Living Beatitudes Community

LBC Announcements: 20120129

2012-01-30T08:03:00.001-05:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday Jan 29

25 attended

Announcements:

1. Loving God, Neighbor, and Self - a spiritual retreat, Feb 24-25. Bob has registration forms. The retreat will occur at LBC. Register now.

2. Dignity USA Webinar; Queer Catholic Faith. Jan 31 Tue, 9:00p.

Hi! Welcome to the inaugural session of "Queer Catholic Faith," a new videoconferencing series developed by DignityUSA. In this session, we will hear from Bill Baird about the early years of the gay/lesbian Catholic movement. You may recall Bill as the fabulous co-host of our San Francisco Convention. He's also a long-time member of Dignity/San Francisco and Dignity/Denver, a former co-chair of the Defenders, and is now a member of DignityUSA's Board of Directors. He will tell us about what it was like to be a gay Catholic in the early 1970s, and about the first years of Dignity. Whether you were also around in the infancy of our movement, or can't even imagine those days, there are sure to be some great surprises in this conversation. ( Join the webinar. )

3. Cross Creek Weekend Intensive: Unprotected Texts: The Bible's Surprising Contradictions on Sex and Desire. Sat Feb 11 and Feb 12 Sun.

Jennifer Wright Knust, author of UNPROTECTED TEXTS: THE BIBLE'S SURPRISING CONTRADICTIONS ON SEX AND DESIRE is coming to Cross Creek Community Church. She will be here for a lecture on Saturday, February 11 from 9:00 to 3:00 and then doing the sermon at all three of our weekend worship services: 5:30 Saturday and 9:30 and 11:00 on Sunday, February 12.

Registration is required for the Sat lecture. The cost is $45 and includes lunch.
You can register for the lecture by calling the church or by mailing your registration fee to the church. Registration will be accepted at the door too! More information may be found online at crosscreekchurch.org

Previously:

1. Shrove Tue Bingo! - Feb 18 Fri - BYOB (Bring Your Own Beads). Mark the date.

2. The Laramie Project, an event hosted by Sinclair Community College, is looking for volunteers. A reading of the project will take place May 18 Fri. Contact Ed if you would like to participate. More details will available soon.

Homily:
20120129 - Matthew 1:21-28 - available next week.

Next Week (Feb 05):

Reading 1 - MarkS
Reading 2 - LeonB

Cantor -

Refreshments - Team 3

LBC Announcements: 20120122

2012-01-30T07:48:00.001-05:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday Jan 22

30 attended

Announcements:

1. Book Club. Contact Pam if you wish to attend the next book discussion. The next book will be Broken and Shared by Jeff Dietrich. The next discussion will be at the end of Mar or early Apr.

2. Loving God, Neighbor, and Self - a spiritual retreat, Feb 24-25. Bob has registration forms. The retreat will occur at LBC.

3. Shrove Tue Bingo! - Feb 18 Fri - BYOB (Bring Your Own Beads). Mark the date.

4. Phil will organize the bulletin board. Let him know if there is something on the board currently that should be saved. He would like to post scanned photos from passed events. See Phil if you have photos to contribute.

5. The columbarium carpet will be replaced Jan 23 Mon.

6. The Laramie Project, an event hosted by Sinclair Community College, is looking for volunteers. A reading of the project will take place May 18 Fri. Contact Ed if you would like to participate. More details will available soon.

7. The Miami Valley Restaurant Association Winter Restaurant Week is this coming week, Jan 22-29. Support your local restauranteurs.

Homily:
20120122 - Matthew 1:14-20 - 12 min - 23 MB.

Next Week (Jan 27):

Reading 1 - JoeG
Reading 2 - EdL

Cantor - SteveM

Refreshments - Team 2

LBC: Announcements 20120115

2012-01-16T07:30:00.002-05:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday Jan 15

24 attended

Announcements:

1. Inclement Weather: Weather announcements that cancel Christ Episcopal worship services include LBC, too. If CE is open, LBC will have Mass.

2. The Nov board meeting minutes and Treasure's report are posted. The was no board meeting in Dec.

3. Martin Luther King Day March, Jan 16 Mon. Meet at Welcome Stadium at 11a. See Tom and Pam to join the after-march carpool from the Convention Center back to the stadium.

4. Book Club. Contact Pam if you wish to attend the next book discussion. Pam is gathering suggestions for the next book read. (Broken and Shared by Jeff Dietrich is under consideration.)

5. Loving God, Neighbor, and Self - a spiritual retreat, Feb 24-25. Bob has a sign up sheet and registration information. The LBC/Dignity Columbus co-sponsored retreat will be held at LBC. The retreat is free.

6. Ed shared a beautiful thank-you note from Emily.

7. Contact Dianne if you would like addresses for Joe and Dan, and Larry.

Homily:
20120115 - John 1:35-42 - 10 min - 19 MB.

Next Week (Jan 22):

Reading 1 - SteveM
Reading 2 - AnnW

Cantor - PhilF

Refreshments - Team 1

LBC Announcements: 20120108

2012-01-09T08:24:00.001-05:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday Jan 08

27 attended

Announcements:

1. Board Meeting: Jan 15 Sun, 8:30a.

2. Please note: If you must finish food preparation after the Eucharist please wait until the last hymn when the noise will be less disturbing. Avoid distractions during the final prayer.

3. Live a Life of Love Retreat, Feb 24 and 25. Co-sponsored by Dignity Columbus and Living Beatitudes Community. The retreat will focus on loving God, neighbor, and self. Wine and cheese reception at Strickers Feb 24 Fri 7:00 to 8:30p. Retreat at LBC Feb 25 Sat 9:00a to 5:00p - a day of spiritual growth, fellowship, and community. The event, including meals, is free to all members.

4. Weekend Intensive with Dr. Jennifer Wright Knust, Feb 11 Sat, 9:00a to 3:00p. Cross Creek Community Church. Dr. Knust has published widely on the New Testament, Christian history, ancient rhetoric, the transmission of the Gospels, and the interpretation of sacred texts by early Christian writers. She will discuss her most recent work, Unprotected Texts: The Bible's Surprising Contradictions about Sex and Desire.

5. Mary Jo recommends the article, Cardinal's Comparison Is Nonsensical, from the National Catholic Reporter, 2012 Jan 2.

6. Mike thanked the choir for their musical offering.

7. See Ed if you would like to volunteer at the House of Bread, Feb 22 Wed, 9:00a to 2:00p.

8. The mother and family that LBC helped this Christmas extends her deepest thanks.

Homily:
20120108 - Matthew 2:1-12 - 21 min - 39 MB.

Next Week (Jan 15):

Reading 1 - PamD
Reading 2 - DebbieB

Cantor - SteveM

Refreshments - Team 7

LBC Announcements: 20120101

2012-01-03T15:04:00.000-05:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday Jan 01

18 attended

Announcements:

1. Twelfth Night Party, Jan 6 Fri 6:30p at Bob and Dick's. Bring a thrift-shop gift ($5 limit) for the exchange.

2. Liturgy Meeting, Jan 8 Sun at 9a.

3. Nonviolent-Communication, Jan 15 at the usual time.

* Mary Jo recommends the article, Cardinal's Comparison Is Nonsensical, from the National Catholic Reporter, 2012 Jan 2.
* Lew recommends this Gen Silent video. Access ends Jan 8.

Homily:
20120101 - Luke 2:16-21 - 9 min - 16 MB.

Next Week (Jan 08):

Reading 1 - AnnW
Reading 2 - EdL

Cantor - JoeG

Refreshments - Team 6

LBC: Announcements 20111218

2011-12-19T13:34:00.001-05:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday Dec 18

30 attended

Announcements:

1. Christmas Eve Mass, Dec 24 Sat, 8:00p, at AnnW's. Please bring an hors d'ouvre to share after mass.

2. Thank you for your generosity. We have been able to significantly help a family in need.

Homily:
20111218 - Luke 1:26-38 - 18 MB - 10m

Next Week (Dec 25):

Reading 1 - Mary Jo P
Reading 2 - DianneM

Cantor - needed

Refreshments - Team 4

LBC: Announcements 20111211

2011-12-12T07:16:00.001-05:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday Dec 04

25 attended

Announcements:

1. The Food Bank sent a thank you note for LBC's $500 contribution. The Food Bank thanked LBC for helping to feed the hungry. The letter noted that more first-time visitors and families with children are coming to the Food Bank in need than ever before. Your contribution helped.

2. There will be NO Board meeting next Sunday. The meeting is canceled.

3. Advent Reflection 2. Dec 13 Tue, 6:00p soup, 7:00p reflection. Mercy Siena Village, 6045 N Main Street. [The building on the left after entering the parking lot. Look for Dominic at the door.]

4. Thank you everyone for bringing flowers to decorate the tables.

5. GinnyB would probably enjoy get well cards. Her address in the social directory.

6. Dianne has left some Christmas decorations on the side table. Free!

7. Look for information on how you may help a family in need this Christmas. Adopt-a-Family information will be sent in a separate message.

Homily:
20111211 - John 1:6-8, 19-28 - 26 MB - 14m

Next Week (Dec 18):

Reading 1 - MarkS
Reading 2 - LeonB

Cantor - SteveM

Refreshments - Team 3

LBC: Secretary Clinton's Remarks in Recognition of Human Rights Day

2011-12-07T09:35:00.001-05:00

Joe recommends >>>

"... And that is why gay rights are human rights, and human rights are gay rights."
Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton.

Read the full address; Remarks in Recognition of International Human Rights Day, Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland, 20111206.

LBC: Bingo with Youth Quest

2011-12-04T14:11:00.002-05:00

... And don't forget ...

BINGO with Youth Quest.
Dec 7 Wed, 7:30p.
at LBC, includes prizes and snacks.

LBC: Announcements 20111204

2011-12-04T14:02:00.001-05:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday Dec 04

25 attended

Announcements:

1. There will be NO Liturgy Committee meeting next Sunday. The meeting is canceled.

2. See Dick if you would like to attend a home Mass celebrating the Immaculate Conception, Dec 8 Thu.

3. The Bach Society will be performing with the Kettering Children's Choir and the Kettering Advent Ringers at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Kettering, today Dec 04 Sun, 7:30p. Sweet Sounds of the Holidays. Tickets will be available at the door.

4. The Allen Wolf film, In My Sleep, is now available on DVD and blue-ray. The film's hitchockian plot invites viewers to rethink their life's priorities. (Dianne knows the director.)

5. Dianne has posted a calendar of 2012 birthday and anniversary celebrations. Check to be sure your birthday is recorded accurately.

Homily:
20111204 - Mark 1:1-8 - 20 MB - 11 min

Next Week (Dec 11):

Reading 1 - DickY
Reading 2 - SteveM

Cantor - TomS

Refreshments - Team 2

LBC Announcements: 20111127

2011-11-27T15:00:00.001-05:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday Nov 27

24 attended

Announcements:

1. Advent Reflection, Nov 30 Wed. Soup 6:15p. Reflection 7:00p. ... at LBC. Look for more event dates and times in a separate email message.

2. Mary Jo shared a humorous reading regarding recent changes to adjust the living English language used during the Mass to better reflect dead Latin.

3. Leon shared his experience last Sun at the "Big Gay Meeting" discussing plans for Pride 2012. The Pride venue has changed from Court House Square to Riverscape. The parade will take place on St. Clair Street. The dinner will be the third Sun in June. Look for more news as plans develop. Volunteers are needed on several planning committees. See Leon if you wish to help.

Homily:
20111127 - Mark 13:33-37 - 29 MB - 16 min

Next Week (Dec 04):

Reading 1 - AnnW
Reading 2 - PamD

Cantor - SteveM

Refreshments - Team 1

LBC: Announcements 20111120

2011-11-21T06:06:00.001-05:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday Nov 20

28 attended

Announcements:

1. Look for Advent reflection and other event dates in a separate message, coming soon.

2. Please submit your Time, Talent, and Treasure inventories to Mary Jo by this Mon.

3. Save the date: Feb 24 and Feb 25, Spiritual Retreat cosponsored by Columbus Dignity and LBC/Dignity Dayton. The event will begin with a get-together at Strickers' followed by a retreat at C.E. the following day. Contact Bob if you would be able to host an over-night guest. More details to follow.

4. Find board meeting minutes and the monthly treasurer's report posted on the bulletin board.

5. LBC is now a group member of the Federation of Christian Ministries. A membership plaque will be posted.

6. The third quarter tithe recipients will be the House of Bread and the Christ Episcopal Food Pantry which supports Saint Andrew's food bank.

Homilies:
20111030 - Matthew 23-1-12 - 15 MB - 8 min
20111106 - Matthew 25:1-13 - 29 MB - 16 min

20111113 - Matthew 25:14-30 - 34 MB - 18 min
20111120 - Matthew 25:31-46 - 26 MB - 14 min

Next Week (Nov 27):

Reading 1 - JuliaS
Reading 2 - DonS

Cantor - PhilF

Refreshments - Team 7

LBC: Announcements 20111113

2011-11-15T08:41:00.002-05:00

(Thank you, Pam, for gathering the announcements while I was away. PF.)

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday Nov 13

26 attended

Announcements:

1. Board meeting Nov 20 Sun, 8:30a.

2. Last Thursday volunteers from our community served a meal that Don prepared at the Circles Initiative meeting. Tom conveyed their gratitude to us for our assistance.

3. Mark S is celebrating his 50th birthday today. Happy birthday, Mark!

4. Dianne has posted e-mails and pictures she received from Laura M. They are on the left side of the bulletin board.

5. December 13th an evening of reflection will be held at Mercy Sienna. LBC will be providing the bread and desserts. Those willing to volunteer their talents, see Deb S. Further details about the event will be forthcoming on the Advent Schedule.

6. Please turn in your completed time and talent surveys ASAP.

7. Joe G will be attending the Dayton Human Relations meeting. He asks that we keep him in our thoughts and prayers.

Homily:

20111113 - Matthew 25:14-30 - available next week

Next Week (Nov 20):

Reading 1 - DebS
Reading 2 - AnnW

Cantor - SteveM

Refreshments - Team 6

LBC: Announcements 20111106

2011-11-07T08:41:00.001-05:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday Nov 06

28 attended

Announcements:

1. Mary Jo recommends: LGBTQ Gifts from God by Thomas Fox. National Catholic Reporter. 2011 Nov 05.

2. Happy Birthday to Tom.

3. The Food Bank and Mission Partners Guatemala sent notes thanking LBC for support.

4. Dianne brought copies of the recent controversial Boston Catholic article. Dianne recommends a prompt, directed mail response. See Dianne for copies of the article and addresses.

5. Living Beatitudes is taking an inventory of where we spend our Time, Talents, and Treasure. See Ed or Mary Jo for a response form.

Homily:

20111106 - Matthew 25:1-13 - 16 min - 29 MB

Next Week (Nov 13):

Reading 1 - MarkS
Reading 2 - BillV

Cantor - DonS

Refreshments - Team 5

LBC: Daylight Saving Times ends - Reminder.

2011-11-04T06:33:00.000-04:00

Everyone,

Don't forget -- it's this Sunday, Nov 6.

If you want to be really official about it ...
get up at 2am and turn your clock back one hour to 1am.

Phil.

LBC: Special All Saints Liturgy this Sunday

2011-10-28T08:21:00.001-04:00

The liturgy committee is planning an All Saints theme to this Sunday's liturgy (October 30). We are asking you to commemorate your saint or saints (canonized or otherwise) by bringing something that reminds you of her/him/them -- a picture, a flower, something your saint(s) used, etc. We will have a special place in front of the altar to place these items. Dick, who will be our presider, will ask you to bring your items forward during a reflective time prior to the liturgy of the Word. We hope to honor a good many wonderful people that you knew personally, along with the "traditional" saints.

