Sunday Adult Spirituality Group Notes-January 31, 2010

1/31/2010 - Notes by Jane Witmer

We discussed two chapters – Revelation and Dreams in the current book Common Grace by Anthony B. Robinson.  Also, one should note that this author is scheduled to join our group in person on Sunday, February 28.

Conversation centered on the author’s discussion about choice.  He asserts that we do not have choice over what comes our way.  Tom Ward expressed concern about those who feel life’s events are preordained and when things go wrong, lose faith.  Several members commented that we may not have a choice about what events come at us in life, but we have a choice in how we respond or deal with those events.  The last two lines of the chapter supported our discussion and are as follows, “For the most part, we can’t control what life brings us.  It is, however, up to us how we respond to life.  Something is being asked of us.”  We also discussed the importance and the challenge of slowing down enough to allow ourselves to experience a revelation.  In other words, slow down and listen, because God is still speaking!

The chapter called Dreams helped us link subconscious awareness of God’s messages to conscious awareness in the form of a revelation.  We discussed whether or not people can control or direct their dreams and what impact that might have.  Frances G. talked about developing an awareness of the theme of your dreams.  Once again, ask yourself, “Is God speaking to me?”

Thea, Charles, and Dan talked about practicing “praying the scripture” as recommended in previous chapters.  Ask if you are curious about what that means!

The next session will focus on the next 3 chapters.

BCUCC Adult Spirituality Group Notes (1/10/10)

Our next reading is Common Grace, by Anthony B. Robinson, minister at Plymouth UCC and former writer of a weekly column for the Seattle P-I newspaper. (See the book's description at Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Common-Grace-Person-Spiritual-Matters/dp/1570614601/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263173766&sr=8-1 .)
**Charles had passed out copies of the first chapter as he's having trouble ordering the book so far via Amazon.com. Until he obtains books for the group, he'll continue to pass out copies of upcoming chapters we're to read.

Discussion Gems:
1. Practically, an unexamined faith doesn't exist. We must realize our faith through conscious questioning.
2. In the Old Testament, there are dramatic stories of God's active interventions in external events, such as when he parted the sea for Jews escaping from Egypt. Jesus preached the more subtle powerful ways that God intervenes in the affairs of man -> through his heart.
E.G. - Giselle brought up a traumatic experience when it hailed ruining her 700 acres of wheat fields in Nebraska. As a result, she learned that when you pray, you get the strength to be able to live through hardships.
3. When we pray, we normally expect results. The ego is the chooser, based on all influences. It is important as an element of God to keep "Heart Up", to consciously be a channel for God's varied works and love. We ought to have thanks in prayer, not just ask, if we have Jesus' higher vision that God has the whole of creation in mind, justice, and heart.

BCUCC Adult Spirituality Group notes (Sunday, 1/3/10, 6th week of Advent)

BCUCC Adult Spirituality Group notes: (Sunday, 1/3/10, 6th week of Advent)

(9 people attended)

Reading : "Close to God's Heart" Focus Scripture: John 1:(1-9), 10-18

Two spiritual concepts were brought up:
1. The rich bounty of our Adult Spirituality Group’s discussion reminded Pastor Dan of his collegiate discussions with his mentors about the eternal nature of Grace upon Grace embodied in Jesus. In recent times, whirlwinds of thought have surrounded theological debates about the Scandal of Particularity. How could it be that a single individual man (Jesus) could be the savior for all men?
2. A related word, “Panentheism” was also brought up for discussion. Panentheism is a constructed word composed of the English equivalents of the Greek terms “pan”, meaning all, “en”, meaning in, and “theism”, meaning God. Panentheism understands God and the world to be inter-related with the world being in God and God being in the world. It offers an increasingly popular alternative to traditional theism and pantheism. Panentheism seeks to avoid both isolating God from the world as traditional theism often does and identifying God with the world as pantheism does. Traditional theistic systems emphasize the difference between God and the world while panentheism stresses God's active presence in the world. Pantheism emphasizes God's presence in the world but panentheism maintains the identity and significance of the non-divine. Anticipations of panentheistic understandings of God have occurred in both philosophical and theological writings throughout history (Hartshorne and Reese 1953; Cooper, 2006). However, a rich diversity of panentheistic understandings has developed in the past two centuries primarily in Christian traditions responding to scientific thought (Clayton and Peacocke 2004).

