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Intentional Community - Discussion Group
11-15-08 - God Calling Me
2008 Discussions 11-07-08 - This Sunday's SoulJourners Gathering This Sunday we will continue the Journey. The second group study is called “The Revealing God.” We will read Psalm 99 and consider how we listen for the word of God, what our barriers may be, and how we can grow to become more able to hear Divine direction.
Jill Rowland 10-31-08 - SoulJourners Gathering
Thanks to Jamie for her great leadership and facilitation as we embark on this journey! Blessings, Jill Rowland 10-03-08 - SoulJourners Gathering
After we read this, one of my colleagues kept saying, “We’re supposed to preach the good news. Where’s the good news in this?! Where’s the good news?!” This morning on the front page of The Oregonian, there is “news” about the “$700 billion economic rescue.” Just below that is an article that tells the tale of Oregonians who are hurting from the economic crisis as they lose jobs and homes, max out their credit cards, and apply for food stamps. Both articles are continued on page 4, which also includes an article with the title, “More Oregonians seek emergency food.” As I read the newspaper, I couldn’t help but think of the verses that continue in Isaiah 5:
Having read enough of the paper and finished my cup of coffee, I was off to the shower. Still, my colleague’s words rang in my ears: “We’re supposed to preach the good news. Where’s the good news in this?!” As the hot water poured over my head, a set of new words flashed through my mind, my heart: “Love sometimes gets tired of speaking sweetly.” The words are from Hafiz, a 14th-century Persian poet. The poem is Tired of Speaking Sweetly: Love wants to reach out and manhandle us, If you had the courage and Love sometimes gets tired of speaking sweetly That make you fight within yourself, dear one, God wants to manhandle us, The Beloved sometimes wants Hold us upside down Most everyone I know Sometimes (not always, but sometimes) when we’re looking for the good news, it means that we’ve become comfortable with “teacup talk of God,” talk of God that is comfortable and cozy, talk of God that won’t disturb or break the fragile world which we’ve built for ourselves. However, sometimes (not always, but sometimes), God gets tired of speaking sweetly. Sometimes, God has to speak to us the way God spoke to the people of Israel and Judah in Isaiah 5. Sometimes, we need to be “dropkicked;” we need to be held “upside down” and have “all the nonsense” shaken out of us. Where’s the good news in this? The good news in this is that God is a God of love, a God of extravagant love! When God is speaking sweetly to us, God is speaking out of love, and when God is tired of speaking sweetly to us, God is still speaking out of love! It’s much like when our beloved—our partner or our spouse—or our beloved family member or friend speaks words that may at first seem harsh. Perhaps they are not so much words of harshness but words of truth, words of insight, words of wisdom and honesty, and most of all, words of love spoken to one who is much beloved. Our vineyard looks bad right now. Thistles and thorns have taken over. God’s heart is grieved. But we know that God continues to speak to us—sweetly or not so sweetly; God continues to work in the world to bring about God’s purpose for all of creation: healing, transformation, and reconciliation. And God continues to invite us, God’s beloved ones, to participate in that work! God’s love is covenantal. God’s love carries with it a promise—that God will never leave us, even when our choices have been incredibly disappointing, even when the vineyard is in shambles. Now that’s good news! ©Jill Rowland 09-26-08 - SoulJourners Gathering 09-20-08 - September 21st Events
09-08-08 - Join Soul Cafe's Potluck and Discussion Each Week 08-15-08 - Upcoming Sunday Potluck and Discussion Group It was presbyopia that kicked in on Monday when someone at Soul Café showed me a bumper sticker they had recently picked up. In large letters, it read, “Compassion.” I didn’t have any problems reading that! At the bottom, however, it had in very small letters, “What goes around comes around.” My presbyopia read, “What God’s around comes around.” It struck me as true! “What goes around comes around” carries with it the message of karma. “What God’s around comes around” carries with it the message of the Divine Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer: the One who is passionate about all of creation and invites us to participate in that passion, the One who is always bringing things around, the One who is at work transforming, healing, and reconciling all of creation and who invites us to be co-workers in changing the world,. We are about that work at Soul Café. We are about re-imaging and re-imagining what