~ F

LBC: Announcements 20111023

2011-10-24T07:37:00.001-04:00

[Lots of stuff that was Sunday only this time. PF.]

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday Oct 16

26 attended

Announcements:

1. See Patty for a ballot - vote on the bylaw changes today (Sun).

2. Fall Fiesta - Halloween Party - All Saints Celebration. Oct 23 Sun, 5:00p at Stricker's Farm. Fall fun will include a hayride, bobbing for apples, and a bonfire. Bring your own beverage, lawn chair, and a snack to share.

3. The Christ Episcopal fundraisers are coming up: The Waffle House and Elsie's Attic. C.E. is collecting material for the rummage sale now. Sign up upstairs if you would like to help serve/cook for the waffle house.

5. Dick is in a play at the Dayton Playhouse, today Sun Oct 23, 2p.

Homily:

20111023 - Matthew 22:34-40 - 13 min - 24 MB

Next Week (Oct 30):

Reading 1 - EdL
Reading 2 - JohnS

Cantor - DonS

Refreshments - Team 3

LBC: Invitation from UD - National Coming Out Day

2011-10-19T07:24:00.001-04:00

Patrick from Spectrum UD sends this invitation to LBC via Megan. ~Phil.

National Coming Out Day Event

When: This Friday, Oct. 21 from 4:30 to 8:00 PM
Where: ArtStreet Ampitheatre
(Located on the corner of Kiefaber and Lawnview. Street - parking may be available on the street or you may stop at the parking booth to get a temporary visitor's pass)

We will be cooking-out this year before our open mic portion in which people share coming out stories, slam poetry, etc.

Please pass the word along! Thank you so much for everything!

Best,
Patrick

LBC: Announcements 20111016

2011-10-17T23:00:00.001-04:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday Oct 16

25 attended

Announcements:

1. Patty thanked the group that has worked on LBC's new policies and the proposed changes to the bylaws: PamD, DebbieB, and DonS.

2. The community will vote on the proposed by-law changes next Sun, Oct 24.

3. Fall Fiesta - Halloween Party - All Saints Celebration. Oct 23 Sun, 5:00p at Stricker's Farm. Fall fun will include a hayride, bobbing for apples, and a bonfire. Bring your own beverage, lawn chair, and a snack to share.

4. Gen Silent, Oct 20 Thu, 7p, 109 Oelman Hall, Wright State University. Stu Maddux's important documentary, Gen Silent, talks about the discrimination and fears faced by aging LGBT individuals as they navigate the healthcare system. Director/Producer Stu Maddux will participate in a discussion following the film. Parking provided in Lots 12 & 13 on campus.

5. The 2nd Quarter tithe has gone to the Food Bank and the Guatemalan Mission. Give suggestions for the 3rd quarter tithe to any board member.

6. Bob is co-planning with Dignity Columbus a two-day retreat in February. The retreat will take place in Dayton. Please contact Bob if you would be willing to host guests during the retreat.

Homily:

20111016 - Matthew 22:15-21 - 17 min - 31 MB

Next Week (Oct 23):

Reading 1 - ZellaC
Reading 2 - MarkS

Cantor -

Refreshments - Team 2

LBC: Announcements 20111009

2011-10-10T07:32:00.001-04:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday Oct 09

26 attended

Announcements:

1. A Conversation With Jennifer Knapp. Christ Episcopal Church. Oct 9 Sun, 4p. Jennifer is a Grammy-nominated guitarist. She says, "It is the voice of people that I am concerned in preserving here, our right to express our deepest souls without the fear of condemnation." Free will offering.

2. Board Meeting, Oct 16 Sun, 8:30a.

3. Packets containing new policies and bylaw revisions are available for members to review. Send comments to Patty, in writing, by e-mail or letter by October 14. Voting on the bylaw revisions will be October 23.

4. Contact LeonB if you would like to help support Nancy Nerny's re-election for Dayton Board of Education, President.

5. Bob is co-planning with Dignity Columbus a two-day retreat in February. The retreat will take place in Dayton. Please contact Bob if you would be willing to host guests during the retreat.

6. Fall Fiesta - Halloween Party - All Saints Celebration. Oct 23 Sun, 5:00p at Stricker's Farm. Fall fun will include a hayride, bobbing for apples, and a bonfire. Bring your own beverage, lawn chair, and a snack to share.

Homily:

20111009 - Matthew 22:1-14 - 13 min - 23 MB

Next Week (Oct 16):

Reading 1 - AnnW
Reading 2 - PhilF

Cantor - SteveM

Refreshments - Team 1

LBC: Announcements 20111002

2011-10-09T15:42:00.002-04:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday Oct 02

22 attended

Announcements:

1. Packets containing new policies and bylaw revisions are available for members to review. Send comments to Patty, in writing, by e-mail or letter by October 14. Voting on the bylaw revisions will be October 23.

2. Social committee has planned a fall picnic at Tom and Patty's at 5:00 October 23.

3. Liturgy meeting next Sunday at 9:00

Homily:

20111002 - Matthew 21:33-43 - 14 min - 25 MB

Next Week (Oct 09):

Reading 1 - PamD
Reading 2 - DebbieB

Cantor - DonS

Refreshments - Team 7

LBC: More Info on ... A Conversation With Jennifer Knapp

2011-09-29T11:36:00.001-04:00

A Conversation with Jennifer Knapp

Sunday, October 9, 4:00 p.m.

Don't miss the chance to see Jennifer Knapp at Christ Episcopal Church.

Christ Episcopal Church is hosting an afternoon event of music and community with folk-rock artist Jennifer Knapp who will be performing and sharing about faith, sexuality, and wholeness. Knapp recently rocked the Christian music world as she made her way back onto the industry stage. After years of touring as a CCM rockstar, Knapp took a seven-year hiatus. Now that she's back ...

Knapp will perform several of her songs, and will have a Q&A session following her performance. Doors open at 3:00 pm with her performance beginning at 4:00 pm.

No tickets will be sold; however, [you may] make a donation to the church in order to offset the cost of the event.

Read more at www.Jenniferknapp.com.
For event details and contact information contact Christ Episcopal Church at 937-223-2239.

LBC: Announcements 20110925

2011-09-26T08:02:00.001-04:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday Sep 25

25 attended

Announcements:

2. Look for review copies of suggested by-law changes from Patty. 1. Our Safe Church Policy necessitates changes in board responsibilities. 2. The board recommends that the Outreach Ad Hoc group become a full committee. The chair of the committee will vote on the board. Give feedback to Patty or other board members. The board will vote on these documents in Oct.

3. Don Easton sends his greetings and congratulations at LBC's anniversary.

4. DianneM has a farewell card for Dan and Joe for everyone to sign.

Homily:

20110925 - Matthew 21:28-32 - 12 min - 21 MB

Next Week (Sep 25):

Reading 1 - Mary Jo P
Reading 2 - BillV

Cantor - SteveM

Refreshments - Team 6

LBC: Announcements 20110918

2011-09-20T08:36:00.000-04:00

(Thanks, Pam, for forwarding announcements.)

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday Sep 18

25 attended

Announcements:

1. Dianne brought in League of Women Voters material containing information about the Congressional Districts and contact information for our elected representatives.

2. Dan L said his goodbyes to our community and spoke a little about how we helped him on his spiritual journey and how welcome he was made to feel. He will be joining Joe in Lexington on September 29th but promises to drop in if they are back this way in the future.

Homily:

20110918 - Matthew 20:1-16a - available next week

Next Week (Sep 25):

Reading 1 - DominicD
Reading 2 - AnnW

Cantor - PhilF

Refreshments - Team 5

LBC: Announcements 20110911

2011-09-13T10:41:00.001-04:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday Sep 11

25 attended

Announcements:

1. Board Meeting, Sep 18 Sun, 8:30a.

2. Special anniversary celebration next Sunday.

Homily:

20110911 - Matthew 18:21-35 - 14 min - 25 MB

Next Week (Sep 18):

Readings (special)

Cantor - DonS

Refreshments - Team 4

LBC: Announcements 20110904

2011-09-05T07:20:00.001-04:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday Sep 04

23 attended

Announcements:

1. Safe Church Policy. Debbie, Don, Patty, and Pam have nearly finished the LBC Safe Church policy. Print copies will be posted for review. Please e-mail comments regarding the proposed policy to Patty. The finished document is expected to replace the interim policy at the end of October.

2. LBC has contributed to Mission Partners Guatemala. The mission sustains the Daniel Comboni Community Clinic, Mixco Guatamala. The clinic was established in 1995 by Ann's friend Sister Sarah Mulligan. The clinic provides medicine, surgery, social, and educational support for the poor. (Presentation video.) The mission has written a letter of gratitude for LBC's support.

3. Other letters of appreciation and acknowledgment will be posted.

4. Zella attended an information training session for volunteers interested in the repeal of HB194. HB 194 reduced absentee ballot time periods and requires voters to show a photo ID before voting. Contact Zella if you would like learn more.

5. Bob is going to take a group of people to the UD Allies group to talk about our community. Contact Bob if you would like to attend.

6. Mary Jo brought copies of a journal/newsletter containing essays. Copies are free and will be available on the back table.

7. There will be a multi-faith 9-11 commemoration at Riverscape, 4p. Contact Steve if you would like to join a choir singing at the event.

Homily:

20110904 - Matthew 18:15-20 - 14 min - 26 MB

Next Week (Sep 11):

First Reading - JohnS

Second Reading -EdL

Cantor - needed

Refreshments - Team 3

LBC Announcements 20110828

2011-08-29T07:12:00.001-04:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday Aug 28

24 attended

Announcements:

1. HB 194 enacts reduced absentee ballot time periods and requires voters produce photo ID. Visit C.E. fellowship hall if you wish to sign a petition advocating a repeal the act.

2. Today (Aug 28 Sun) GLBT groups are meeting 1-3p at the Dayton Women's Club to centralize event announcements and consider shared missions. DougG will represent LBC.

Homily:

20110828 - Matthew 16:21-27 - 15 min - 27 MB

Next Week (Sep 04):

First Reading - Mary JoP

Second Reading -BillV

Cantor - SteveM

Refreshments - Team 2

LBC: Announcements 20110814

2011-08-15T06:12:00.001-04:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday Aug 14

24 attended

Announcements:

1. Aug 17 Wed beginning 6:00-6:30p; Pot Luck hosted by Zella and StephenC. Bring a dish and a chair. Contact Zella for directions.

2. Aug 21 Sun 8:30a. Board Meeting.

3. Ten pillows have been purchased for the chairs. Move a pillow to your chair if you need one. More will be bought if we need them.

4. Food Team 1 needs to swap from Aug 28. Contact PattyS if your team can swap for Aug 28.

5. A group of LBC volunteers will help with the Circles of Dayton dinner on Tue.

6. See BobB if you would like a pass to the Hot Times Cool Films presented at the Victoria.

Homilies:
20110731 - Matthew 14:13-21 - 13 min - 23 MB
20110807 - Matthew 14:22-33 - 14 min - 25 MB
20110814 - Matthew 15:21-28 - 15 min - 27 MB

Next Week (Aug 21):

First Reading - PattyS

Second Reading - AnnW

Cantor - SteveM

Refreshments - Team 7

LBC: Announcements 20110724

2011-07-26T14:23:00.001-04:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday Jul 24

24 attended

Announcements:

1. Ed thanked all those who helped with Circle's of Dayton dinners.

2. Bon Voyage and safe journey to Phil who while be gone for a couple of weeks.

3. Missing: In Good Conscience: Sister Jeanine Gramick's Journey of Faith (DVD). Please return to DickY if you find it.

Homily:
20110724 - Matthew 13:44-52 - 14 min - 25 MB

Next Week (Jul 31):

First Reading - Mary JoP

Second Reading - AnW

Cantor - SteveM

Refreshments - Team 5 (there's been a swap)

FAST FORWARD THROUGH JULY

The Living Beatitudes Community has experienced recent challenging times and our community needs your prayers! Historically, fasting has been used to focus prayerful intentions, and we will use this to focus our prayers.

Each Friday in July observe a fast of your choosing, and use that to remember our community in a prayerful way. Your fast can be anything you choose-it can be reducing in an area where there is excess such as food or recreation, or it can be a way to focus more lovingly on others, perhaps by eliminating criticism.

The point is to create a space in your habits that will bring a different consciousness to your Friday, and then use that consciousness intentionally to join with others in holding our community in prayer.

Each Sunday participants are invited to light a votive candle and place it on the altar as a visible reminder of their prayerful intentions. Not coming on Sunday? Just have a friend light a candle for you! Over the month of July we will see the visible evidence of our prayer expand over the altar.

LBC: Announcements 20110717

2011-07-18T10:20:00.001-04:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday Jul 17

26 attended

Announcements:

1. Dayton International Peace Museum Benefit. Jul 22 Fri, 11:30a to 1:00p. Cool Soups for a Hot Cause! Christ Episcopal Church. RSVP to DIPM.

2. The volunteer sheet is nearly empty (Readers and cantors). Signup now.

3. DianneM will post an e-mail regarding the continuing legacy of St. Agnes people and programs.

4. Pax Christi is a group that works for peace with justice. The 2011 June-July newsletter discusses the monetary and spiritual costs of the war in Afghanistan.

5. Keeping the community in prayer ... see Fast Forward Through July below.

Homily:
20110717 - Matthew 12:14-21 - 14 min - 25 MB

Next Week (Jul 24):

First Reading - BillV

Second Reading - MarkS

Cantor - DonS

Refreshments - Team 3

FAST FORWARD THROUGH JULY

LBC: Announcements 20110710

2011-07-11T07:19:00.001-04:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday Jul 10

24 attended

Announcements:

1. Volunteers are needed to help prepare and serve Circles of Dayton dinners. Help is needed at 5p to prepare for the meal at 6p. LBC has volunteered for Jul 19 Tue and Aug 16 Tue. Contact Ed L if you can help on either of these dates.

2. Keeping the community in prayer ... see Fast Forward Through July below.

Homily:
20110710 - Matthew 13:1-23 - 16 min - 29 MB

Next Week (Jul 17):

First Reading - PattyS

Second Reading - TomS

Cantor - SteveM

Refreshments - Team 2

FAST FORWARD THROUGH JULY

LBC: Announcements 20110626

2011-06-27T12:22:00.001-04:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday Jun 26

25 attended

Announcements:

1. Safe Church Training, Jul 9 Sat, 9:00a thru 3:00p. Register with PattyS if you wish to attend.

2. Pot Luck Picnic Jul 10 Sun, 4:30p, Stricker's.

3. The Catholic Bill of Rights produced by the recent American Catholic Council in Detroit has been posted for your review.

4. Peace Museum, a Discussion of Future Directions, Jun 29, 6:30p. See TomS for details.

5. Keeping the community in prayer ... see Fast Forward Through July below.

Homily:
20110626 - John 20:19-23 - 14 min - 00 MB

Next Week (Jul 03):

First Reading - MarkS

Second Reading - DianneM

Cantor -

Refreshments - Team 7

FAST FORWARD THROUGH JULY

LBC: Announcements 20110619

2011-06-19T13:52:00.001-04:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday Jun 19

20 attended

Announcements:

1. Reminder: Day of Giving, El Mason, 11a to 2p, Jun 12.

2. Pam thanked the community as outgoing president and expressed gratitude for the wonderful gift that working with the members has been for her.

