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Practice Group
The Universal Christ by Richard Rohr
Wednesdays starting February 5
noon & 6:00pm (choose one)
St. Paul Lounge/Fellowship Hall
Explore what it means that Jesus was called “Christ” and how this forgotten truth can transform everything we see, hope for, and believe. And practice with other beginners an ancient form of prayer called “contemplation.”
Two parallel 8-session practice groups will read and pray their way through Richard Rohr’s The Universal Christ. Hosted by Pastor Clark, Mitch Haack and Sandy Wiper, they will meet weekly on Wednesdays at St. Paul—one group at noon and the other at 6:00pm. Beginners and imperfect-attenders welcome.
Visit saintpaulclinton.org/smallgroups for more information and to sign up.
Discuss, Pray, and Belong: Wednesdays
Feb 5 Beforehand, read chapters 1 and 2.
Feb 12 Beforehand read chapters 3 and 4.
Feb 19 Beforehand, read chapters 5, 6 and 7.
Feb 26 No class. Ash Wednesday meal 5:45p & worship 7:15pm
Mar 4 Beforehand, read chapters 8, 9 and 10.
Mar 11 Beforehand, read chapters 11 and 12.
Mar 18 Beforehand, read chapters 13, 14 and 15.
Mar 25 Beforehand, read chapters 16, 17 and Afterward.
Apr 1 Before this session, read the Appendixes.
Lent Evening Prayer services will follow the 6pm sessions in March & April |
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Yesterday (as I write this), I visited Bob Wright. I had heard he was in hospice. So after the annual congregational meeting and a bite of lunch and quick rehearsal of Matthew’s Beatitudes, I drove to the Alverno.
I found Bob asleep and his daughter, Carolyn, at his side. We never met, so she and I introduced each other, and then she brought me up to speed. Bob couldn’t breath well. He was retaining fluid. His eyes were swollen shut. But the morphine and anti-anxiety medication from hospice had helped a lot. He was more at peace. He mostly slept.
I asked if Bob still had moments of clarity. Could he still have conversations? “Yeah,” she said. “Less so now, but he can hear everything we say, so I talk to him.”
And, as if on cue, Bob woke up. With groaning effort and with help from Carolyn, he sat up on the edge of his bed, eyes closed. Carolyn sat next to him on the bed and put her arm around him. I sat in the chair she had been sitting in.
Bob hardly looked like himself. But we talked. Bob said, “I’m ready. I just want to be with the Lord.” He was past ready; I could hear it in his voice. Carolyn and I comforted Bob with the best words we could find. She sat holding him and loving him. “Bob, I admire your faith,” I said, and I read and prayed. “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” Bob said.
From the parking lot, I called the St. Paul people I knew Bob knew best. They came and visited that same day.
--PC
Robert Wright passed away Friday, January 31. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am Saturday, February 8th at Pape Funeral Home. Visitation will be held Friday 4-7 pm at the funeral home.
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Faith Question For The Week
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“You all are the salt of the earth… You all are light of the world,” said Jesus to the disciples.
Salt and light do not exist for themselves but have a purpose. That purpose is a universal one, because every human--and indeed pretty much all creatures and plants--need salt and light. Jesus expects us to bless all people, not some people; all creation, not some parts of it. Salt and light are small parts that serve the whole.
“Don’t miss the forest for the trees!”, Jesus was saying. Notice the big picture--yes, the universal purpose to serve the whole and also, that you’re not alone.
You’re part of a forest. You’re a single grain in God’s big salt shaker, one ray of light in God’s sun. The “church” is Jesus’ name for you and all the rest of Jesus’ disciples. So stop going it alone and start going with Jesus’ community of followers. It’s a constant temptation and for people like us a lifelong task to move from “me” to “we.”
When Jesus calls us salt and light, he’s asking for intentional action. Do what Jesus does. Be who Jesus is. This is what Jesus expects of us. Orient your life according to the Beatitudes, for example, just like Jesus did. It’s not automatic. Church-going is a start but is by no means the whole job. Salt that loses its saltiness will be replaced.
Rest with Jesus now. Let his love, mercy, and self-giving comfort and lead you. Ask Jesus, “What is my part to do, with your church for your world?”
--PC
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This weeks events at
St. Paul
Sunday, February 9
Worship 9:15 am
Tuesday, February 11
Worship 4:30 pm
Wednesday, February 12
Universal Christ Practice Group 12:00
Executive Council 4:00 pm
CCC Choir 4:15 pm
Learning Committee 5:15 pm
Tintinnabulum 5:15 pm
Vocal Choir 5:15 pm
Confirmation at Zion 5:45 pm
Universal Christ Practice Group 6:00 pm
Adult Bells 6:15 pm
Friday, February 14
"Unafraid" Book Study 6:30 pm
Sunday, February 16
Worship 9:15 am
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This Weeks Readings
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