it means to be church—not for the sake of the institution but for the sake of the world, for the sake of God’s world. I am of the belief that God has this incredible mission and purpose to heal the world and that God wants us to join in that mission. I am also of the belief that the church exists for this very purpose—to join in God’s mission of transforming, healing, and reconciling all of creation! We are gathering every Sunday evening at Soul Café as a community to support and encourage one another on this journey. We’d love for you to join us. We’re trying to give ourselves a name. SoJourners, CoJourners, and SoulJourners are all names that have been tossed around. Join us on Sunday evening—as we continue to look for the ways God is at work in the world and inviting us into that work, as we name ourselves, as we journey together. Sunday Suppers is from 5pm to 6:30pm. Providence Hood River and their fine chef, John McCarthy, are providing the meal this week. Our group will gather from 6:30pm to 7:30pm. Here’s what it will look like this Sunday: Welcome with the Question of the Week As always, we are grateful for your commitment to and support of Soul Café as we join God’s mission in the world. What God’s around comes around!! Jill Rowland 08-05-08 - Potluck and Reflection/Discussion Group Moved to Sunday
If childcare would be helpful in attending the reflection/discussion group, please email me ASAP to let me know. Jill Rowland 06-13-08 - Discussion: Genesis 12:1-9
Jill Rowland 05-10-08 - Reflection from the April 30th Discussion Some of you know that my “other job” outside of Soul Café is working in the Department of Mission Integration and Spiritual Care at Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital. In my work there, I get to join God’s mission that was first entrusted to the Sisters of Providence and now is being passed on to all those who work in the Providence system: “To reveal God’s love for all, especially the poor and vulnerable, through our compassionate service.” It all began with Emilie Gamelin, the founderess of the Sisters of Providence, and came to the Pacific Northwest through the work of another Sister of Providence, Mother Joseph. One of my favorite quotes comes from Mother Joseph: “Do not say, ‘It does not concern me.’ Whatever concerns the poor is our affair.” Last Friday, May 2, we gathered for our potluck and reflection. We read John 14:15-21 and talked about the Spirit of Truth, how we sometimes experience this Spirit as the little “niggling” within that won’t let us go, that won’t let us say, “Oh, that doesn’t concern me.” It was the same day I attended the Cover the Uninsured Prayer Breakfast. In the State of Oregon, 15.9% of the population has no health insurance. At our gathering last Friday, 2 of the 5 people in attendance had no health insurance; that’s 40%! The Spirit of Truth “niggles” at us with this. This does concern us. It is our affair. Whatever affects the common good of our society and world affects us, and God is passionate about reconciling and making whole the common good, all of creation! May we all be open and respond to the nigglings of the Spirit of Truth! Next potluck and reflection in community:
Jill Rowland 04-30-08 - Discussion and Potluck for May 2nd See you then! Jill Rowland 04-21-08 - Reflections from April 18th Meeting Linda shared this as something that connected her with the reading: Courageous is the soul who adventures into time and space to learn of their divinity. For while they cannot lose, they can think they have, and the loss will seem intolerable. And while they cannot fail, they can think they have, and the pain will seem unbearable. And while they cannot ever be less than they truly are—powerful, eternal, and loved—they can think they are, and all hope will seem lost. And therein lies their test. A test of perceptions, of what to focus on, of what to believe in—in spite of appearances. Courageous indeed . . . the pride of the Universe, and I should know. We’ll gather again Friday, May 2: 5:30pm Potluck Reading: John 14:15-21 Bring with you something to which the reading connects you—a song, a piece of art, a poem, something you’ve written, your questions, anything. See you then! Jill Rowland 04-10-08 -Potluck and Discussion Group Meetings Moved to Friday Nights Potluck 5:30pm We’re reflecting on a reading from the Bible, but here’s the twist. We want you to read the passage assigned for Friday ahead of time, and then bring with you something to which that reading connects you—a song, a piece of art, a poem, something you’ve written, your questions, anything. Perhaps we can commit ourselves each day to looking at the reading for the coming Friday (in the morning with your coffee, at noontime, before you go to sleep at night, whenever). You’d be surprised how it begins to get under your skin, and that’s when the connections start coming! Here are the readings through the month of May:
See you FRIDAY, APRIL 18, and if you can’t make it Friday (because you have other commitments or because you don’t live here), feel free to send your thoughts/connections to me via e-mail, and I’d be happy to share them with the group! Jill Rowland 04-07-08 - Reflections from the April 3rd Discussion Group The “assignment” for Thursday was to bring something that was a connection to the text. We had seeds in the mix—seeds that we put in the ground and bury, “believing” that they will grow. We can’t “see” them at all, and yet, they grow into peas and poppies and lettuce and beans and all kinds of wonderful things. The thing Laurel loves about seeds is that “they know exactly what they are supposed to become.” There is that knowing in us, too, isn’t there? A knowing which is nurtured by God’s love and grace and patient meeting-us-where-we-are. I love the synchronicity of these Thursday evenings. I had no idea someone would bring seeds as a connection to the reading, and I brought Mary Oliver’s poem, “Little Summer Poem Touching the Subject of Faith.” Little Summer Poem Touching the Subject of Faith
Yes, let the immeasurable come—the immeasurable extravagance of God’s love and grace showered in our lives; the immeasurable extravagance of faith which is pure gift, not something which we grasp but something which grasps and embraces and carries us into the unknowable, mysterious beauty of this world. Let the immeasurable come—when we believe and therefore see, and when we have to see before we believe! We’ll meet again Thursday, April 17 for a potluck at 5:30pm and reflection at 6:00pm. Blessings on your week! Jill Rowland 03-31-08 - Upcoming Potluck and Discussion Group Potluck - 5:30pm For the next 5 weeks, we’ll reflect on a reading from the Bible, but here’s the twist. We want you to read the passage assigned for Thursday ahead of time, and then bring with you something to which that reading connects you - a song, a piece of art, a poem, something you’ve written, your questions, anything. Perhaps we can commit ourselves each day to looking at the reading for the coming Thursday (in the morning with your coffee, at noontime, before you go to sleep at night, whenever). You’d be surprised how it begins to get under your skin, and that’s when the connections start coming! Here are the readings through the month of May:
See you Thursday, and if you can’t make it Thursday (because you have other commitments or because you don’t live here), feel free to send your thoughts/connections to me via e-mail, and I’d be happy to share them with the group! Jill Rowland 03-21-08 - Reflections from the 03-20-08 Thursday Gathering Holy Week and Easter blessings to all of you from our Soul Café community! Jill Rowland Extravagant Love—a flash poem written by the community that gathered tonight at Soul Cafe The that is the Amazing This sounds It The sorrow Alleluia! 03-17-08 - 40: A Journey Through Lent One of my critiques of Mel Gibson’s, The Passion of The Christ, is that it only showed Christ’s passion, Christ’s suffering. It did not show Christ’s deep passion for mercy, love, justice, and peace that led to his passion, his suffering on the cross. Marcus Borg writes, “The death of Jesus—his execution—was because of his passion for God and God’s justice. And because we see Jesus as the revelation of God, we see in his life and death the passion of God. He discloses both the character and passion of God” (page 97, The Heart of Christianity). Through Jesus’ heart, we see God’s heart! God is a God of love, a God who is passionate about loving, restoring, and healing all of creation, and God invites all of us to participate in this work of loving, restoring, and healing all of creation. We’ll gather together this Thursday, March 20 at Soul Café to consider God’s passion for the world and the way we are invited to participate in that passion through Acts of Love. We’ll end our evening by sharing in the meal of Holy Communion, the meal that reminds us of God’s love and empowers us to live that love each and every day. Join us! Thursday, March 20 If you missed our previous discussions, 40: A Journey through Lent, scroll down to read the results from the previous meetings. Childcare is provided. March 6, 2008 - Reflections on the March 6th Meeting