3. Frank brought Iris corms to share.

Previously:

1. Safe Church training: July 9.

Homily:
20110612 - John 20:19-23 - 11 min - 21 MB
20110619 - John 3:16-18 - 18 min - 33 MB

Next Week (Jun 26):

First Reading - EdL

Second Reading - JohnS

Cantor - SteveM

Refreshments - Team 6

LBC: Announcements 20110612

2011-06-13T08:12:00.002-04:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday Jun 12

27 attended

Announcements:

1. Patty expressed her appreciation to Pam for doing two terms as president. Pam's term of office will expire soon.

2. Safe Church training: July 9

3. Strickers are planning a community cookout for July 10. Mark your calendars.

4. Sunday of Giving will be next Sunday at El Mason.

Homily:
20110612 - John 20:19-23 - 11 min - 21 MB

Next Week (Jun 19):

First Reading - LeonB

Second Reading - DianneM

Cantor -

Refreshments - Team 4

LBC: Announcements 20110605

2011-06-06T07:44:00.002-04:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday Jun 05

22 attended

Announcements:

1. Sunday, June 5 - NVC meets at 12:00n.

2. Jun 9 Thu, Book Group Meeting, 6:30p at Pam's. Contact Pam if you plan on attending.

3. Jun 12 Sun, Liturgy Meeting, 9a.

4. DignityUSA seeks auction items for the upcoming convention. See Pam if you would like to donate an auction item.

5. The League of Women Voters is sponsoring a Town Hall Meeting on S.B. 5 (eliminates Collective Bargaining rights for public employees) David's Church (Assembly Hall), Jun 6 Mon 7p.

6. Sunday of Giving: Sunday, June 19 from 11:00a to 2:00p at El Meson. Admission $28.00 (($10 goes to charity of your choice: Circles, Human Race Theater, or For Love of Children). Call 859-8229 to make reservations. See Tom S for more details.

7. Happy Anniversary Don and Doug.

Homily:
20110605 - John 17:1-11a - 12 min - 23 MB

Next Week (Jun 12):

First Reading - DickY

Second Reading - MarkS

Cantor - DonS

Refreshments - Team 5

LBC: Announcements 20110529

2011-06-01T07:47:00.002-04:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday May 29

22 attended

Announcements:

1. Jun 4 Sat 10a. Natalie Barney Marker Rededication. Cooper Park. Starting spot for Pride Parade.

2. Saturday, June 4, 11:00 line up; 12:00 step off for Pride Parade.

3. Sunday, June 5 - NVC meets at 12:00n.

4. Sunday of Giving: Sunday, June 19 from 11:00a to 2:00p at El Meson. Admission $28.00 (($10 goes to charity of your choice: Circles, Human Race Theater, or For Love of Children). Call 859-8229 to make reservations. See Tom S for more details.

5. Book Group meeting Thursday, June 9 at 6:30p. Place to be determined.

6. LBC Pride dinner tables are filled. (June 25th) We are trying to see if we have enough people to get another one. So far, 3 more people have expressed interest. The tables seat 10. If you want to go and sit with our group, see Pam, Doug or Don. Please let us know ASAP.

7. Lots of blank spaces to sign up to read or cantor. Many choices available.

8. Safe Church Training, registration is open. See Pam.

Homily:
20110529 - John 14:15-20 - 11 min - 21 MB

Next Week (Jun 6):

First Reading -

Second Reading - BillV

Cantor - SteveM

Refreshments - Team 3

LBC: Announcements 20110522

2011-05-23T06:16:00.001-04:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday May 22

26 attended

Announcements:

1. New officers are: Pres - Patty S, VP - Don S, Sec - Phil F, Treas - Doug G. New term begins in July.

2. Anyone interested in staffing the Courthouse Square Pride table June 4 see Pam

3. Natalie Barney marker rededication was rescheduled. We're trying to confirm that it will be June 4 at 10:00a.

5. Food crews: If you bring creamer to church on your serving day, take it home again. It is spoiling in the refrigerator.

6. Book club will be sceduling another meeting date soon.

Homily:
20110522 - John 14:1-12 - 15 min - 27 MB

Next Week (May 29):

First Reading - UlrikeS

Second Reading - SteveM

Cantor - DonS

Refreshments - Team 2

2011-05-16T11:05:00.000-04:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday May 15

29 attended

Announcements:

1. The Refreshment Teams have been reconstituted. The new list is posted on the bulletin board.

2. Volunteers are needed; readers, and cantors. Please sign up now.

3. The community has an Assistance Request form now. The form can be used by individuals or organizations who would like help from the community. Please see Ed if you would like a form.

4. Safe Church Training has been scheduled for Jul 9 Sat, 9:00a. The training will last through the morning and afternoon. Please see Pam if you would like to attend.

5. Pride Dinner tickets are $40. See Doug. If you would like sit at an LBC table during the Pride Dinner you must purchase one of the tickets from Doug.

6. LBC was featured in an National Catholic Reporter article on Thu. Ann posted a photocopy of the article on the board.

7. Mary Jo celebrates her birthday this week. Happy Birthday Mary Jo!

8. The first quarter tithe recipients will be Rainbow World Fund and the Dayton Peace Museum.

Homily:
20110515 - John 10:1-10 - 14 min - 26 MB

Next Week (May 22):

First Reading - JohnS

Second Reading - EdL
Cantor - SteveM

Refreshments - Team 1 (Reconstituted Team 1)

LBC: Breath of the Spirit 20110508

2011-05-09T21:15:00.000-04:00

Richard forwards this week's Breath of the Spirit.

From: Peggy Burns
Sent: Wednesday, May 4, 2011 8:30 AM
Subject: Breath of the Spirit 5.8.11

If Jesus' resurrection is the most important part of our faith, where and how is he the most alive and among us? Luke's Emmaus narrative provides us with a black and white answer.
DignityUSA: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Catholics
Breath of the Spirit

Pastoral, Liturgical, Teaching, and Social Justice Moments brought to you by DignityUSA.

Breath of the Spirit is our electronic spiritual and liturgical resource for our members and potential members. Nothing can replace your chapter or other faith community but we hope you will find further support here for integrating your spirituality with your sexuality and all the strands of your life.

http://www.dignityusa.org/breath

RVC's Weekly Spiritual Essay
MAY 8, 2011: THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER

Readings:
Acts 2:14, 22-33
I Peter 1:17-21
Luke 24:13-35

Because of the tabernacles in our churches, we Catholics could easily miss some of what Luke is trying to tell us in today's gospel pericope.

Reserving the Blessed Sacrament is a rather late development in the church's history. As a seminarian in Rome in the mid-60s, I'd sometimes participate in a game of "find the original tabernacle" in some of the eternal city's oldest churches. Most of the time there was no tabernacle to find. At most there'd be a small metal door covering a hollowed out area in a wall or pillar in which pieces of the Eucharistic bread earmarked for the sick or imprisoned were kept. Never were these in a central place, or constructed in such a way that the faithful could gather for "Eucharistic devotion" in front of them.

Well-known theologian Karl Rahner was convinced that the earliest Christians believed the risen Jesus was only present in the Eucharistic bread and wine as long as the Eucharistic community was present. When the Lord's Supper was finished, they seemed to think he was no longer present in any "leftovers," except in those earmarked pieces I mentioned above. They knew nothing about a "generic presence" of Jesus which could be kept secure and unchanging in a special revered receptacle. Thus they saw no reason to have tabernacles.

Even during my Christmas homilies, I always remind the community that Christmas can never be compared to Easter. If the Galilean carpenter we imitate hadn't risen from the dead, we never would have started celebrating his birth. That's why Luke's Peter puts the resurrection at the center of his Acts Pentecost speech. "God raised this Jesus;" Peter proclaims, "of this we are all witnesses."

The author of I Peter agrees. This anonymous writer quickly cuts to the heart of Christian belief. "He (Jesus) was known from the foundation of the world but revealed in the final time for you, who through him believe in God who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God."

If Jesus' resurrection is the most important part of our faith, where and how is he the most alive and among us? Luke's Emmaus narrative provides us with a black and white answer.

Notice how Jesus starts his encounter with his "wrong-way" disciples. "Beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the Scriptures." Commentators frequently refer to his use of Scripture as the "Liturgy of the Word." It's eventually followed by the disciples urging him to stay with them, even sharing a meal: the "Liturgy of the Bread." "It happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him ..." The risen Jesus surfaces in the action we most anticipate finding him: the Eucharist.

Of course, following early Christian belief, he immediately "vanished from their sight." The understanding is that he'll again be recognizable the next time they gather for the Lord's Supper. It's important that Luke has the two tell their fellow disciples that he was made known to them not in the bread, but in the breaking of the bread; in the whole action of sharing a Eucharistic meal.

For good reason our diocesan cathedral, remodeled immediately after Vatican II, located its tabernacle in a special Blessed Sacrament Chapel, distinct from the area in which the community normally gathers on weekends to break bread. Though we certainly believe in Jesus' presence in the reserved Eucharistic bread, back then, fresh from the council's liturgical insights and dependence on Scripture, we didn't want that reserved presence to be a distraction to our surfacing the risen Jesus in our midst during the actual celebration of the Eucharist. We were encouraged to experience him/her in a way different from his tabernacle presence.

LBC: Announcements 20110508

2011-05-09T08:17:00.003-04:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday May 8

25 attended

Announcements:

1. Board Meeting. May 15 Sun, 8:30a.

2. Pride dinner tickets are available for $40. See Doug G. You must buy your ticket from Doug to sit at the LBC tables. The dinner is June 25th.

3. Christ Episcopal youth group is having a fund-raiser "30 Hour Fast". Please donate food or cash by May 13th. Donations can be made at the church office.

4. The book club will be scheduling another meeting to discuss, "The Case for God" by Karen Armstrong.

5. Don S is celebrating his birthday today. Happy Birthday, Don.

6. Dick Y is collecting signatures to place a repeal of SB 5 on the ballot. See him if you wish to sign the petition.

7. Bob B's birthday on the list is incorrect. It should be May 26.

8. Any one interested in Safe Church training...see Pam D.

9. Non-violent Communication. May 1 Sun, 12:00n.

Homily:
20110508 - Luke 24:13-35 - 14 min - 26 MB

Next Week (May 15):

First Reading - Mary Jo P

Second Reading - PamD
Cantor - DonS

Refreshments - Team 8

LBC: Christ Episcopal Food Drive This Sunday

2011-05-06T20:40:00.001-04:00

Christ Episcopal Food Drive This Sunday

Christ Episcopal Church's Youth Group will be participating in a 30-hour famine to gain a first-hand experience of hunger, something that (sadly) many people in our own community experience every day. They will learn about hunger in the world and in our local area. A flyer is attached.

Living Beatitudes has been invited to participate by contributing to their associated food drive. Food items and money collected will go to St. Andrew's Episcopal Church Food Pantry, 1060 Salem Ave. Items will be collected THIS SUNDAY, MAY 8^TH. You can bring them to our worship space and we will ensure that they are taken to the proper destination. Items may also be brought to the office by May 13. Financial donations will also be accepted, made payable to: Christ Episcopal Church (30 Hour Famine)

Items that are particularly needed include:

Powdered and Canned Milk

Canned Meats

Tuna

Chicken

Ham

Dried Beef

Canned Fruits

Canned Vegetables

Canned Soups/Stews

Canned Pasta Sauce

Dry Goods

Cereal

Crackers

Pasta

Rice

Toilet Paper

Bar Soap

Shampoo

Laundry Soap

Dish Soap

Toothpaste

Toothbrushes

Deodorant

Given the extraordinary suppoort that Christ Episcopal Church has shown to our community during our recent stressful situation, it would be great if we could make a special effort to participate in this worthwhile endeavor. Please contact Ed Lehman for further information.

LBC: DignityUSA Statement (2011April 25)

2011-05-05T07:38:00.001-04:00

April 25, 2011—DignityUSA released this statement today from its president, Mark Matson:

"In recent days, Dignity USA has assisted Dignity Dayton and its Living Beatitudes Community in investigating a recent complaint against Ellis Harsham, a laicized Catholic priest who has led worship in their community once a month.

"In the course of this investigation, DignityUSA has formally learned from the Archdiocese of Cincinnati that there is a substantiated claim of sexual abuse against Mr. Harsham. He will no longer serve as a leader at Living Beatitudes or any other community associated with DignityUSA. We have no reason to believe that any child associated with Dignity Dayton has been harmed.

"We support Dignity Dayton's work to implement safe church guidelines and training at Living Beatitudes and urge all of our affiliated chapters to follow DignityUSA policy by doing the same. The safety of families and children is essential to DignityUSA's mission and ministry, and our longstanding policy on abuse prevention is unambiguous. DignityUSA leaders are available to consult with any of our affiliated chapters that need assistance in implementing safe church practices and programs. We have directed all of our Chapters to review the policy with their leadership, to check on the status of their presiders, and to notify us immediately if there are questions about potential charges against anyone who leads Chapter worship."

LBC: Announcements 20110424

2011-04-25T07:22:00.002-04:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday April 24

? attended

Announcements:

1. Non-violent Communication. May 1 Sun, 12:00n.

2. The Book Group is reading The Case for God by Karen Armstrong. (Amazon, gBooks) The next discussion will take place May 2 Mon, 7:00p at DougG and DonS's.

Homily:
20110424 - John 20:1-9 - not recorded

Next Week (May 01):
First Reading - DickY

Second Reading - DougG
Cantor - DonS

Refreshments - Team 6

LBC: Statement April 24

2011-04-24T21:30:00.001-04:00

April 24, 2011, Dayton, Ohio—The Living Beatitudes Community released this statement today from its president, Pamela Dolence:

"The Living Beatitudes Community is a small, informal group of Christians in the Catholic tradition. Recently the role of Ellis Harsham, a laicized Catholic priest with a credible allegation of sexual misconduct in his past, in leading worship once a month has led to questions about our policies and procedures regarding misconduct.

"On the evening of April 15, a former member of Living Beatitudes brought Mr. Harsham's history to the attention of a Living Beatitudes leader. Although some of our members had been aware of allegations against Mr. Harsham, it was not until our community's leaders began to investigate the complaint that we formally learned from the Archdiocese of Cincinnati that there is a substantiated claim of sexual abuse against him. Our board met on the morning of April 17 to address this issue. Mr. Harsham will no longer serve as a worship leader.

"As Living Beatitudes Community transitions from being a house church to a more organized religious community, we realize that we must put safe church procedures and training in place to ensure that we adhere to DignityUSA's policy and keep everyone in our midst safe. On April 20, our board met to begin that work, which we take very seriously and intend to complete quickly. We are grateful for this wake-up call, especially because we believe it came without harm being done to any children in our community.

"As we work to put appropriate procedures and training in place, we ask for prayers for our community."

LBC: Announcements 20110417

2011-04-20T13:08:00.002-04:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday April 17

28 attended

Announcements:

1. Seder 6:30p - Christ Episcopal Fellowship Hall - $6

2. Easter Sunday Mass will be at 10a.

Homily:
20110417 - Matthew 26:14 to 27:66 - 18 min - 16 MB

Next Week (Apr 24):
First Reading - EdL

Second Reading - DianneM

Refreshments - Team 5

LBC: Breath of the Spirit 20110410

2011-04-13T11:00:00.001-04:00

Breath of the Spirit 20110410
(from DignityUSA)

Readings:

Ezekiel 37:12-14

Romans 8:8-11

John 11:1-45

No one's 100% certain what's going to happen when we die. We need only listen carefully to today's three readings to discover that our ancestors in the faith had differing ideas about this unavoidable event. As a biblically-formed people, we must be careful not to uncritically accept some catechism explanations about the afterlife, explanations based more on a desire to reconcile contradictory biblical theologies than on an honest attempt to explain the reasons behind those divinely inspired, different beliefs.

In my grade school catechism classes, for instance, I learned that "the gates of heaven were closed" because of Adam and Eve's sin. No one could get into heaven until Jesus died for our sins. Only later did I discover that teaching was based on the observation that, except in the late Wisdom writings, none of the Hebrew Scriptures' important people were ever spoken of as "going to heaven" after they died.

Scholars tell us the basic reason for the sacred authors' silence about heaven, as we know it, wasn't because they thought the gates of heaven were closed. Until those late Wisdom books were written - a century or so before Jesus' birth - they simply had no concept of heaven. As we know from the Wisdom readings employed in our funeral liturgies, once heavenly belief entered their theology, most Jews believed that those faithful to Yahweh in this world continued to live with Yahweh in heaven, even before Jesus' death and resurrection.

