet Sunday mornings (11/29 -> 12/25/09, from 8:45-9:45 AM) to read, consider, and discuss tangible stories and themes related to Advent that will follow the Lectionary.

We want you to participate!  For next week, the first Sunday of Advent, we'll try to have read the first page of the readings handed out last week by Charles Cressey entitled, "Sign of Things to Come".  We'll help each other negotiate these concepts by telling how we're each acting on our framing stories.  To help prepare for this discussion, we'll think though how our homes are imbued with our life narrative guiding symbols of the media.  Here is an opportunity for show and tell!  Please bring some objects or concepts. "