** Pastor Dan has not resolved this discussion in his entire lifetime. Instead, he has chosen to focus on Jesus as his beam to find God.

Dan noted that Catholics focus a lot on the Holy Spirit as that is what lives. Tuning into Grace is turning down our personal “volume”. It is making God’s reality conscious, not just living on habit and non-purposeful delusions. Grace isn’t what most people think. Grace is a higher wisdom to face and cope what one is facing. True wisdom to face and cope with what we are facing. Supplicating to God in prayer is to center and “let go and let God.”

I was enthralled by the group’s discussion! :)

Adult Sprituality Group Advent notes, 12/27/09

BCUCC Adult Spirituality Group notes: (Sunday, 12/27/09, 5th week of Advent)

13 people attended.

Reading:"Who is this child? Luke 2:41-52 (Focus Scripture)

From God, mother Mary knew before Jesus' birth that Jesus was special.


It takes a village to raise a child. It takes a world to raise a God man such as Jesus! At age 12, Jesus argued with church authorities, just as nowadays teenagers first develop our own perspectives and self understandings by acquiring new experience and speaking out.
--Day's father, Ajit Murti, noted that there is little information about Jesus until the 3-4 years before his death at age 33. Among Indian & Western scholars, it is believed that Jesus came to India sometime between age 12 and 29 to acquire knowledge and develop as person.


Jane Whitmer goes to church weekly for spiritual focus. Everyday life chips away at one's spiritual confidence.

Charles Cressey highlighted the Colossians reading as a nice summary of the Advent season, because it puts the focus again on the heart.
-- "...And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's you basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it." (Colossians 3:12-17, by Paul)


NEXT WEEK (Jan 3, 2010), the last Advent reading, "Close to God's Heart" will be discussed. The focus scripture is John 1: (1-9), 10-18.

4th week of Advent Adult Spirituality Group notes

BCUCC Adult Spirituality Group notes: (Sunday, 12/20/09, 4th week of Advent)

9 people attended.

At first we discussed the Bible, Luke 1:39-56:
When 3 months pregnant, Mary sought out an older woman named Elizabeth for assistance & community with Mary's incarnate "real" experience of God.
1. In Spanish, giving birth is called "a dar luz", which means to give light.
2. When Day's sister was pregnant with twins, she was busy with the practical reality of the growing fetuses in her womb. I helped her to give broader attention to her process or birthing the universe.

Later, we discussed the 12/20/09 readings, entitled "Morning with Mary's Song" (p. 52)
1. All of the Old Testament is fairly strictly from a Jewish perspective. The New Testament opens the message for all peoples of the world.
2. Nowadays, the U.S. gives more aid to Israel than anywhere else in the world, which illustrates the strong Jewish influence on us.

Anthony B. Robinson, former Pastor of Plymouth Congregational Church (downtown Seattle), wrote readings for Advent, about the higher law of love.

Respectfully submitted,
Day Murti
Blogger

BCUCC Adult Spirituality Group Notes 12-13-09:

(Sunday, 12/13/09, third week of Advent)
A. Why do we find it so hard to change even though change is the stasis; change is the norm?
-> We want things better, but often don’t want to give anything up to change. Change isn’t so difficult if we understand the cost/benefit analysis. Envision the positive outcome from the change and be present to the joy of process.

B. What “daring” practices can open us up to change?
-> Move ego out of the closet. Let go of “perfection.” Keep in mind that the goal is to improve something.

C. How to inwardly motivate ourselves to make changes:
“The fruit of silence is prayer, prayer is faith, faith is love, love is service, and service is peace.” - Thea Ward
“It is more important to search than to find – so keep searching.” - Ingrid Fjellander (Day’s grandmother)
“Everything you do or feel has to do with God. Everything you do has consequences....” - Bible

D. How to sustain a flexible outlook:
-> When we change, it opens up too many possibilities. Thus, it’s important to keep stability in life, while undergoing change.
-> Be open and receptive to changes in other people in reunions with them. Respect how they are different just as I am aware of how much I’ve changed over time and in different situations.
-> Be in tune with the joy in the present as it makes one flexible. Practice the discipline of spontaneity to be flexible to making changes.


Change is itself the promise. A point made in “The Bucket List” (movie):
-> At the end of life, Egyptians are asked the following question by God:
“Have you found joy for yourself and have you provided joy for others?”

NEXT WEEK: December 20th Readings

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) “