That means in the 6th century BCE, when Ezekiel's Yahweh speaks about opening graves and raising people from the dead, God's not referring to having certain individuals live forever in heaven. Yahweh is simply promising to return those Jews to Israel who died before being liberated from the Babylonian Exile. The understanding is that, after they live some years in the Holy land, they'll once again die.

It's important also to note that part of the reason behind our belief in a particular and a general judgment comes from differing opinions in the Christian Scriptures about what happens to Christians who die before Jesus' Second Coming.

In I Thessalonians - the earliest Christian writing we possess - it's clear Paul thought dead Christians would have to spend a short time in the grave until Jesus arrived and raised them up to a new life. We presume Mark and Matthew, who expected his Second Coming in their life-time, shared Paul's belief.

Things change with Luke. He takes for granted Jesus won't return until he and everyone in his community have died. He believes that, at the moment of death, Jesus' followers experience a "personal Parousia:" Jesus comes for them and immediately takes them into heaven with him. That's why his Jesus can assure the good thief, "This day you will be with me in paradise." If the good thief were in Mark and Matthew, their Jesus would have promised, "After a short time in the grave, you'll be with me in paradise." Luke's personal Parousia eventually develops into our particular judgment; Paul, Mark and Matthew's Second Coming becomes the general judgment, even though our sacred authors thought of them as either/or, not both/and.

But, as we hear in today's gospel pericope, John's Jesus goes one step further by assuring Martha, "I am the resurrection and the life; those who believe in me even if they die will live, and those who live and believe in me will never die." John's convinced that what we're looking for in the future we somehow already have right here and now. His Jesus would have told the good thief, "Once you believe in me, you're already in paradise."

Perhaps the best way to approach life after death is just to fall back on Paul's insight: "If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit dwelling in you." I suggest we let Jesus work out the details.

LBC: Announcements 20110410

2011-04-11T10:52:00.001-04:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday April 10

26 attended

Announcements:

1. Clean up Crew - Apr 19 Tue, 1p. (Help get the LBC space ready-for-spring clean.)

2. Board Meeting. Apr 17 Sun, 8:30a.

3. Holy Week Schedule
a. Apr 17 Sun - Palm Sunday - Mass - 10a
b. Apr 21 Thu - Holy Thu - Seder 6:30p - Christ Episcopal Fellowship Hall - $6
(reflection to follow in LBC)
c. Apr 22 Fri - Good Friday - 6:30p - LBC
d. Apr 23 Sat - Easter Vigil - 8:00p - LBC
e. Apr 24 Sun - Easter Sun Mass - 10a

4. LBC Board Elections are coming. See John or Pam if you would like to run for office.

5. Thank you Ed for printing and hanging the Mission, Values, and Beatitudes posters.

Homily:
20110410 - John 11:1-45 - 17 min - 30 MB

20110406 - Meditation Wednesday Lenton Service

Next Week (Apr 10):
First Reading - AnnW

Second Reading - BillV

Cantor - SteveM

Refreshments - Team 4

LBC: Announcements 20110403

2011-04-04T15:23:00.002-04:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday April 03

24 attended

Announcements:

1. Non-Violent Communication today, Apr 3 Sun, 12:15p. The group will discuss the meeting schedule.

2. Lenton Service. Apr 6 Wed. Soup at 6:30. Service starts at 7p.

3. Liturgy Committee Meeting, Apr 10 Sun, 9a.

4. James Nagel, Actor and Playwright in two events:

Apr 10 Sun, 2-3p - Thomas Merton: an Epiphany - Dayton International Peace Museum, 208 W Monument Ave.
Apr 11 Mon, 7-8p - Stories From the Road [to Emmaus] - Precious Blood New Chapel, 4880 Denlinger Rd.
No attendance fee required, free will offerings appreciated

5. The Book Group is reading The Case for God by Karen Armstrong. (Amazon, gBooks) The next discussion will take place May 2 Mon, 7:00p at DougG's.

6. Dayton Pride Dinner tickets will likely cost $40-45/person.

7. Beginning on Palm Sunday, DebbieS will become an interim full-presider. Debbie is working with the current presiders, board and liturgy committee members to establish a training protocol for those who are called to worship leadership and have not had the benefits of traditional ordination. Contact Debbie or any liturgy or board member if would like to know more.

8. Ann recommends The American Catholic Council Conference, June 10-12, Detroit MI. Sessions include: Financial Transparency and Accountability, Models of Effecting Systemic Catholic Change, Sacremental Eligibility, Empowering Women in the Church, Primacy of Conscience. Speakers include Joan Chittister, Hans Kung, Jeanetter Rodriguez. Marianne Duddy-Burke of DignityUSA leads a break-out session. Registration. Early registration deadline: Apr 10.

9. The Beatitudes, Mission, Vision, and Values statements will be posted on the wall of our fellowship space.

Homily:
20110403 - John 9:1-41 - 16 min - 29 MB

Next Week (Apr 10):
First Reading - DominicD

Second Reading - LeahD

Cantor - DonS

Refreshments - Team 3

LBC: Breath of the Spirit 20110403

2011-04-01T07:47:00.001-04:00

From DignityUSA ...

Breath of the Spirit: 20110403

Fourth Sunday of Lent

Readings:

I Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a

Ephesians 5:8-14

John 9:1-41

Almost everyone knows that John differs from his three evangelistic predecessors when he describes Jesus' miracles. Mark, Matthew and Luke usually demand a person have faith before Jesus can do miraculous things in his or her life. No faith; no miracle. John, on the other hand, expects faith to surface only after Jesus performs the miracle.

Teachers of John frequently employ today's gospel pericope to demonstrate this theological characteristic. Notice, the blind beggar never asks Jesus to restore his sight. The Galilean carpenter simply makes mud out of spit and dirt, unexpectedly rubs it in the poor man's eyes, then tells him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam!"

Even after his cure, it takes the beggar a while before he acquires faith in Jesus as God. When the authorities begin to question him, he refers to his benefactor as just "the man called Jesus." Then, after being interrogated further, he ups his appraisal to the point where he eventually states, "He is a prophet." Only at the end of the narrative does John have him profess faith in Jesus as "Son of Man," proclaiming, "I do believe, Lord," and worships him.

Always conscious of his readers, the gospel writer then tells us why he included this particular miracle in his work: "Jesus said, 'I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind.'"

As we so frequently hear in our Sacred Scriptures, faith is rooted in seeing things other people overlook, an aspect of biblical faith perfectly demonstrated in our I Samuel reading.

Yahweh sends Samuel to Jesse's home in Bethlehem to anoint Israel's next king - a rather touchy, dangerous mission since Saul, the country's first king, is still alive. Looking at Eliab, Samuel sees the same physical characteristics Saul possesses, a man standing head and shoulders above everyone else, a person of "lofty stature." He's ready to pour the royal oil over his head when Yahweh steps in and reminds Samuel, "Not as humans see does God see, because humans see the appearance but Yahweh looks into the heart." Samuel eventually anoints the runt of the litter, the kid who wasn't even invited to the party: David.

This experience of God picking the younger over the older influenced some of the Genesis' best known theology. Since its three main sources were composed after David's reign, rarely is the first-born in patriarchal families Yahweh's chosen one. Our sacred authors reasoned, "If Yahweh could choose against type in the case of David, then Yahweh could have done so before and probably will do it after." It's all a matter of knowing what to look for.

The Pauline disciple responsible for Ephesians hits this faith-nail on the head. "You were once in darkness," he or she reminds the community, "but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of the light!"

The risen Jesus calls us to be light in a world filled with darkness. Our mission is first to open our own eyes, then help others open theirs. We're here to expose a world existing all around us; a world we rarely notice.

When we do this, we become part of a consistent biblical tradition. Yahweh always demands we focus on reality as Yahweh focuses; the same way Yahweh's Son Jesus teaches us to focus.

Two thousand years ago, motivated by this insight, an early Christian created our beautiful Ephesians hymn: "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light!"

If any of you have yet to read the first chapters of Chabris and Simons' The Invisible Gorilla, I'd suggest you'd do so soon. They'll go a long way in helping you understand today's three readings.

LBC: Breath of the Spirit 20110327

2011-04-01T06:10:00.001-04:00

From DignityUSA ...

Breath of the Spirit: 20110327

Third Sunday of Lent

Readings:

Exodus 17:3-7

Romans 5:1-2,5-8

John 4:5-42

Every biblical author has unique characteristics in his or her writings which distinguish them from other writers; traits which surface even when their compositions are intermingled with other writings. Today's Exodus pericope provides a classic example. Though the Torah (the Bible's first five books) are made up of at least four distinct sources, even an "amateur" can pick out the Yahwistic author's work when reading those passages which describe the Israelites' forty-year wilderness experience.

Whenever we hear those recently freed Hebrew slaves griping, complaining, or grumbling about their wilderness predicament, we know the narrative is from the Yahwistic source. That author - who many modern scholars believe is a woman - often addressed a problem with which many of us can identify. Given a choice, we'd prefer living during a different, more significant period of history than the humdrum one we experience today. Especially if we're people of faith, we'd like to have participated in such events as the Exodus, or been one of those fortunate individuals sitting at Jesus' Last Supper table. Our faith would certainly be stronger and more committed if we'd actually experienced such "saving" events and people.

This desire seems to be behind the Yahwistic author's frequent mention of Israelite griping, complaining and grumbling during the Exodus. She tried to show that it took just as much - if not more - faith to notice God present and working in the lives of the Exodus community as it does to surface God in our present lives.

So when anyone in the Yahwistic author's community began to excuse their lack of faith on time and place, she'd look them in the eye and reply, "Let me tell you about some things that happened during the Exodus."

In this particular passage, it's significant that what people are griping about - water - is actually as close to the rocks that are all around them. The very thing hiding the water contained the water. Yahweh is just as much in the midst of 10th century BCE Jews as Yahweh was in the midst of the complaining 13th century Jews. In both situations, God's presence could only be surfaced by people of faith.

In many ways, John's Jesus is working on the same level as the Yahwistic theologian. The very thing the Samaritan woman is willing to spend time and effort to acquire, Jesus offers for free. "Everyone who drinks this (well) water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him and her a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

No wonder the somewhat confused woman responds, "Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water."

The evangelist is teaching his community that what we most desire - life, symbolized by water - Jesus freely offers us. The problem is that only a few are willing to pay the price of committing themselves to imitate Jesus' dying and rising; the very thing that opens up the source of life. It's right in front of us, but we never notice it; just like Moses' water from the rock.

As usual, Paul provides some of the best insights on the subject. We not only find it difficult to notice God around us, we don't even notice God in us.

Listen again to those well-known words: "God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us." Obviously Jesus saw something in us that we rarely see in ourselves: God's presence. Even in our sinful selves, that presence makes us more than worthy to be "died for."

If more of us priests could be convinced to proclaim, "God is with you!" during the Eucharist, instead of the biblically incorrect, "God be with you!" maybe there'd be a lot less griping, complaining and grumbling.

LBC: Announcements 20100327

2011-04-01T06:04:00.008-04:00

Living Beatitudes Community
Sunday March 27
30 attended

Announcements:

1. Patty Stricker announced that next Sunday we will have a flyer about our Seder service to take place Holy Thursday. People will be asked to sign up ahead of time and, if possible, give a $6 donation. We will be asking for volunteers for set up, clean up, etc.

2. Book club will meet at Pam's house on Mar 31 Thursday this week at 6:30 P.M.

3. Dick announced that Equally Blessed, a coalition of four groups (DignityUSA, Call to Action, Fortunate Families, and New Ways Ministry), will present a congressional briefing this coming Wednesday at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, DC. An impressive panel will be there to educate congress members on "recent studies (that) demonstrate that a majority of Catholics in America are accepting and welcoming of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people and support public policies that promote LGBT equality." Learn more about this briefing at http://www.dignityusa.org/.

Previously:

1. Register now for the DignityUSA Convention, July 1-4, 2011, Washington DC. Registration and room discounts expire Apr 1.

Homily:

20110327 - John 4:5-42 - 11 min - 21 MB

20110323 - Meditation - Wednesday Lenton Service

Next Week (Apr 03):
First Reading - UlrickeS
Second Reading - AnnW
Cantor - needed
Refreshments - Team 2

LBC: Joesph and the Technicolour Dream Coat (discount)

2011-03-30T06:04:00.002-04:00

Dick forwards ... (~Phil.) If anyone in LBC would like to see my show at Playhouse South (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat) for which I am doing a minor role, there is a special for this coming Sunday (2:00 P.M. performance), the details of which are outlined below. Please pass this info along for me. Sunday matinees usually have small audiences, so we're trying to entice church-goers to see this musical. I know we don't have "church bulletins," but anything that has our LBC logo on it would be acceptable. To learn more about the show, one can go to http://www.playhousesouth.org/. Dick

Here are the details for Church Sunday- 1) Anyone with a Church Bulletin who comes to the show on Sunday April 3rd will receive $2 off the regular Ticket Price 2) Any Groups of 6+ (from a local Church) that makes reservations or shows up at the door (if they show up at the door, they need a Church Bulletin) will be able to purchase tickets for $8 each. For Reservations ahead of time the need to email Becki Norgaard or call the Reservation line at 888-262-3792

I am a proud member of Dignity/USA, an organization of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered Catholics and our families and friends. To learn more about it go to http://www.dignityusa.org/ or call 1-800-877-8797.

"If you're conservative when you're young, you've been conned. If you're still conservative when you're old, you've spent a lifetime not paying attention."

LBC: DignityUSA announces a Congressional Briefing on Catholic LGBT issues

2011-03-24T06:09:00.001-04:00

From Marianne Duddy-Burke, Executive Director, DignityUSA:

Executive Director, DignityUSADignityUSA is one of four organizations co-sponsoring the first ever Congressional Briefing on Catholic LGBT issues. We are particularly proud of the panel we've assembled for this historic event. Sr. Simone Campbell represents NETWORK, the Catholic social justice lobbying group. This is the first time NETWORK has ever spoken out on LGBT issues. Rev. Bryan Massingale is the immediate past president of the Catholic Theological Society of America. Robbie Jones is principle researcher on the study I sent earlier today.

DignityUSA will be represented at this event by President Mark Matson, Vice President Lourdes Rodriguez, Past Presidents John Hager, Bob Miailovich, Sam Sinnett, and myself. A number of members from our DC and NoVA Chapters will also be present.

Thank you!
Marianne

Marianne Duddy-Burke
Executive Director, DignityUSA

Marianne asks:

1. Keep this event in prayer

2. Help by calling your Representatives and Senators. Ecouraging them to attend or send staff. Knowing that this event is important to constituents could help build attendance.

LBC: Breath of the Spirit 20110320

2011-03-21T05:59:00.001-04:00

Breath of the Spirit 20110320

Readings:

Genesis 12:l-4a

II Timothy l:8b-10

Matthew 17:1-9

Ever notice that no one in Scripture is ever called by God to stay exactly where he or she is, either geographically or psychologically? Today's Genesis pericope sets the pattern for all subsequent biblical calls.

Yahweh said to Abraham, "Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk and from your father's house to a land that I will show you."

Though God promises several significant perks, nothing kicks in unless Abraham moves. That's why the sacred author ends this pericope with the comment, "Abraham went as Yahweh directed him."

Because all disciples of God have agreed to form a relationship with God, they're constantly "on the move." As we know from marriage, authentic relationships constantly change, grow and evolve. If they remained static, there'd be no need for vows in the marriage ceremony. We vow our commitment because we know we'll always be dealing with "new people." We're continually discovering new dimensions in our self and in the person we love. Relationships which don't change in response to those discoveries are dead. Chairman Mao was absolutely correct when he observed, "You can't swim in the same river twice."