Tonight, we shared in Costa Rican gallo pinto (delicious!) and not so Costa Rican spaghetti (also delicious!). We also had the wonderful opportunity of sitting with David Duncombe and hearing about his experience with the discipline of fasting. David is quick to point out that all five of the fasts he has practiced have been for “political” reasons not “spiritual” reasons. Two fasts in the late 1980s and early 1990s were motivated by the United States’ decision to supply countries in Central America with munitions and the United States’ decision to go to war. His three fasts from 1999 to 2007 were motivated by a troubling article that he read in 1999. In that article, David learned that 19,000 (that’s 19,000) sub-Saharan people die every day (that’s every day) from starvation. He just could not fathom this and knew that he needed to do something to speak up on their behalf. Since 1999, he has worked with the Jubilee Network and congressional leaders to Cancel Debt Fast in some of the poorest countries in the world. Even though David’s fasts have been politically motivated, the fasting has always produced spiritual overtones—for both David and those who were touched by his fasting. He recalled that when he went to speak with congressional leaders, sooner or later it did not matter what he said because the fasting and the results of it did the speaking for him. As I listened to David speak tonight, I couldn’t help but think of this translation of Philippians 2:1-8. It was done by a New Testament professor at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN whose name escapes me right now:
David practiced his fasting in a “political imagination grounded in solidarity with obscure persons,” the same kind of political imagination which is in Jesus, the same kind of political imagination to which each of us is called. Spiritual overtones, indeed! Blessings as we continue this Lenten journey, Jill Rowland February 29, 2008 - Continuation of 40: A Journey through Lent February 21, 2008 -Lenten Potluck and Reflection in Community We learned about Galle Nanondiral, the "house of mutual understanding." The purpose of the center is to serve and love “our neighbors as ourselves” by offering much-needed facilities and programs and to provide the basis on which solid relationships with Muslim neighbors can be built. All of this helps to increase the possibility of dialogue between Christians and Muslims. It houses a resource library, sports and leisure area, sewing programs for young women, and academic courses for students preparing for the high school entrance exam. In addition, they provide local language literacy courses for women and reproductive health classes for adolescents. Remember that during this Lenten season, we are collecting all our spare change (as well as cash and checks as you are moved by the Spirit), and we will send our offerings to the global missions on which we have focused. Emelia and Alden shared everything they had tonight—over $10.00 in pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters! Our focus tonight was Prayer. Beth shared her experience with Centering Prayer and led us in a time of Centering Prayer. We heard Mary Oliver’s “Mindful:”
When little Owen cried out during our centering prayer time and his mom, Trish, left to tend to him, we were reminded of the way our God is with us, of the way our God hears our cries of pain, sadness, and loneliness as well as our cries of joy and delight, of the way our God is with us each and every step that we take. It was a good night that ended with lighting candles and offering prayers. We are committing for the next 2 weeks to be intentional about our prayer time, to choose a place and time each day to sit in prayer, and to notice the other ways that we practice the discipline of prayer (or that the discipline of prayer practices us). We will gather again on March 6. Our Global Mission Focus will be Costa Rica, and our theme for the reflection will be Fasting. Join us March 6, and bring a friend! With much thanks for all the things and people that “kill me with delight,” Jill Rowland Giving Opportunity - Galle Nanondiral-Senegal (PDF) “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10a) Is being still and knowing that God is God something that can happen in an “instant” for you, or is it more the work of a lifetime? The Lenten season calls us to pray. But prayer, Jesus teaches, is much more than saying words. “Go into your room, and close the door, and pray to your Father in secret.” Before we pray, we are invited to enter the inner room of our heart. Shut the door to the noise, the trivialities, the countless cares grabbing for attention. Put them aside. In the quiet place of our heart, with faith as our guide, we are invited to speak and listen to God. God helps us pray in this season. For those who have stopped praying, or pray with little fervor, God gives graces for praying again. Is it easier for you to speak to God or to listen for God’s voice to speak to you? What does it mean that a “life of prayer [will] manifest itself in relationships with others”? How is your personal prayer life reflected in your faith community? How is your faith community’s prayer life reflected in your personal prayer life? How have you been changed through prayer? How have your prayers been answered in unexpected ways?
