A word to the Church regarding the theology of worship during the COVID-19 pandemic from the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church: "Sacraments are actions that give new meaning to things. The current questions about the way we worship in a time of radical physical distancing invites the question of what we are prepared for a given sacramental encounter to mean. Sacraments are communal actions that depend on “stuff”: bread and wine, water and oil. They depend on gathering and giving thanks, on proclaiming and receiving the stories of salvation, on bathing in water, on eating and drinking together. These are physical and social realities that are not duplicatable in the virtual world. Gazing at a celebration of the Eucharist is one thing; participating in a physical gathering and sharing the Bread and Wine of the Eucharist is another. And, God, of course, can be present in both experiences." Read the complete article... We have experienced that the Church is not a building but a community gathered in prayer. We’ve also realized that our homes can also be places of prayer. So as we near the end of our Lenten journey and prepare for Holy Week, perhaps it’s time to create a prayer space at home that is available anytime of day or night to anyone in your household. Read more... Watch this video featuring Dr Peter Lin explaining how Coronavirus spreads and what we can do to protect ourselves. My sermon includes a little bit of Leila Janah’s contribution to others. How she was Salt & Light - enhancing this world and the people who God so loves. Susan + "Even though she died at a young age, her efforts to help others proved that age does not matter. Leila Janah primarily focused on putting a stop to world poverty as well as promoting environmental sustainability. As mentioned earlier, Samasource is just one of the many companies that she had founded. In actuality, she founded three corporations, each with a specific problem to solve but all with the common theme to provide job opportunities for people." Read the rest of this article about Leila Janah At issue was the question of what to do when prayer doesn't feel like much of anything. If sometimes you find yourself just reciting words with no particular emotional power attached to them, does it mean your prayer is not genuine? Does it mean you're a fake, that you are not really a spiritual person at all, just a person who wants to look spiritual. Read the article
Mother Susan will be referring to this organization in her Sermon this weekend, Dec 28 & 29, 2019. https://www.puppiesbehindbars.com/
Forum leader: Kay Westmark The forum is based on the book "Ponder These Things" by Rowan Williams. This week we pondered the Hodegetria, or Virgin Hodegetria, an iconographic depiction of the Theotokos holding the Child Jesus at her side while pointing to him as the source of salvation for humankind. The Virgin's head usually inclines towards the child, who raises his hand in a blessing gesture.
The Bible & Homosexuality
St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church Faith Forum November 24, 2019 Presented by Daniel Payne.
What Old Testament Scripture Verses Address Same-Sex Behavior?
The Reverend Susan Sowers Handouts Book recommendations:
Interpreting Scripture & Human Sexuality
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