This insight seems to be at the heart of Matthew's transfiguration passage. Peter, James and John are experiencing Jesus in a new way. "He was transfigured before them." Seeing him standing between Moses, the lawgiver, and Elijah, the prophet, they now recognize him as being the fulfillment of all Scripture. (In Scripture, the Bible is simply referred to as "The Law and the Prophets.") Yet immediately after receiving this new insight about their mentor, "when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone." No matter where it leads them, their relationship with Jesus is the most important dimension of their lives.

The disciple of Paul responsible for II Timothy agrees. He or she reminds the community, "(God) saved us and called us to a holy life, not according to our works but according to his own design ...." In other words, by accepting Jesus' call, we're committing ourselves to live a life different from those around us; a life in which we're continually on the road Jesus asks us to travel. We have no fear of changing our perspectives on life because, like Abraham, we're always focused on the person who called us.

My grade school religion teachers often assured me that, as a Catholic, I belonged to the "true church." The knack of other Christian churches to change their rules and regulations through the centuries was one sign they were "illegitimate." We Catholics, of course, had never changed from the day Jesus "founded" us.

Those who taught such things certainly knew nothing of Scripture or Christian history. All students of the Christian Scriptures are familiar with two drastic changes in the first century alone. We quickly went from being a Jewish church to a Gentile church and from expecting Jesus' Second Coming in just a few years to presuming it wouldn't happen in our lifetime.

Those changes were just the beginning. One need only page through Charles Curran's 2003 book Change in Official Catholic Moral Teachings to learn how our church has continually moved from one moral position to another; always because of a deeper understanding of God and ourselves. Vatican II's teaching on slavery, for instance, marked a complete turnabout from Pius IX's beliefs and teachings a century before. It took a drastic moral shift in the 16th century to permit us even to open a savings account. And all 20th century Catholics are well-aware of the church's about-face on democracy and religious freedom.

If we're not moving in our faith, we're certainly not responding to Jesus' call. We're guilty of giving ourselves over to an institution instead of to a person.

LBC: Announcements 20110320

2011-03-21T05:58:00.001-04:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday March 20

29 attended

Announcements:

1. Non-Violent Communication. Mar 20 Sun, 12:15p.

2. Lenton Services; Mar 23 Wed, and Apr 6.
Soup and Bread at 6:30p.
Services start at 7p.

3. Community Action Poverty Simulation (CAPS) Mar 27 Thu, 6:30 to 8:30p, Springfield OH. Attendees are given character roles. Individuals learn about poverty as their character is challenged by realistic issues during 4 15 minute sessions representing one week of life. Contact TomS for more information if you wish to attend.

4. MichaelM and JoeG celebrate birthdays this week. Happy Birthday!

Previously:

1. The Book Group has selected The Case for God by Karen Armstrong. (Amazon, gBooks) March 31 Thu, 6:30p. Place to be determined.

2. Register now for the DignityUSA Convention, July 1-4, 2011, Washington DC. Registration and room discounts expire Apr 1.

Homily:
20110320 - Matthew 17:1-9 - 10 min - 19 MB

Next Week (Mar 27):
First Reading - TomS

Second Reading - PattyS

Cantor - SteveM

Refreshments - Team 1

LBC: DOMA Laid Bare - article.

2011-03-14T06:11:00.001-04:00

Richard recommends:

DOMA Laid Bare: House Republicans defense of DOMA will be rooted in their own ugly history. Linda Hirsham. Slate 20110310-14:27.

--
Phil.

LBC: Announcements 20110313

2011-03-13T15:24:00.001-04:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday March 13

29 attended

Announcements:

1. Lenton Services; Mar 23, and Apr 6.
Soup and Bread at 6:30p.
Services start at 7p.

2. The Book Group has selected The Case for God by Karen Armstrong. (Amazon, gBooks)
March 31 Thu, 6:30p. Place to be determined.

3. Board meeting, Mar 20 Sun, 8:30a.

4. Bob has brought blue, purple, and pink butterfly bushes. Plant promptly.

Previously:
1. Register now for the DignityUSA Convention, July 1-4, 2011, Washington DC. Registration and room discounts expire Apr 1.

Homily:
20110309 Ash Wednesday - Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
(Meditation - 4 min - 7 MB)
(Service - 33 min - 30 MB)

20110313 - Matthew 4:1-11 - 14 min - 26 MB

Next Week (Mar 20):
First Reading - PamD

Second Reading - DebbieB

Cantor - SteveM

Refreshments - Team 8

LBC: Breath of the Spirit 20110313

2011-03-13T08:43:00.000-04:00

Breath of the Spirit 20110313

Readings:

Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7

Romans 5:12-19

Matthew 4:1-11

Only by knowing the last verse of Genesis 2 can we appreciate today's first reading. The Yahwistic author only tells us that our sinful first parents' "eyes were opened and they realized they were naked," because in that omitted verse she mentions that the newly created man and woman "were naked, but felt no shame." Their sin brought a drastic psychological change into their everyday life.

Back in the late 1960s, prompted by a series of scientific discoveries, Pope Paul VI convened a conference of experts to study the phenomenon of original sin. The traditional way of looking at original sin - a mark on one's soul passed down from parents to children - was beginning to create more questions than answers. Among other things, these Scripture scholars, anthropologists, scientists and theologians had to deal with the possibility that we might not have descended from just one set of original parents. A new term had recently been coined: "polygenesis" - the idea that the human race could have evolved at different times and places. Such a concept demanded we make a major adjustment to our way of treating original sin.

In the end, the conference participants recommended we regard original sin not so much as a mark on our souls as the sinful environment our ancestors bequeathed us; an environment which makes it impossible for each of us not to commit her or his original sin. Our first parents' sin wasn't so much something they did as something they didn't do. Because there were fewer humans "in the beginning," it would have been easier for them to have changed the "intellectual world" in which they lived: the way they and their fellow humans related. By not taking that step, they guaranteed we would be embedded in a sinful world.

Going back to our Genesis passage, the man and woman were just as naked before their sin as after. But somehow, sin changed their world, forcing them to look at their nakedness from a different perspective. What was once normal, now creates embarrassment.

Convinced Jesus alone reversed the process our first parents started, our Synoptic evangelists begin his public ministry with temptations. He refuses to cave in to the same temptations we presume overcame them - the temptations all humans face, those which create the atmosphere we face every day of our lives.

How did Matthew and Luke know Jesus' specific temptations? No one was in that wilderness except Jesus and Satan. The answer is simple: because Jesus became one with us, the writers presumed he experienced the same temptations we do. Each of us is inclined only to take care of our material needs; never going deeper than externals. We're constantly inclined to ignore the nitty gritty aspects of life and daydream about the attention-grabbing spectacular. Or we'd like to have power over others, no matter the cost.

What if we weren't fearful that people around us were giving into those three temptations? We'd certainly be more relaxed and open in our relations with others if we didn't have to worry about them taking advantage of us. This is the world Jesus expects us to create. We're not just to avoid sin; we're do to so much good that the environment we shape by our unique actions will also help others do good, not evil.

Those who think one person can't have an effect on the world in which we live haven't read today's Pauline pericope. Speaking of the effects of Jesus' death and resurrection, Paul states, "Just as through one transgression condemnation came upon all, so through one righteous act, acquittal and life came to all." Never forget that the Apostle presumes all followers of Jesus have become other Christs.

I can't imagine what kind of world we'll pass on to our descendents centuries from now if, through those centuries, each of us imitates the environment-changing life of Jesus of Nazareth.

LBC: Announcements 20110306

2011-03-08T13:37:00.001-05:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday March 06

30 attended

Announcements:

1. ASH WEDNESDAY, Mar 9, 7:00p. The service will last approximately 45 minutes.
(Other Lenton services at 7p include Mar 23, and Apr 6.) (Note: All services start at 7p rather than 6:30p.)

2. Daylight Saving Time begins Sun Mar 13. Ex: 8:00am becomes 9:00a.

3. Joy has returned home from the hospital after emergency gall bladder surgery. Please keep Joy and Megan in your prayers. Joy is recovering well.

4. LauraG authored two books and set them out for sale: Sophia's Book of Hours and Sophia's Rosary. If you have one of the books please return it or pay Laura through DianneM. The books are $10 each.

5. Register now for the DignityUSA Convention, July 1-4, 2011, Washington DC. Registration and room discounts expire Apr 1.

6. SteveM's sisters need your prayer. One sister has been evicted through foreclosure proceedings and the other is adjusting her home-life to help.

7. Liturgy Committee meeting, Mar 13 Sun, 9a.

Homily:
20110306 - Matthew 7:21-27 - 19 min - 18 MB

Next Week (Mar 13):
First Reading - LeonB

Second Reading - MarkS

Cantor - PhilF

Refreshments - Team 7

LBC: Breath of the Spirit 20110306

2011-03-06T08:42:00.000-05:00

Breath of the Spirit 20110306

Readings:

Deuteronomy 11:18, 26-28.32

Romans 3:21-25, 28

Matthew 7:21-27

I have no idea who created the proverb "The road to hell is paved with good intentions," but he or she could have been one of today's sacred authors. Both Deuteronomy's Moses and Matthew's Jesus deal with the phenomenon of people who know what God wants them to do, but who never get around to doing it.

We only have the book of Deuteronomy because its readers' ancestors had experienced the Babylonian Exile - ancient Judaism's equivalent of Pearl Harbor and 9/11 combined. Most Jews thought it could never happen. Even when the Northern kingdom of Israel was overrun by the Assyrians in 722 BCE, and a large percentage of its inhabitants were carted off to Nineveh, Judah and Jerusalem were spared. So when the Babylonians invaded more than a century later, people thought they once again would avoid destruction. Just as Yahweh had stopped Tiglath-pileser at Jerusalem's gates in the 8th century, its inhabitants believed Yahweh would also defeat Nebuchadnezzar in the 6th century. The Chosen People were on a 20 game winning streak.

They were unprepared for the shock of 596 when the Babylonians actually captured Jerusalem; even more unprepared 10 years later when, after a failed revolt, Nebuchadnezzar's army returned to finish the job. Jerusalem was destroyed, its temple turned into a pile of rubble, and all the influential and powerful Jewish leaders and craftsmen deported to Babylon to begin a more than 50 year exile. Things were never the same for Yahweh's biblical people after that disastrous event.

How could such a catastrophe have happened? Had Yahweh deserted Yahweh's people? The author of Deuteronomy came up with an answer: Yahweh's people had deserted Yahweh.

That's why Moses dramatically outlines the distinction between obeying and not obeying Yahweh's commandments. Pre-exilic Jews were offered a blessing or a curse. Because they had refused to carry out God's "statutes and decrees," they were now suffering the curse of deportation.

Matthew's Jesus ends his Sermon on the Mount with a parallel warning. He doesn't threaten his people with exile; he's more concerned with their missing the opportunity of "entering the kingdom of heaven:" experiencing God working in their daily lives. Jesus says something that Luke would later make the mantra of his two volume work. The perfect disciple not only listens to God's word, he or she also carries it out.

"Not everyone," Jesus observes, "who says to me 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of my Father in heaven."

Yet, as important as our actions are, they must be driven by the proper intentions. We must always know what God expects. That's why Moses tells his people, "Bind them (the laws) at your wrist as a sign, and let them be a pendant on your forehead." Though usually given as the biblical basis for "phylacteries," this verse actually goes deeper than the practice of tying small boxes containing Torah regulations on one's forearm and forehead. Yahweh's will should be at the center of our lives, not just something external to those lives.

Paul agrees. He doesn't know how we can be other Christs without imitating the actions of the first Christ. But he also knows the importance of first imitating the mentality of Christ. It's that unique commitment which "justifies" us, even if we can't carry out everything God commands. All Christians are in the same boat. Only when our minds mesh with Jesus' mind can we be certain we're doing what God wants us to do.

It should be clear to almost everyone that some who claim they're acting in the name of God wouldn't recognize God's will, even if it bit them in some conspicuous part of their body.

LBC: Breath of the Spirit 20110227

2011-02-28T05:42:00.001-05:00

Breath of the Spirit
February 27, 2011: Eighth Sunday of the Year

Readings:
Isaiah 49:14-15
I Corinthians 4:1-5
Matthew 6:23-34

Out of all the fears we humans experience, research shows the greatest is the fear of being alone. Many of our other fears disappear or lessen when someone else is around sharing them with us.

We see this in our three Agony in the Garden passages. Jesus begs his companions to "stay awake" and be present to him as he's experiencing great anxiety. He didn't want to have to go through it alone; he simply needed several warm, awake bodies to share his pain that fateful night.

Today's three readings are very significant for anyone who fears being alone.

Deutero-Isaiah echoes the fear of many Jews in the middle of the Babylonian Exile. "Yahweh has forsaken me; Yahweh has forgotten me." If God abandons us, we're really in trouble. That's why Yahweh's next words are so often repeated. "Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you." Though we frequently don't reflect on it, God's closer to us than parents are to their children. God never wants us to live our faith alone.

This conviction is mirrored in the faith of Paul. Reading his seven authentic letters carefully we discover he often was left to fend for himself, especially when it came to his belief that Gentiles didn't have to convert to Judaism before they converted to Christianity. As we know from Paul's letter to the Galatians, even his good friend and fellow missionary, Barnabas, deserted him in Antioch when Peter and others in the community showed their disagreement with Paul's theology and practice by refusing to eat meals with non-Jews. They didn't share Paul's belief that both Gentile-Christians and Jewish-Christians could be equal members of the Body of Christ. Even in the midst of his frequent "aloneness" on this issue, the Apostle is convinced the risen Jesus is so much a part of his unique ministry that he alone can judge him. Only the Christ knows what makes Paul tick. He's always with him.

Matthew's Jesus tells us exactly what to do to experience his risen presence. It all revolves around our focus in life. "You cannot serve two masters. You will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." Those who imitate Jesus must constantly concentrate on Jesus.

We can't let ourselves be snookered into buying into someone else's value system. "Do not worry about your life," Jesus commands, "what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, the body more than clothing?"

Spiritual author John Shea once observed, "Jesus of Nazareth was concerned with answering just three questions: What do you want out of life? Where do you get it? How much does it cost?"

Jesus presumes his Sermon on the Mount followers want to live their lives to the fullest. That means they'll have to acquire a different attitude toward life than most people around them have developed. In order to do so, they'll have to give up the "goodies" which many judge to be the goal of human existence.

Those willing to achieve such a change in focus and make their service of others the centerpiece of their lives will not only live life on a deeper level, they'll always have the risen Jesus as a companion. (Remember he once promised, "Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am in your midst.") It's just a matter of being willing to pay the price of living our lives as he lived his.

Though Jesus' followers share the same fears all other humans experience, it would seem that being left alone by Jesus isn't one of those fears.

LBC: Announcements 20110227

2011-02-27T16:16:00.001-05:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday February 27

24 attended

Announcements:

1. Non-violent Communication, Mar 6 Sun, 12:15p.

2. After the New Testament - Part 2 will continue after lent.

Previously:
1. Book Group has selected The Case for God by Karen Armstrong. (Amazon, gBooks)
March 31 Thu, 6:30p. Place to be determined.

2. Dates ahead: Ash Wednesday Mar 9. Lenton Services Mar 23 and Apr 6, Palm Sunday Apr 17, Seder Apr 21 Thu, Good Friday Apr 22, Easter Vigil Apr 23, Easter Sunday Apr 24.

Homily:
20110227 - Matthew 6:24-34 - 11 min - 20 MB

Next Week (Mar 6):
First Reading - Mary Jo P

Second Reading - BillV

Cantor - needed

Refreshments - Team 4

LBC: Announcements 20110220 (sent again)

2011-02-27T16:15:00.000-05:00

[Several people asked me about last week's announcements.
Here's a second go ...
Phil.]