February 20, 2008 - 40: A Journey through Lent
We met for our first Lenten gathering on February 7. (see below) I’m writing to remind you that we’ll meet again this Thursday, February 21 for a Lenten gathering. Please join us! 5:30pm Potluck featuring food from Senegal (click here for recipe OR bring another Senegalese dish OR bring that bag of Fritos OR just bring yourself because we always have enough!) 6:00pm or so Reflection in Community And so this morning, I hold my breath at all the wonderful things which touch me—Mt. Adams; my sweet dog, Carmen, who waits quietly by the door for his morning walk; Emelia and Alden, who are sleeping gently in their beds; all of you—both near and far; and most of all, the Magnificent and Beautiful One, who is the Creator of it all. Blessings to you on this day! May you, too, hold your breath today and be struck with delight! Jill Rowland February 8, 2008 - 40: A Journey through Lent Our Lenten discipline is our loving response to God’s unconditional love for us and all of the creation. Through our discipline, we experience freedom and grace.
February 7, 2008 - Repentance/The Examined Life
Reflection Questions:
Lectio Divina: Isaiah 58:1-12 Next gathering: February 21, 2008 January 29, 2008 - 40: A Journey through Lent In the Christian tradition, the season of Lent lasts 40 days (not counting Sundays) and is a time for spiritual reflection and discipline leading up to the great Easter celebration. Far from being an exercise in individual “self-help,” Lent calls us to gather as a community, to reflect together, to learn from and support one another in our spiritual disciplines. Join us at Soul Café for 40: A Journey through Lent. We’ll meet on four different Thursdays where we’ll share a meal and then gather for reflection. Between our gathering Thursdays, we’ll have reflection materials to take home with us to guide our time with family and friends. One of the spiritual disciplines that we’ll practice together is lectio divina, the art of holy reading. In this practice, small passages from scripture or other holy readings are reflected upon. A slow, reflective process, it will take us down below the preoccupations of the moment and the distractions of the day to a place where the soul holds the residue of life. Through this practice, we learn what we bring to the holy reading, and we are comforted and confronted with what the holy reading brings to us. Thursdays, February 7, 21, March 6, 20 Global Mission Food Themes (in PDF) February 7: Peru We’ll need you to volunteer to bring food for the potluck meals. See above receipes to consider, although if you find other recipes, you’re welcome to use those! So please e-mail me if there is a particular Thursday for which you’d like to sign up. By the way, we’re in our new space at 1102 12th Street (on the corner of 12th and Taylor). If you’ve been away from our gatherings for a while or if you’ve been wanting to participate but never have, this is a great way to connect! Bring a friend! Jill Rowland 2007 Discussions October 10, 2007 - Mystics As always, thanks for your support and prayers for Soul Café! Jill www.canceldebtfast.org and http://www.jubileeusa.org/index.php Video of David on You Tube~~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvEeDs9piQg Where: Soul Cafe, 112 Oak St, Hood River, Oregon September 4, 2007 - Thursday Discussions Resume
If you’d like more information, you can go to www.nooma.com. In October and November, we’ll be doing a series on the mystics. January 25 - April 19, 2007 - Experiencing the "Heart of Christianity", by Marcus Borg. September 14 - December 7, 2006 - Living the Questions, Christianity in the 21st Century: Living the Questions is a 12-week DVD and web-based study exploring beyond the traditions and rote theologies in which many people often become stuck. Living the Questions will help participants explore the significance of Christianity in the 21st Century and what a meaningful faith can look like in today's world. The overall theme of the class is that of faith as a journey, not a destination. Participants who are expecting to leave each session with clear and concise answers will be disappointed. The purpose of this time together will be to raise questions and stir the pot, not provide answers. Each session includes:
June 29th—Bring Your Favorite Reading—poetry, an excerpt from a short story, novel, or piece of nonfiction, etc.. We’ll share with one another and discuss. Jill is bringing Mary Oliver poetry. What about you? June 22nd—The Gospel of Judas—it’s creating quite a bit of hype! What’s it all about? Come and discuss. June 15th—Since it’s graduation time, we’ll be looking at a speech delivered to Stanford graduates in 2005 by Apple/Macintosh guru, Steve Jobs. Click here to read his speech. June 8th—We’ll be on the road—traveling to Gwen’s house over in Underwood, WA where she’ll be serving up spaghetti. Bring salad, bread, or dessert to share. Meet at Soul Café at 5:15pm to carpool or follow us over there. Topic of the Night: Why are we never satisfied—as individuals, people, a country, etc.? Special four weeks May 11, 18, 25, and June 1, 2006 Discussion Topic: Though the vast majority of people living in the United States have immigrant ancestry, the nation’s immigration policy has at times failed to welcome strangers who come seeking religious, political, and economic freedom. During these 4 weeks, we will read current literature pieces and articles from past decades in order to spark discussion, thought, and action about how to live out God’s call for justice with and for all our neighbors. May 4th , 2006 Discussion Topic: Come hear Wisdom of the Ages from some of the best-known spiritual writers and thinkers. We’ll listen to some excerpts and then discuss. April 27, 2006 Discussion Topic: Mystery Topic - the most we know is that we'll probably listen to some speakers who have something to say about spirituality in our daily lives. April 20, 2006 - Discussion Topic: Showing our Scars - read the one-page article that goes along with this (PDF file) - we'll discuss it and its relevance to our lives. April 13, 2006 - Discussion Topic: Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday in the Christian Tradition: What is it? Why is it important? April 6, 2006 - Discussion Topic: What is your dream job and why? Will the dream ever become a reality? If so, how? March 29, 2006 Discussion Topic: Mystery Topic!! March 23, 2006 Discussion Topic: If you could ask God for just one thing, what would that one thing be? March 16, 2006 Discussion Topic: Loving God in the Holy Land - a discussion about Christian, Jewish, and Moslem relationships and interactions in a village in the Holy land. March 9, 2006 Discussion Topic: Bobbie Harlow, Master Sufi teacher, and Sherry Tuell, Sufi teacher, will share their experiences and practices of Sufism in order to increase awareness and knowledge of mystical Islam. Mystical Islam, espresso and blueberry cobbler Just after sunset next Thursday (March 9th), the patrons of a local coffee shop will be enjoying more than the usual fresh batches of espresso and scrumptious helpings of blueberry cobbler. They also will be gathering for a potluck and an informal discussion about Sufism, the mystical side of Islam. The evening will begin at 5:30pm with a potluck dinner. Leading the discussion at 6:30pm, at Soul Café, a non-profit coffee shop, at 416 Oak Street, will be Sufi teachers Bobbie Harlow and Sherry Tuell. They will share their experiences and practices of Sufism in order to increase unity and peace in the world. “Islam is not just about Arabic people, says resident Tuell, who prays five times a day, in the tradition of observant Muslims. “Islam is the recognition that there is nothing, only the unity. Everything is one thing. All is one truth. In Him, there is no beginning and no end. There are no numbers. God is all in all. There is no difference between men and women, black and white.” Most Sufis embrace the teachings of many faiths. "I don't understand the idea that there’s a god for Jews and a god for Christians and a god for Muslims and so on,” said Tuell. “Oneness with God goes beyond the confines of organized religion.” Sufism has many orders, including the Mevlevi, an order known as whirling dervishes. Tuell and Harlow belong to the Shadhiliyya Sufi order, a tradition more than 600 years old. March 2, 2006 Discussion Topic: Melui will share some Robert Fulghum readings, and we'll talk about them. February 23, 2006 Discussion Topic:
February 16, 2006 Discussion Topic: Gratitude - For what are you thankful? February 9, 2006 Discussion Topic: Deepok Chopra, Dr. Wayne Dyer, and Bernie Mac... these three personalities will be front and center in our discussion Thursday night. No preparation necessary... just come and join us! February 2, 2006 Discussion Topic: Tell about a period of time or a single experience from your childhood that is especially positive and meaningful to you. How does this memory (or memories) influence or play out in your life as an adult? Did this good period of time or experience promote in you any certain personality traits or preferences? Can these positive memories be effected as an antidote to negative experiences or memories? The good remembrance(s) from childhood could span several years, or be a single event. You can write out your thoughts or relate them conversationally, as you wish. Only questions for clarification will follow each person's sharing, and general discussion will take place only after each person has had an opportunity to tell about the topic. We are interested in exploring how we can live out of the present, and learn from the past, instead of allowing our negative past experiences to dictate who we are today. January 26, 2006 - Excerpts from David Whyte's Crossing the Unknown Sea: Work as a Pilgrimage of Identity (PDF file) |
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