textweek

World Communion Sunday

A few resources for World Communion Sunday:

Global Ministries Resources lists a number of reflections, worship resources, litanies, prayers, etc, from different countries & traditions:

"The first Sunday of October has become a time when Christians in every culture break bread and pour the cup to remember and affirm Christ as the Head of the Church. On that day, they remember that they are part of the whole body of believers. Christians celebrate the communion liturgy in as many ways as there are congregations. World Communion Sunday can be both a profound worship experience and a time for learning more about our wider community of faith. The following are bite-sized morsels to stimulate creative thinking. Each one offers a starting point from which to create a meaningful worship experience for World Communion Sunday. New resources will be added periodically."

There's a fascinating article on Sukkot and World Communion Sunday at PC(USA)'s Ideas for Church Leaders:

"Sukkot is a reminder that we are all ingathered under the same stars, that the rain falls on the just and unjust alike, and that we must all be held together in thanksgiving. The celebration of the Lord’s Supper every Sunday, and in a particular way, on World Communion Sunday, is a foretaste of the day when it will truly be so."

At his Sermons & Sermon-Lectionary Resources site, Richard J. Fairchild has lists of practical ideas for World Wide Communion Sunday Celebrations.

Fallen Order

At NPR: 'Fallen Order' Tells of the Rise and Fall of a Brotherhood:

"NPR's Liane Hansen talks with historian Karen Liebreich about her new book Fallen Order. Lieberich's unprecedented access to the Vatican's Secret Archives brings to life a sexual abuse scandal that surrounded the Catholic Church's Patron Saint of Education over 400 years ago."

Pontius Pilate

"Pontius Pilate: Roman Governor," Warren Carter, Saint Paul School of Theology. At Bible and Interpretation:

"Pilate’s enormous “life and death” power should shape how we read the gospel narratives of Jesus’ crucifixion. Pilate is not a neutral or weak or minor character. He is not forced to crucify Jesus by the Jerusalem leaders against his will. He crucifies Jesus because it is in Rome’s interests to do so, interests he is charged with protecting and furthering."

Interview with Floyd Flake

At PBS Religion & Ethics Newsweekly, an interview with Floyd Flake:

"He is the president of Wilberforce University in Ohio, the pastor of Greater Allen Cathedral of New York, and a former Democratic congressman from Jamaica, Queens, whose message for urban ministers is to buy land and restore their communities. Correspondent Kelly Hudson profiles the Rev. Floyd Flake."

Rethinking the Apostles Creed

At BBC Religion & Ethics, Rethinking the Creed: A Creed for Today.

"Can you say the words of the Christian Creed? Do they express your belief? Are you uneasy with the traditional teachings of Christianity and want to affirm your belief in another way?

Do you belong to another religion or to none, and have other ways of saying what you believe?

Roger Bolton is joined by a panel to debate the value and content of the Christian Creeds, while Trevor Barnes sampled the opinions of people in one South London neighbourhood."

Cornel West: Democracy Matters

At NPR's The Tavis Smiley Show, an interview with Cornel West about his long-awaited new book Democracy Matters: Winning the Fight Against Imperialism.

Toni Morrison's 'Good Ghosts'

Toni Morrison's 'Good Ghosts', at NPR's Morning Edition:

"Toni Morrison's life -- like her writing -- is populated by ghosts -- some bad, some benign and others, pure inspiration.

In an interview with NPR's Renee Montagne, she talks about the "good" ghosts and childhood memories that have inspired her writing."

Jews, Christians Compete for Members

Jewish, Christian Groups Compete for Members, NPR's All Things Considered, Sept 20:

"NPR's Barbara Bradley Hagerty reports on a Presbyterian church that uses the trappings of Jewish services and says that believers can stay Jewish while also following the teachings of Jesus."

God, Belief and Action

God, Belief and Action - an article by Jonathan Romain at The Guardian, with perspectives for those of us interested in issues of orthodoxy/doctrine, language and culture: "For Judaism, it is the practical consequences of belief in God that are important, not the belief itself. If God exists, then the world has a purpose, life has meaning, all people are equal and every individual matters. The prayers, too, are not so much for God's benefit but for ours. By praising God for caring for the living, supporting the fallen and healing the sick, we are effectively saying these are godly/goodly attributes and mapping out our own tasks.

Over the centuries, this has led to an emphasis on action rather than faith, to the extent that the latter has become assumed to the point of neglect. It gives rise to the saying - somewhat tongue-in-cheek but containing a sizable grain of truth - that "to be a good Jew, you don't have to believe in God, just do what He says".

For some Jews, this is a parody of a faith that is brim full of God's glory; for others, it is a welcome description of a religion whose strength is that the heretic is not the person who believes the wrong thing, but who does the wrong thing."

Lazarus & Dives: Visual Art

I found it fascinating to look through a numbers of depictions of Lazarus & the Rich Man in visual artwork. It's fascinating to look at various depictions of heaven and hell, and of what different artists view as the point of the parable. Are there commonalities within different eras? Geographical regions? Cultures? Are there differences within each? It's fascinating to consider, as I approach the story, that things that are "obvious" to me - images that come into my head quite "naturally" - have been seen differently by different people throughout time, place & culture. Once again this week, it's fascinating to consider how various approaches to politics & economics have influenced the interpretation of this passage.