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday February 20

20 attended

Announcements:

1. Book Group has selected The Case for God by Karen Armstrong. (Amazon, gBooks)
March 31 Thu, 6:30p. Place to be determined.

1. Non-violent Communication, Feb 20 Sun, 12:15p.

2. After the New Testament - next session Feb 22 Tue.
Lecture and interactive discussion series led by Kari and David Wheeler-Reed.
Books: Early Christian Writings by Andrew Louth. (Amazon - $10.20)
Bible (NRSV preferred).
Dates: Feb 22 Tue, 6:30-8p.
Sessions will be held in the Christ Episcopal Church Parish Hall.

Part 2 will continue after lent.

Jan 25 - 88 min - 80 MB
Feb 8 - not recorded

Feb 15 - not recorded

3. The Mission, Vision, and Core Values statements have been revised to correct grammatical errors. See Pam if you would like to read the final versions. The statements will be posted soon.

4. Day of Caring, Feb 27 Sun. The Day of Caring breakfasts, served at Dayton churches, benefit hunger and housing initiatives throughout the city. Tickets are available through Tom. LBC members may purchase a ticket from Tom or donate individually. LBC fellowship refreshments will be available Feb 27 for those who are not able to attend the breakfast.

Homily:
20110220 - Matthew 5:38-48 - 15 min - 13 MB

Next Week (Feb 27):
First Reading - JohnS

Second Reading - EdL

Cantor - TomS

Refreshments - Team 5

LBC: Breath of the Spirit 20110220

2011-02-16T17:46:00.001-05:00

Richard forwards this week's Breath of the Spirit. ~Phil.

From: Peggy Burns
Subject: Breath of the Spirit 2.20.11
Date: Wednesday, February 16, 2011, 8:15 AM

Those who commit themselves to imitating God's holiness not only become other, they also become the presence of God in our midst. No need to go to a special, holy place to experience God among us. God is in our very selves.
DignityUSA: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Catholics
Breath of the Spirit

Pastoral, Liturgical, Teaching, and Social Justice Moments brought to you by DignityUSA.

Breath of the Spirit is our electronic spiritual and liturgical resource for our members and potential members. Nothing can replace your chapter or other faith community but we hope you will find further support here for integrating your spirituality with your sexuality and all the strands of your life.

http://www.dignityusa.org/breath

RVC's Weekly Spiritual Essay
FEBRUARY 20, 2011: SEVENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR

Readings:
Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18
I Corinthians 3:16-23
Matthew 5:38-48

One of the most important lines in Scripture is part of today's first reading. "Yahweh said to Moses, 'Speak to the whole Israelite community and tell them: Be holy, for I, Yahweh, your God am holy."

Matthew's Jesus parallels that line with this Sermon on the Mount command, "Be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect."

Both the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures teach the same basic lesson: followers of God are expected to imitate God. Certainly not an easy endeavor, especially since our Leviticus author labels God "holy." Scholars agree the best way to translate the original Hebrew for holy is "other." God is totally different from you and me; the one entity in our universe who is completely other than we are. That means that, just as Yahweh stands in contrast to all other creation, so we're to stand in contrast to all around us.

The writer of Leviticus gives an example of the otherness Yahweh expects of us. "You shall not bear hatred for your brother or sister in your heart ....take no revenge and cherish no grudge against any of your people. You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Anyone consistently acting in this manner would certainly be judged different, if not crazy.

The problem is that God's otherness is an evolving concept. Jesus demands his followers discover even more holiness in Yahweh than the authors of the Torah surfaced. When he says, "You have heard it said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. ... YOU shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy," he's quoting the Mosaic Law: the 613 regulations all biblical Jews are expected to obey. Jesus expects his disciples to see dimensions in God's personality that his Jewish ancestors hadn't noticed.

"Offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on one cheek, turn the other as well... Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go for two miles Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.... If you only love those who love you, what recompense will you have?"

His reason for this unique behavior again goes back to God. ". . . That you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust." Our actions should never be dictated by the actions of others. That's not how God operates.

Paul takes this insight one step further. When he writes, the Jerusalem temple is still standing. The Roman army wouldn't destroy it until 70 CE - at least ten years after the Apostle's death. .Jews could still enter those sacred precincts and celebrate Yahweh's very special presence in the Holy of Holies. But since Paul evangelized mostly Gentiles - non-Jews - the majority of those who read his letters couldn't go to Jerusalem and worship Yahweh in that holy place, even if they wanted to.

Paul's answer to their exclusion has become classic Christian theology, he tells the Corinthians, "You are the temple of Cod; . . . the Spirit of Cod dwells in you .... the temple of God, which you are, is holy."

Those who commit themselves to imitating God's holiness not only become other, they also become the presence of God in our midst. No need to go to a special, holy place to experience God among us. God is in our very selves.

Sirach never went that far. Though he encouraged his readers to share God's holiness, he still believed God's followers needed a temple. Of course, probably many of us have yet to go that far. If we did, and followed our Church's rubrics, we not only would have to genuflect in front of tabernacles, we'd also have to genuflect in front of one another.

LBC: A note from Zella

2011-02-14T17:20:00.000-05:00

Hello friends at Living Beatitudes,
I just wanted to take a minute to thank you all for thoughts, prayers, cards and good wishes. I am happy to say that I am feeling a little better each day. I still don't have a lot of energy - which seems VERY strange to me - but I am following Stephen & my doctor's orders and just taking it all slowly and I can see that I am getting a little better each day. Blessings on all of you and Happy Valentine's Day!
Zella

LBC: NCR Article - 144 Theologians Confront Hierarchy.

2011-02-14T16:17:00.000-05:00

Mary Jo thought LBC folk would be interested in the following article. ~Phil.

144 Theologians Confront Hierarchy. Paul Hockenos. National Catholic Reporter. 2011.02.14. ... Blunt letter says reforms necessary in light of scandals, priest shortage.
http://ncronline.org/news/accountability/144-theologians-confront-hierarchy

LBC: Announcements 20110205

2011-02-07T07:12:00.000-05:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday February 06

27 attended

Announcements:

1. Nonviolent Communication, Feb 6 Sun, 12:15p.

2. Book Group has selected The Case for God by Karen Armstrong. (Amazon, gBooks)
A meeting date will be announced soon.

3. Liturgy Meeting, Feb 13 Sun, 9:00a.

4. Nonviolent Communication, Feb 6 Sun, 12:15p.

5. Reminder: The September 11 Coalition war protest will meet, Feb 12 Sat, 1p, corner of Far Hills and Stroop near the BP.

6. Zella is home from the hospital and feeling better.

7. After the New Testament - next session Feb 8 Tue.
Lecture and interactive discussion series led by Kari and David Wheeler-Reed.
Books: Early Christian Writings by Andrew Louth. (Amazon - $10.20)
Bible (NRSV preferred).
Dates: Feb 8 Tue, Feb 15 Tue, and Feb 22 Tue, 6:30-8p.
Sessions will be held in the Christ Episcopal Church Parish Hall.

Jan 25 - 88 min - 80 MB

8. LauraG has written to say that she has commitments that conflict with her participation at LBC. She will no longer be able to preside or worship with us.

9. The Day of Caring Breakfast is Feb 27. More details to come soon.

10. LBC parallels Christ Episcopal closure notices during inclement weather. If events are canceled at CE, LBC events during the same time are also canceled.

Homily
20110206 - Matthew 5:13-16 - 11 min - 20 MB

Next Week (Feb 13):
First Reading - MikeK

Second Reading - GenevieveK

Cantor - DonS

Refreshments - Team 1

LBC: Zella's second surgery

2011-02-03T11:06:00.001-05:00

Zella had an abscess, an infection that occurred from her first surgery. She has had a second surgery and is recovering, doing much better. Zella thanks everyone for your continuing support and prayers.

--
Phil.

LBC: Breath of the Spirit 20110202

2011-02-03T11:02:00.000-05:00

Richard forwards this week's Breath of the Spirit. ~Phil.

From: Peggy Burns
Subject: Breath of the Spirit 2.6.11
Date: Wednesday, February 2, 2011, 8:15 AM

Only those who dared give themselves over to Jesus' Spirit at work in them could see the light in the midst of their dying, and become a light for others.
DignityUSA: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Catholics
Breath of the Spirit

Pastoral, Liturgical, Teaching, and Social Justice Moments brought to you by DignityUSA.

Breath of the Spirit is our electronic spiritual and liturgical resource for our members and potential members. Nothing can replace your chapter or other faith community but we hope you will find further support here for integrating your spirituality with your sexuality and all the strands of your life.

http://www.dignityusa.org/breath

RVC's Weekly Spiritual Essay
FEBRUARY 6, 2011: FIFTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR

Readings:
Isaiah 58:7-10
I Corinthians 2:1-5
Matthew 5:13-16

It's significant that today's gospel pericope comes immediately after last week's passage on the beatitudes. Both comprise Matthew's introduction to his well-known, but rarely-practiced Sermon on the Mount. Before Matthew's Jesus lays down the law, the evangelist wants his readers to appreciate their uniqueness.

Most people balk at giving themselves unselfishly to those around them, especially to those who don't deserve such generosity. Only special people will commit themselves to this special behavior. That's why Jesus reminds his followers of their unique dignity.

"You are the salt of the earth . . . the light of the world." No one could be more complimentary. Yet there's a catch. The compliment comes with a warning. "But what if salt goes flat?... People do not light a lamp then put it under a bushel basket." In each case, the good which salt and light offer to others can be dead-ended. Salt can become insipid; a light can be hidden. Jesus expects his salt and light-giving followers to continue in their commitment to his ministry.

Of course, to understand that ministry, one must continue reading the Sermon on the Mount. As we'll see in the next weeks, Jesus is quite demanding. In some sense, he wants his followers to go back to the morality preached by biblical prophets such as Third-Isaiah.

Though this immediate post-exilic prophet is focused on getting the once-exiled Israelites to leave the security of Babylon and commit themselves to rebuilding Jerusalem and its temple, he still feels it necessary to remind his audience of their basic covenant obligations to others, whether in Babylon or in Jerusalem.

"Share your bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and the homeless; clothe the naked when you see them, and do not turn you back on your own." Then, using the same metaphor Jesus would employ 500 years later, Third-Isaiah promises, "Your light shall break forth like the dawn. .. If you remove from your midst oppression, false accusations and malicious speech; if you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted; then light will rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday."

In other words, by becoming a generous light shining in a selfish, dark world, you'll receive the life-giving light which Yahweh offers. Both Third-Isaiah and Jesus are centered on the same behavior; a behavior which demands constant dying and rising.

That's why Paul puts today's second reading at the beginning of his first letter to the Corinthian church. One of the reasons he writes this particular letter is because many in that community had developed a Christianity in which people expected to receive the life of Jesus without suffering the death of Jesus. The itinerant preacher from Capernaum never proclaimed such a message. "I determined," the Apostle writes," that while I was with you I would speak of nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified."

He acknowledges that his "crucifying" message wasn't received with open arms by everyone. Yet it didn't alter the way he presented the faith. "When I came among you it was in weakness and fear, and with much trepidation. My message and my preaching had none of the persuasive force of wise argumentation, but the convincing power of the Spirit." Paul's demand that the Corinthians imitate Jesus' total self-giving made no sense to the majority of people. Only those who dared give themselves over to Jesus' Spirit at work in them could see the light in the midst of their dying, and become a light for others.

It takes only a little salt to give taste to food. It takes only a few, committed individuals to change the direction of our planet. But, of course, if those few don't realize their importance, nothing will ever change.

After the New Testament: Feb 01 Tue - CANCELED

2011-02-01T12:31:00.001-05:00

The Feb 1 Tue session of After the New Testament has been canceled due to the Winter Storm Warning.
Join us next week on Feb 8 at 6:30p, Christ Episcopal parish hall.

LBC: Announcements 20110130

2011-01-31T08:42:00.001-05:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday January 30

25 attended

Announcements:

1. After the New Testament - next session Feb 1
Lecture and interactive discussion series led by Kari and David Wheeler-Reed.
Books: Early Christian Writings by Andrew Louth. (Amazon - $10.20)
Bible (NRSV preferred).
Dates: Feb 1 Tue, Feb 8 Tue, Feb 15 Tue, and Feb 22 Tue, 6:30-8p.
Sessions will be held in the Christ Episcopal Church Parish Hall.

Jan 25 - 88 min - 80 MB

2. Nonviolent Communication, Feb 6 Sun, 12:15p.

3. Book Club has selected The Case for God by Karen Armstrong. (Amazon, gBooks)
A meeting date will be announced soon.

4. Join the September 11 Coalition war protest, Feb 12 Sat, 1p, corner of Far Hills and Stroop.

5. AnnW is in good spirits, some discomfort but recovering and hopes to return home in about a week and a half.

6. MikeC has entered clinicals as he trains to be a nurse. Keep him in your prayers - long hours and working Sundays.

Homily
20110123 - Matthew 4:12-17 - 13 min - 25 MB
20110130 - Matthew 5:1-12a - 7 min - 12 MB

Next Week (Feb 6):
First Reading - BillV

Second Reading - DianneM

Cantor - PhilF

Refreshments - Team 2

LBC: Breath of the Spirit 20110130

2011-01-27T08:09:00.000-05:00

Richard forwards this week's Breath of the Spirit. ~Phil.

From: Peggy Burns
Subject: Breath of the Spirit 1.30.11
Date: Wednesday, January 26, 2011, 8:15 AM

But on the other hand, we're a very unique people. Once we enter into that "kingdom of God," everything around us is different. We simply don't look at things, happenings, and people in the same way we did before.

DignityUSA: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Catholics
Breath of the Spirit

Pastoral, Liturgical, Teaching, and Social Justice Moments brought to you by DignityUSA.

Breath of the Spirit is our electronic spiritual and liturgical resource for our members and potential members. Nothing can replace your chapter or other faith community but we hope you will find further support here for integrating your spirituality with your sexuality and all the strands of your life.

http://www.dignityusa.org/breath

RVC's Weekly Spiritual Essay
JANUARY 30, 2011: FOURTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR

Readings:
Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13
I Corinthians 1:26-31
Matthew 5:1-12a

I'd much rather speak than write. I've no problem standing in front of large groups and talking about Scripture. I look forward to such occasions. On the other hand, I frequently look for any excuse to put off writing on the same topics. If I didn't have deadlines for these articles, I'd probably produce very few.

I think I know the source of my aversion to writing: I can't see my audience. When I speak I can see peoples' faces. I know who they are; I can see their reactions. I have no idea who's reading this commentary right now. Years ago during a Sunday dinner with my father, I was floored when he objected to a reference to him in that week's article. "You read my articles?" I asked in amazement. "Every one," he responded. "How else would I know if the pastor used your stuff in his homily this morning?" It never occurred to me that my own father was in my audience.

One of the good side-effects of my being diagnosed with lymphoma two and a half years ago was the huge number of letters, notes and emails I received with your good wishes and prayers for my recovery. (I'm glad to report that, as of my last PET-scan, I'm still in remission.) But all that correspondence helped me give a face to you who are reading these words. It's made my actual writing much easier

Our sacred authors never had my "audience problem." They knew exactly for whom they were writing.

When Zephaniah's disciples put his spoken words into a written format, they presumed their audience would be the same as their mentor's: a very small part of 7th-century BCE Israel. Though most biblical prophets probably began their ministries believing everyone would hear their words and quickly carry them out, eventually they realized Yahweh had drastically reduced their audience. "I will leave as a remnant in your midst, a people humble and lowly, who shall take refuge in the name of Yahweh: the remnant of Israel."

Paul begins his first letter to the Corinthians by reminding his audience of its pedigree. If they think they're special, he points out who they were before the risen Jesus entered their lives. "Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many of noble birth. Rather, God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise. . . the weak. . . to shame the strong. . . the lowly and despised. . ., those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something, so that no human being might boast before God."

