On Sunday, Andrew Johnson gave a compelling talk on our propensity to plunder the Earth’s resources as soon as we forget that we ourselves came from the dust.  He quoted lots of different authors so below is a short list of some of the thinkers he drew from.  Enjoy!

Last Sunday, Wendie Brockhaus led us in a discussion about the healthcare system we all interact with. Many people shared their stories of heartache and struggle from the perspective of both patient and healthcare professional.  Wendie opened our night with a poem reflecting on her time as a hospital chaplain, and left us with a lot to think about.  Below is her poem.

On Easter, we spent time sharing stories of transformation and renewal.  Not only did we hear from a select number of storytellers, but we also heard from people willing to their their own stories.  To bring us back together after this time, we shared in this responsive reading based on the Lord’s Prayer.

Following the Last Supper of Maundy Thursday and the darkness of the cross on Good Friday, on Holy Saturday, the church continues in prayer, waiting at the tomb.  The suffering is over, but Easter has not come yet.  Consider sitting at an empty table, or in front of an unlit candle to represent this time of waiting.  If you like, you can pick one or both of the scripture passages below to begin with.

On Sunday, Laurie Anderson spoke of how every policy decision we make politically affects real people with real stories.  Below are some resources she shared for folks who would like to get more involved in immigrant justice initiatives, as well as a beautiful prayer we spoke together as our benediction.

At our last gathering, Dr. David May from Central Baptist Theological Seminary led our conversation about the three parables contained in Matthew 25.  We discussed the kind of subversive hospitality practiced by Jesus, in which we befriend and help the “least of these”, while speaking truth to power and the systems which help perpetuate their struggles.  Dr. May shared a list of resources, which are listed below.  Check them out and be changed by these new readings of Jesus’ parables!

On Sunday at The Open Table, our Assistant Curator, Wendie Brockhaus, read a beautiful reflection on gratitude. This was read as part of our quarterly Taizé services, and we wanted to share this reflection with you.  Enjoy, and be thankful!

This past Sunday, close to 100 people came together to discuss issues concerning structural racism.  At the end of our discussion, several resources and other opportunities were mentioned for anyone who would like to dig deeper into these issues.  Read on for all the details.

On Sunday, October 25 Andrea Dutt spoke about her faith journey, and how she was doing work as an activist in issues of justice, yet somehow feeling like something was missing. After doing an online search for “action and contemplation”, she discovered Richard Rohr’s Living School for Action & Contemplation, and it became a transformational, life-giving experience which helped round out the work she was already doing. She shared the following poem with us and led the community in conversation about mysticism and the beauty and mystery of God.  Also, be sure to check out some of the resources also listed below.

On Sunday, Emily Bartlett, local massage therapist and photographer, facilitated a discussion on beauty.  We explored the difference between what society thinks is beautiful and what God thinks is beautiful.  It was a beautiful and vulnerable conversation.  To start our evening, she showed a video highlighting the kind of pressure that is put on women to look a certain way.  It was heartbreaking.  Take a peek and let us know what you think.

Matthew Dorning, of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, shared a prayer by St. Basil as a way to prepare us for our conversation about icons and worship.  It was so good we had to share it with all of you who couldn’t make it on Sunday.

The marvelous perfection of creation, where everything fits and works together to bring about God’s plan, should help us keep God always in mind, says St. Basil. If we remain ever aware of the beauty of God’s creation, we’ll give sin no opportunities. 

As a follow up to our recent The Open Table gathering on Benedictine rest, Jon Bowles of Beggar’s Table Church asked us to consider the following to gauge how balanced our lives are:

The Benedictines divide their lives into 4 quadrants: work, community, prayer, and rest. As a way to assess how balanced we are, think through an average week and tally the total hours per week spent living in each of the quadrants.

At a recent interfaith discussion, Rabbi Jacques sent us off with the following. This is a good reminder that we have much to learn from one another, and can be inspired by people of other faith.

We recently had local spiritual director, Shana Puckett, at The Open Table. She spoke about the connection between rest and prayer, and she read a beautiful poem by Mary Oliver. Enjoy, and remember to keep your pen in the air.