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Beloved Community,
As you can see from the graphics above, we will be launching several programs that we are very excited about this month.
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Leaning In – October 10 – This is the second of our four-part series exploring a faith response to the November election. The series is done in partnership with the Spirituality Network and the Interfaith Association of Central Ohio. This month’s session will explore the key issues for Ohio voters and will be held via Zoom.
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Contemplative Series – beginning October 12- This is a series designed to explore and experience the many ways by which we can live a rich contemplative life. The series will take place monthly throughout the year culminating in a day-long retreat at Akita in May. It is hoped that participants will engage as a community in as many of the sessions as possible so that they might have experiences that may be new and unfamiliar to them.
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Bible 101 – beginning October 13- This is a six-week series that explores a foundational knowledge of the Bible through the lens of the theology of First Community. We piloted this series last year and it was great! Facilitated by Judy and David Westman.
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Sunday Intersections – beginning October 13- This adult Sunday school gathering will explore a variety of issues through presentations, reflection, and discussion. In October, we will explore some of the realities of US immigration outside of the political rhetoric. The three-part series will include:
~October 13 - A presentation on immigration by Julie Hart, PhD. Associate Professor of Sociology and Peace & Justice at Ohio Dominican University in Columbus, Ohio.
~October 20 - A discussion on the legal processes related to Asylum Seekers led by Doug Roberts, JD.
~October 27 - The opportunity to hear from Edith Espinal, a Mexican immigrant who will share her full life story about her life in Mexico, her early crossing into the US and her last 20 years here plus the sanctuary experience and her final pathway to citizenship.
~In November, Rev. John Girard and I will lead a four-week study on the book, UnClobber, by Colby Martin. UnClobber reexamines what the Bible says (and does not say) about homosexuality in such a way that breathes fresh life into outdated and inaccurate assumptions and interpretations.
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Group Spiritual Direction – beginning October 27 – This six-month ministry offers the opportunity for greater awareness of divine presence or what matters most in a space for spiritual exploration and spiritual growth through spiritual practices pathways such as loving-kindness contemplation, Tonglen, Lectio Divina, meditation, breath practices and more. There will be opportunity to share our spiritual stories and use our “holy listening” skills as others share their stories as we gain confidence in following our nudges from the divine, learn how to recognize the divine presence, and deepen our relationship with the divine or what matters most. Facilitated by Jodi Patton.
With so many challenging world events currently taking place, we have a wonderful opportunity to explore and process these events in community as we try to make sense of them from a faith/spiritual perspective. Monica Guzman in her book, I Never Thought of It That Way, suggests that we have arrived at our current point of political polarization through sorting, othering, and siloing (SOS).
We tend to surround ourselves with those who are like us and share our political perspectives. We then demonize and vilify the “others” creating long lists of assumptions about them. The way out of this mess is to have bridging conversations with those who see the world differently than we do. Research shows that many of our assumptions will disappear because of these types of conversations. Bridging conversations are conversations based on curiosity and not conversion. Here are some things to keep in mind when it comes to bridging conversations:
- Build short bridges first. You don’t need to try to have a conversation with a Nazi or a Marxist today.
- Bridging conversations breakdown prejudices 94% of the time.
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Ask yourself, “Who do I talk about but not with?”
- Those who are under-represented in our lives will be over-represented in our imagination. Think on that one.
Next month I will share some of Monica Guzman’s specific tips and skills to have effective bridging conversations.
Stay curious, connected, and committed my friends!
Blessings to you all,
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