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I had the pleasure of leading our adult Sunday School class at Bethel this morning, and decided to share here some of my thoughts about what we discussed, and where we might go in the coming weeks. [My thanks to Paul Bowen for an excellent conversation on Saturday evening which crystallized some of my thoughts for Sunday morning.] Read on for more details of our conversation Sunday morning, and how to prepare for next week…

Background

For the next several weeks, we’ll be discussing essays taken primarily from the book Simpler Living, Compassionate Life from Earth Ministry. We have been using this book in a small group at Bethel [more details], and this summer is an excellent opportunity to expose these topics to a wider audience. I hope you all enjoy it!

This choice of a book for our small group arises out of a journey I have been on for the last few years. For me personally, the weekly celebration of Eucharist at Bethel has challenged me to question my own patterns of behavior. In particular, I have been struck by the elevation of what is essentially a simple act of consumption and bodily nourishment — the bread and cup as a meal — into something larger, sacred, and an opportunity for God’s grace to enter the life of our community. The Eucharist challenges me to see the very material objects of creation — our food and drink, our possessions, the created order — all these things as conduits of God’s grace, and not merely as consumables. In a search for a community of others who have heard this challenge–a call to “authentic living”–I was led to the authors represented in SLCL.

Summary from Sunday 19 June

During our discussion this morning, we discussed two questions. We will revisit these questions next Sunday, 26 June 2005:

• What do the phrases “Simpler Living” and “Compassionate Life” conjure up in you? Do you long for a “simpler life”? Have you no interest in a simpler life? How are simplicity and compassion interconnected for you?
• What is your definition of the “abundant life”? Are you living an abundant life? What are you missing, and what are barriers to the life of abundance you desire? In what do you invest the largest share of your time? Your talents? Your treasure?

At the conclusion, we read part of Frederick Buechner’s (pronounced “Beek-ner,” for those of you trying to sound it out…) Introduction to The Sacred Journey.

Looking Ahead…

For next week, I ask that those who will be joining us read Buechner’s “Introduction to the Sacred Journey” and Gerald May’s “Entering the Emptiness”. Also, please read Romans 12-16. For those of you who were unable to join us, the readings are available in photocopied packets at Bethel — stop by to pick one up this week so that you may join the conversation next Sunday morning.

• Sunday 19 June — Introduction: Simple living, compassionate living, and a life of abundance. Read Frederick Buechner’s Introduction to The Sacred Journey together. Led by Jonathan.
• Sunday 26 June — Making the Most of the Time. Please read Romans 12-16 and Gerald May’s Entering the Emptiness. Will be led by Jonathan.
• Sunday 3 July — Making the Most of the Time. Please read Henri Nouwen’s Contemplation and Ministry. Will be led by Don Yerxa.

Our focus over the next three weeks will be an exploration of our approach to time. We will challenge each other in reflection on scripture, the readings, and in personal and communal reflection as we seek to make the most of time, to make the use of our time holy, and to find abundance in one of our most limited resources.

Pastor Tim Farrell’s sermon today served as an excellent springboard for this topic, as he addressed the importance of patience, of waiting, on God’s promises. As we hear the lesson in today’s reading from Genesis 21, sometimes we make the most of our time simply by waiting.

Further reflections on scriptural foundations for sacred “time management” can be found in this excellent sermon. The supporting scriptures can be found here: [1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14][Psalm 111][Ephesians 5:15-20][John 6:51-58(59)]

–JA