The Apostle is convinced that whatever happens in our life of faith is worthless if we forget that God alone has achieved it for our benefit. We haven't pulled it off by ourselves.

But on the other hand, we're a very unique people. Once we enter into that "kingdom of God," everything around us is different. We simply don't look at things, happenings, and people in the same way we did before.

Matthew writes for those who share this out-of-the-ordinary experience. His Jesus begins the Sermon on the Mount with a recognition of that reality. That's why he singles out the poor in spirit, the mourners, the meek, they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the clean of heart, the peacemakers, and persecuted. Matthew writes for these kinds of people. Only they will understand the wisdom contained in the next three chapters. Others will judge Jesus' words to be sheer nonsense.

When we hear Scripture, we're always listening to someone else's literature. Zephaniah, Paul and Matthew didn't originally write for us. (Else they would have written in English!) On the other hand, our faith joins us to the sacred writer's original audiences. Only such people can understand the true meaning of these words.

LBC: Announcements 20110123

2011-01-24T06:32:00.001-05:00

(Announcements - Thanks, Pam!)

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday January 23

23 attended

Announcements:
1. After the New Testament - starts Jan 25th
Lecture and interactive discussion series led by Kari and David Wheeler-Reed.
Books: Early Christian Writings by Andrew Louth. (Amazon - $10.20)
Bible (NRSV preferred).
Dates: Jan 25 Tue, Feb 1 Tue, Feb 8 Tue, Feb 15 Tue, and Feb 22 Tue, 6:30-8p.
Sessions will be held in the Christ Episcopal Church Parish Hall.

2. Living Beatitudes is now on the Dorothy Lane Market list when you shop there.

Living Beatitudes Community will NOT walk as a group in the Martin Luther King walks.

3. Ann W's surgery was successful and she is now back at Bethany. She'll probably be there another 2 1/2 weeks.

4. Zella C is now in Michigan with her sister recovering from her surgery and will be returning home soon. (Maybe by week's end.)

5. Copies of the Dignity USA 5 year plan are available on the resource table by the bulletin board.

Homily
20110123 - Matthew 4:12-17 - 13 min - 25 MB

Next Week (Jan 30):
First Reading - GinnyB

Second Reading - MeaganM

Cantor - SteveM

Refreshments - Team 1 (Ed's Team switched with Team 3)

LBC: Washington Post article

2011-01-17T06:29:00.001-05:00

JoeG recommends this article:

Gay Marriage Isn't Revolutionary. It's Just Next. Stephanie Coontz. Washington Post. January 9, 2011.

LBC: Announcements 20110116

2011-01-17T06:15:00.000-05:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday January 16
33 attended

Announcements:

1. LBC has crockpots that refreshment team members may borrow. They can be found in the meeting room shelves behind the curtain. Make sure they are clean before returning them to the shelf.

2. After the New Testament
Lecture and interactive discussion series led by Kari and David Wheeler-Reed.
Books: Early Christian Writings by Andrew Louth. (Amazon - $10.20)
Bible (NRSV preferred).
Dates: Jan 25 Tue, Feb 1 Tue, Feb 8 Tue, Feb 15 Tue, and Feb 22 Tue, 6:30-8p.
Sessions will be held in the Christ Episcopal Church Parish Hall.

3. Living Beatitudes Community will NOT walk as a group in the Martin Luther King walks.

4. Nonviolent Communication, Jan 16 Sun, 12:15p.

5. Mark Matson, Director of DignityUSA, will co-preside Jan 23 Sun. He will present DignityUSA's new five-year plan after fellowship.

6. An Affordable Health Care Act presentation, What Does Health Care Reform Mean for You? will take place Jan 21 Fri. A morning session, 11a to 1p, will be at the Huber Heights Library and an afternoon session, 3-5p, will be at Kettering-Morraine.

Homily
20110116 - John 1:29-34 - 11 min - 20 MB

Next Week (Jan 23):
First Reading - EdL
Second Reading - JohnS
Cantor - Laura and KatieG
Refreshments - Team 8

LBC: Breath of the Spirit 20110116

2011-01-16T17:15:00.001-05:00

Richard forwards this week's Breath of the Spirit. ~Phil.

From: Peggy Burns
Subject: Breath of the Spirit 1.16.11
Date: Wednesday, January 12, 2011, 8:15 AM

It's one thing to do what God wants us to do; a totally other thing to succeed in that endeavor.
DignityUSA: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Catholics
Breath of the Spirit

Pastoral, Liturgical, Teaching, and Social Justice Moments brought to you by DignityUSA.

Breath of the Spirit is our electronic spiritual and liturgical resource for our members and potential members. Nothing can replace your chapter or other faith community but we hope you will find further support here for integrating your spirituality with your sexuality and all the strands of your life.

http://www.dignityusa.org/breath

RVC's Weekly Spiritual Essay
JANUARY 16, 2011: SECOND SUNDAY OF THE YEAR

Readings:
Isaiah 49:3, 5-6
I Corinthians 1:1-3
John 1:29-34

We'll never understand why Deutero-Isaiah composed his Second Song of the Suffering Servant if we just listen to it in its liturgical form. I have no idea why verse 4 has been left out of today's first reading.

In his original reflection the prophet can't understand why Yahweh says, "You are my servant through whom I show my glory!" (The word "Israel" was added by a later scribe applying the song to all the Chosen People, just as later Christians applied it to Jesus.) In the omitted verse 4, Deutero-Isaiah tells us why he's so perplexed. "I thought I had toiled in vain, and for nothing, uselessly spent my strength."

Though the prophet is convinced Yahweh has called him to his prophetic ministry, he's just as convinced he's a failure. No one seems to be changing his or her value system because of the message he proclaims.

Once we restore verse 4 to its proper place we also have a key for interpreting our other two readings on a deeper level.

Paul, for instance, begins his first letter to the Corinthians by giving his pedigree: "Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God...." No one can be more certain he's doing what God wants him to do. Yet after we read all the Apostle's letters, we find he often has to deal with failure in his God-given mission. We need only turn to the second half of chapter 11 in this very letter to hear Paul's frustration with the way some in the Corinthian community are celebrating the Eucharist. They're completely ignoring his teaching on the body of Christ. And we can never forget his painful comment in Galatians 4, "I am afraid on your account that perhaps I have labored for you in vain." It's one thing to do what God wants us to do; a totally other thing to succeed in that endeavor.

We must be careful when we deal with the image of John the Baptist expressed in our Christian Scriptures. In the minds of the four evangelists, John has been designated by Yahweh to prepare the way for Jesus. As we hear in today's gospel pericope, he succeeds in doing so, introducing the long-awaited Messiah to everyone in earshot: "Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.. . . Now I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God." No one could be more successful in his or her God-assigned task.

Yet scholars contend this picture of the Baptist is historically inaccurate. Only after his untimely death did Jesus' followers begin to look at him as their mentor's precursor. He probably looked at himself as failing in his primary mission of bringing his people to Yahweh, and helping them make Yahweh's will a priority in their lives. It never crossed his mind that one of his followers, a Capernaum carpenter, one day would be regarded as Yahweh.

All three - Deutero-Isaiah, Paul and John - are proof we can't trust our own judgment on ourselves. It's in the midst of failure that God most seems to be working through these three individuals. After Jesus' death and resurrection Christians quickly began to interpret him through the person and words of the martyred Deutero-Isaiah. The Baptist's failed ministry became the gospel stepping-off point for Jesus' own ministry. And Pauline scholars agree that out of the Apostle's authentic seven letters, the best are those he wrote when he was totally out of control of the churches to whom they were directed.

Almost 50 years after the close of Vatican II, many of us inspired by the vision of church expressed by the majority of the council's participants probably judge our life and ministry as a failure. Yet if we keep living both their and Jesus' dream of reform, I wonder how people 150 years from now will look at our "failure."

LBC: Announcements 20110109

2011-01-10T08:05:00.001-05:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday January 09
37 attended

Announcements:

1. Board Meeting, Jan 16 Sun, 8:30a.

2. Nonviolent Communication, Jan 16 Sun, 12:15p.

3. Living Beatitudes Community will walk as a group in the Martin Luther King walk. More details to follow.

4. After the New Testament
Lecture and interactive discussion series led by Kari and David Wheeler-Reed.
Books: Early Christian Writings by Andrew Louth. (Amazon - $10.20)
Bible (NRSV preferred).
Dates: Jan 25 Tue, Feb 1 Tue, Feb 8 Tue, Feb 15 Tue, and Feb 22 Tue, 6:30-8p.
Sessions will be held in the Christ Episcopal Church Parish Hall.

5. Christ Episcopal seeks volunteers to assist with the Benefit Bank, a program that works to help the disadvantaged find and apply for assistance programs. Training is required. Contact Laura Grimes if you would like to participate. A tax training session is offered Jan 31.

6. Cross Creek Community Church and the United Church of Christ, Centerville presents Songs of Race and Reconciliation, a concert by KATE CAMPBELL, Jan 15 Sat, at 8p. The concert will be held at Cross Creek Community Church, 667 Miamisburg - Centerville Road. The concert will celebrate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Tickets are $20 and are available at the door or online at crosscreekchurch.org."

7. Mark Matson, Director of DignityUSA, will co-preside Jan 23 Sun. He will present DignityUSA's new five-year plan after fellowship.

8.Ann Wilger fell Friday. She has broken her leg again - just below the location of the pin from the previous break. Ann will need surgery to repair the break. The surgery cannot be scheduled until her swelling is reduced but should happen sometime this week. Ann needs rest in order to heal. Please call before visiting the hospital.

Homily
20110109 - Matthew 3:13-17 - 11 min - 20 MB

Next Week (Jan 16):
First Reading - DominicD
Second Reading - LeahD
Cantor - Laura and KatieG
Refreshments - Team 7

LBC: Announcements 20110102

2011-01-03T19:29:00.000-05:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday January 02
39 attended

Announcements:

1. Nonviolent Communication, Jan 2 Sun, 12:15p.

2. Liturgy Committee Meeting, Jan 9 Sun, 9a.

3. Twelfth Night Party, Jan 7 Fri, 6:30p.
Bob and Dick's house.
Pizza will be provided.
Bring a $5 or less thrift store gift for the Gift Exchange game.

Homily
20110102 - Matthew 2:1-12 - 18 min - 34 MB

Next Week (Jan 09):
First Reading - BillV
Second Reading - DickR
Cantor - SteveM
Refreshments - Team 6

LBC: Breath of the Spirit 20101229

2010-12-30T06:09:00.001-05:00

Richard forwards this week's Breath of the Spirit.
~Phil.

From: Peggy Burns

Subject: Breath of the Spirit 1.2.11
Date: Wednesday, December 29, 2010, 8:45 AM

Wishing all a Happy and Healthy New Year.

Breath of the Spirit

Pastoral, Liturgical, Teaching, and Social Justice Moments brought to you by DignityUSA.

Breath of the Spirit is our electronic spiritual and liturgical resource for our members and potential members. Nothing can replace your chapter or other faith community but we hope you will find further support here for integrating your spirituality with your sexuality and all the strands of your life.

http://www.dignityusa.org/breath

RVC's Weekly Spiritual Essay

JANUARY 2, 2011: EPIPHANY

Readings:
Isaiah 60:1-6
Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6
Matthew 2:1-12

I frequently remind my students that if God always worked in predictable ways, we wouldn't have such a thick Bible. We'd only need a couple Xeroxed, laminated pages outlining God's behavior patterns. When we want to know what God is going to do next, or what God expects of us in the future, we just glance at the proper section of the sheets and we'll operate with complete certitude.

Our sacred authors laugh at such a scenario. The community problems impelling them to write often reveal a God working "against type," involved in people and situations in which no one expected God to be involved. God's outside the lines personality certainly plays an essential part in today's three readings.

We must remember that Jerusalem is nothing but a pile of ruins during Third-Isaiah's ministry. The Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar had wiped the city and its temple off the face of the earth in 586 BCE. Even after their exile ended in 530, the majority of Jewish captives refused to return to the Promised Land and rebuild the ruins. They were far better off in a foreign county than in their native land. Few were inclined to go back and face the devastation and hard work awaiting them in Israel. Most were convinced the holy city and its holier temple would never be restored.

Third-Isaiah refuses to buy into their pessimism. This unnamed prophet is convinced that one day Yahweh will offer salvation to all people through the city which now offers nothing but sweat and hard work. Yahweh is setting forth a plan of salvation which flies in the face of common wisdom. "Nations shall walk by your (Jerusalem's) light," God promises, "and kings by your shining radiance. Raise your eyes and look about; they all gather and come to you . . .

Our Christian biblical authors also believed non-Jews would eventually come to the true faith. But the way these Gentiles were to be converted wasn't in the play-book of Jesus' original followers. They were open to non-Jews becoming Christians, but they demanded they first convert to Judaism before they would talk to them about imitating Jesus of Nazareth.

Paul and a small group of "radical" evangelizers quickly blew that process to smithereens. They converted Gentiles to the faith as Gentiles, refusing, among other things, to demand they adhere to the 613 Mosaic Laws.

Paul's disciple who wrote the letter to the Ephesians states their "ultra-liberal" belief in classic terms, referring to the acceptance of Gentiles as a "mystery. . . not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed to (God's) holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and as partners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel." No faithful follower of Yahweh could ever have predicted God working in such an unpredictable way.

Writing for a Jewish/Christian community, Matthew must deal with the unexpected situation of Gentiles beginning to outnumber Jews in many Christian churches. What prompted these "outsiders" to discover the importance of someone most Jews ignored? Because of his unique audience and their problems, he's the only evangelist to mention the magi: pagan astrologer/magicians who should be stoned to death the instant they cross into Jewish territory. The irony of Matthew's narrative revolves around Gentiles who follow forbidden means (a star) to discover the "new-born king of the Jews," while Jews who employ the proper means (Scripture) aren't even interested in checking out recent events in Bethlehem, just a few miles down the road.

The evangelist is teaching his readers that there's no iron-clad, perfect way to discover Jesus. We follow a God who offers unlimited ways. Only we, not God, are guilty of limiting God's behavior.

LBC: Breath of the Spirit 20101225

2010-12-23T00:34:00.001-05:00

Richard forwards this week's Breath of the Spirit. Phil.

From: Peggy Burns
Subject: Breath of the Spirit 12.25.10
Date: Wednesday, December 22, 2010, 8:15 AM

Holiday Greetings. May your days be filled with much joy, happiness and peace.
(Homily for Dec. 26, Holy Family, will be posted just on the website, www.dignityusa.org.)
DignityUSA: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Catholics
Breath of the Spirit

Pastoral, Liturgical, Teaching, and Social Justice Moments brought to you by DignityUSA.

Breath of the Spirit is our electronic spiritual and liturgical resource for our members and potential members. Nothing can replace your chapter or other faith community but we hope you will find further support here for integrating your spirituality with your sexuality and all the strands of your life.

http://www.dignityusa.org/breath

RVC's Weekly Spiritual Essay
DECEMBER 25, 2010: CHRISTMAS
(Eucharist at Midnight)

Readings:
Isaiah 9:1-6
Titus 2:11-14
Luke 2:1-14

A few months ago a woman reporter was allegedly harassed in a pro-football locker-room.

Shortly after the incident, a sports analyst was asked why female reporters think it important to invade such a "sacred precinct" immediately after a game. Can't they just wait a half-hour or so for players and coaches to get cleaned up, put on their street clothes and hold a press conference? The analyst responded, "It's important for a reporter to get a player's reaction to something immediately after it happens. If he has time to think about it and formulate his response, he'll almost always give you a different read on the event."

Many of us forget that our Christian sacred authors aren't giving us immediate locker-room reports about Jesus' birth. They had almost 80 years to think about what they were going to say about it.

Their delay especially surfaces when we hear them employ the writings of other sacred authors. No one in Isaiah's original audience, for instance, would have thought the prophet was predicting Jesus' birth when he proclaimed,".... A child is born to us; a son is given us; upon his shoulders dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-forever, Prince of Peace." Scholars believe Isaiah is simply describing Hezekiah: King Ahaz' newborn son. He never intended that his listeners focus on a stable in Bethlehem.

Yet since not even Hezekiah ushered in the ideal age the Israelites were expecting, it makes sense that Jesus' early followers eventually applied these words to him, the leader they believed would actually bring this special period into existence. Of course, they were looking at this text from a 700 year perspective.

Even Paul's disciple who authored the letter to Titus had more than a lifetime to reflect on Jesus before he wrote. Like Isaiah, he revolved his desire for a better world around one specific individual. Only this time it wasn't a person recently born, it was Jesus, born several generations before he composed his letter.

Jesus had already died and rose. That's why the author tells his readers, "It was he (Jesus) who sacrificed himself for us, to redeem us from all unrighteousness and to cleanse for himself a people of his own, eager to do what is right." Other Christs not only look back fondly on Jesus' coming, they also look forward to the things they're committed to carry out in order to make that ideal world a reality.

All who carefully read Luke/Acts know the evangelist had "a thing" about the Roman Empire. Since the great anti-Christian persecutions had yet to begin, Luke believed Christians had nothing to fear from Rome, neither did Rome have anything to fear from Christians. They should be able to peacefully co-exist.

That seems to be why he starts his birth narrative with a decree from Caesar Augustus. Rome actually was responsible for Jesus being born in Bethlehem - the city of David - and not in the back-water town of Nazareth. A representative of the Empire, along with angels and shepherds, gives us a hint about who this child is and will become. A lot of reflection went into today's gospel pericope.

I often wonder about people's reaction at the actual time Jesus was born. Most "in the locker-room" would have seen no significance in the event. That would come only during the biblical "press conference."

Perhaps that's why we Christians have yet to transform our world as the risen Jesus intends it to be transformed. We fail to notice the significance of our everyday, humdrum lives.

What a waste of a lifetime! Will it take 80 years for someone to eventually look back and discover what each of us could have done to change our world? Maybe we should start the reflection process right here and now.

LBC: Announcements 20101219

2010-12-20T13:38:00.001-05:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday December 19
36 attended

Announcements:

1. Schedule for Christmas Eve, Christmas, and New Year:

Dec 24 Fri
Christmas Eve Service
Ann Wilger's
Arrive at 7:30p.
Bring an hors d'ouvre
Service starts at 8:00p

Dec 25 Sat
Christmas Day - no service

Dec 26 Sun
Mass 10a. Regular Sunday schedule

Dec 31 Fri and Jan 1 Sat
No services scheduled

Jan 2 Sun
Mass 10a. Regular Sunday schedule

2. Twelfth Night Party
Jan 7 Fri 6:30p
Bob and Dick's
Pizza and Ice Cream
Bring a gift costing no more than $5 purchased from a thrift store

3. After the New Testament
Lecture and interactive discussion series led by Kari and David Wheeler-Reed.
Books: Early Christian Writings by Andrew Louth. (Amazon - $10.20)
Bible (NRSV preferred).
Dates: Jan 25 Tue, Feb 1 Tue, Feb 8 Tue, Feb 15 Tue, and Feb 22 Tue, 6:30-8p.
Sessions will be held in the Christ Episcopal Church Parish Hall.
Outline and reading assignments printed in separate flier.

4. Lighting: Participation over atmosphere -- we'll continue to use the ceiling lamps so people can see to read and reserve the lower lighting levels for special occasions.

5. DignityUSA Presentation, Jan 23 Sun after mass. Mark Matson will present DignityUSA's new direction and future plans.

6. Christ Episcopal lends durable assistive medical equipment. Contact CE staff to determine the available equipment and lending practice.

7. The Grimes family extends an invitation to their New Year's Eve open house. Drop in 7:30p to 12:30a. Contact Laura for details.

8.Thanks to Debbie for her work on the Advent Calendar and devotions.

9. A new 2011 sign-up sheet for readers and cantors is available. Sign-up now.

Homily
20101219 - Matthew 1:18-24 - 14 min - 26 MB

Next Week (Dec 26):
First Reading - ToddK
Second Reading - GenevieveK
Cantor - TomS
Refreshments - Team 4

LBC: Breath of the Spirit 20101219

2010-12-16T08:50:00.001-05:00

Richard forwards this week's Breath of the Spirit. Phil.

From: Peggy Burns
Subject: Breath of the Spirit 12.19.10
Date: Wednesday, December 15, 2010, 8:15 AM

The biblical texts they employed in their writings didn't create their faith in the risen Jesus, they simply helped surface different dimensions of that unique person's presence in their midst.
DignityUSA: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Catholics
Breath of the Spirit

Pastoral, Liturgical, Teaching, and Social Justice Moments brought to you by DignityUSA.

Breath of the Spirit is our electronic spiritual and liturgical resource for our members and potential members. Nothing can replace your chapter or other faith community but we hope you will find further support here for integrating your spirituality with your sexuality and all the strands of your life.

http://www.dignityusa.org/breath

RVC's Weekly Spiritual Essay
DECEMBER 19, 2010: FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Readings:
Isaiah 7:10-14
Romans 1:1-7
Matthew 1:18-24

Those who study Scripture today don't interpret some parts of the Hebrew Scriptures as the authors of the Christian Scriptures interpreted them. They didn't have the tools modern scholars possess to recreate the world of these ancient sacred authors. Often they had just the writers' words, and knew nothing of the events and context against which their words were produced - the key to interpreting the authors' original intention. Neither did they see the necessity of reading any author's entire work, or even large sections of it. It was sufficient for them to read only a verse or two, often taking the passage out of the writer's context and slipping it into their own. This certainly is the case with today's first and third readings.

Thirty-five years ago, during a diocesan clergy conference, Fr. Raymond Brown disturbed some of my brother priests by stating, "There are no predictions of Jesus, as such, anywhere in the Hebrew Scriptures."

Hands quickly flew into the air. Fr. Brown patiently replied to each objection to his statement, especially the ones which sprang from Matthew applying Isaiah's famous "virgin-shall-conceive-Immanuel" quote to Mary and Jesus. Just by putting verse 14 back in the original context of Isaiah's chapter 7, Brown demonstrated that Ahaz needed an immediate sign; not one that would take over 700 years to be fulfilled. He then said that the pregnant girl (not necessarily a virgin) was probably Mrs. Ahaz, and the Immanuel, their son, Hezekiah.

Yet as recently as last week, I was reminded that old habits (or interpretations) die hard. One of my students showed me a "Pocket Catechism" her pastor had distributed that morning to the students and teachers of his Parish School of Religion. Question 22 read, "How do we know that Jesus is the promised Savior?" The answer: "Because all that the Prophets had foretold about the Savior was fulfilled in Jesus."

The late Sulpician Scripture scholar acknowledged biblical Israelites were certainly waiting for a Messiah. But Brown mentioned that he always assured his Jewish friends, "The specific Messiah you're expecting has yet to come." The Scripture passages which speak about a Messiah don't point people in the direction of Jesus - unless we fall into the trap of "eisegeting:" putting our meaning into the text instead of taking the sacred author's original meaning out of the text.

Yet we must do more than just realize our Christian authors didn't know the historical context of the Hebrew authors. We must also admit that many of us know little about the faith context of our Christian authors. Before these writers even began searching the Hebrew Scriptures for Jesus "proof texts," they'd experienced him/her alive and active in their everyday lives. The biblical texts they employed in their writings didn't create their faith in the risen Jesus, they simply helped surface different dimensions of that unique person's presence in their midst.

Their belief in Christ among them was an essential part of their lives even if no Hebrew Scriptures existed. Notice, for instance, that Paul employs no scriptural text to back up his belief that Jesus ". . . was made Son of God in power, according to the spirit of holiness, by his resurrection from the dead. . ." even though he just stated the gospel he proclaimed was ". . . promised long ago through (the) prophets, as the holy Scriptures proclaimed.. ." He obviously experienced Jesus before he checked the holy Scriptures.

We who both preside at Eucharist and also study Scripture, usually proclaim only the first of the two Advent prefaces. We simply can't force ourselves to say the words in the second preface, "His (Jesus') coming was foretold by all the prophets." But instead of quibbling over prediction/fulfillment passages, we should be leading our communities to experience our sacred authors' faith - in and outside of the Eucharist.

LBC: Good Shepherd Ministries' Giving Tree

2010-12-14T06:12:00.001-05:00

From Ed Lehman (Social Outreach Chair):

LBC members are invited to participate with Christ Episcopal in their partnering with Good Shepherd Ministries' Christmas Giving Tree. This outreach for the men served by Good Shepherd half-way house and support services will help them to have basic necessities. It may be the only Christmas gift some of the men receive. A tree with tags from their "wish lists" is displayed in the Parish Hall. Donations should be dropped off at the church no later than Dec. 20. Please leave them in the Parish Hall upstairs.

LBC: Announcements 20101212

2010-12-13T13:33:00.001-05:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday December 12
26 attended

Announcements:

1. LBC follows Christ Episcopal when closing for inclement weather. If services are canceled at CE then LBC will not offer Mass.

2. Board Meeting, Dec 19 Sun, 8:30a.

2. Non-Violent Communication, Dec 19 Sun, 12:15p.

3. An updated social directory is available.

4. The birthday card ministry has been discontinued. Many thanks to Dianne for her past contributions.

5. Laura offers for sale two inclusive language books; Sophia's Rosary and Sophia's Book of Hours. See here blog for costs. Samples are also available after Mass.

6. Ellis recommended Handel's Messiah, Dec 12 Sun 4p, Westminster Church.

Homily
20101212 - Matthew 11:2-11 - 14 min -13 MB

Next Week (Dec 19):
First Reading - JohnS
Second Reading - AnnW
Cantor - DonS
Refreshments - Team 3

LBC: Announcements 20101205

2010-12-06T13:04:00.001-05:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday December 05
30 attended

Announcements:

0. Dick and Bob will host a vigil Celebration of the Immaculate Conception, Dec 7 Tue, 7p at their home. Contact Dick if you would like to attend.

1. Lighting - split vote on incandescent verses soft fluorescent.

2. Non-Violent Communication meets Dec 05 Sun , 12:15p.

3. Liturgy Committee meeting Dec 12 Sun, 9a.

4. New Social Directories are available.

5. Jon and Ed have a free HP Printer (clr/bw)to give away. See John if you need an printer.

6. Bach Society of Dayton Concert, Kettering 7th Day Adventist Church, Dec 05 Sun, 7:30p, $15.

Homily
20101205 - Matthew 3:1-12 - not recorded; battery died.

Next Week (Dec 12):
First Reading - LeahD
Second Reading - DominicD
Cantor - SteveM
Refreshments - Team 2 (

LBC: Advent Meditation reminder.

2010-12-02T06:23:00.001-05:00

Reminder:

Advent Meditation

Dec 2 Thu, 6:30p.

--
Phil

LBC: Breath of the Spirit 20101205

2010-12-02T06:19:00.001-05:00

Richard forwards this week's Breath of the Spirit. ~Phil.

From: Peggy Burns
Subject: Breath of the Spirit 12.5.10
Date: Wednesday, December 1, 2010, 8:09 AM
Though both Paul and Matthew also paint a picture of an ideal world, they're convinced the special person destined to usher in that longed-for era isn't going to bring it about alone. It'll only come when we have the courage to live our lives as Jesus of Nazareth lived his.
Breath of the Spirit

Pastoral, Liturgical, Teaching, and Social Justice Moments brought to you by DignityUSA.
Breath of the Spirit is our electronic spiritual and liturgical resource for our members and potential members. Nothing can replace your chapter or other faith community but we hope you will find further support here for integrating your spirituality with your sexuality and all the strands of your life.
http://www.dignityusa.org/breath
RVC's Weekly Spiritual Essay
DECEMBER 5, 2010: SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Readings:
Isaiah 11:1-10
Romans 15:4-9
Matthew 3:1-12
It's one thing to expect a single charismatic individual to come along and usher in an ideal age. It's another thing for each of us to do what's necessary to help create that ideal age.
No one can argue with First-Isaiah's depiction of the perfect Davidic leader. Active during a period when the Chosen People are continually threatened by their arch-enemy, the Assyrians, this 8th century BCE prophet tries to project them into a day and age when total peace reigns. Everyone will live so harmoniously that"... the wolf will be the guest of the Iamb, and the leopard will lie down with the kid . . . There will be no harm or ruin on all my (Yahweh's) holy mountain; for the earth will be filled with knowledge of Yahweh as water covers the sea." We, like the prophet's audience, can only hope this "sprout from the stump of Jesse" will hit town in our lifetime.
Though both Paul and Matthew also paint a picture of an ideal world, they're convinced the special person destined to usher in that longed-for era isn't going to bring it about alone. It'll only come when we have the courage to live our lives as Jesus of Nazareth lived his.
Matthew's John the Baptist, for instance, tells his followers that the Messiah they're expecting to transform this world will actually be concerned with judging their attempts to change this world. "He it is who will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand. He will clear his threshing floor, and gather his grain into the barn, but the chaff he will burn in unquenchable fire." In other words, Jesus' ideal world will be a "do-it-yourself' project. Yet, we imitators of Jesus aren't expected to go it alone. The Baptist assures us that Jesus' Spirit will always play an essential role in even the smallest spark his followers ignite.
This seems to be why Paul is so confident the Christian community in Rome can ". . . live in perfect harmony with one another according to the spirit of Christ Jesus. ..." We can't have peace without creating the unity which brings peace about.
In the very next verse, the Apostle provides us with the key to achieve such harmony: "Accept one another... as Christ accepted you, for the glory of God." The earliest Christians had to bridge a huge cultural gap in order to actually "accept one another:" the centuries-old gulf between Jews and Gentiles. The former, Paul states, are saved through Jesus because of Yahweh's ancient promises; the latter, because of Yahweh's mercy. Yet in order to be authentic imitators of Jesus, each must accept the other as equal.
With all of today's scriptural expertise, I'm amazed those preparing for confirmation are still being taught just the seven gifts of the Spirit found in today's first reading - gifts which the ideal Jewish king is expected to possess: wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, knowledge and fear of the Lord (with "piety" added to round out a perfect seven). Teachers usually tiptoe around the Christian gifts of the Spirit which Paul clicks off in I Corinthians 12 - gifts which can lead to huge divisions if they're put into play in an institution-oriented church. Yet Paul believes such "divisive" gifts as prophecy, healing, administration and tongues can actually bring about an ideal world if we "other Christs" are willing to fall back on the Spirit's power to unite those who unselfishly exercise such charismas.
One ideal person won't be able to pull off such a feat by himself or herself. It'll take all those who share Jesus' vision to accomplish it. But how many of us are willing to die enough to ourselves to unite these diverse gifts into the powerful unity Jesus envisions?

LBC: Breath of the Spirit 20101128

2010-11-30T07:05:00.000-05:00

Richard forwards this week's Breath of the Spirit. ~Phil.

From: Peggy Burns
Subject: Breath of the Spirit 11.28.10
Date: Wednesday, November 24, 2010, 8:15 AM

If we're expecting to be one with the risen Jesus after the Parousia, why aren't we doing those things which make us one with the risen Jesus right here and now? How can we look forward to a future without imaging that future in the present?
DignityUSA: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Catholics
Breath of the Spirit

Pastoral, Liturgical, Teaching, and Social Justice Moments brought to you by DignityUSA.

Breath of the Spirit is our electronic spiritual and liturgical resource for our members and potential members. Nothing can replace your chapter or other faith community but we hope you will find further support here for integrating your spirituality with your sexuality and all the strands of your life.

http://www.dignityusa.org/breath

RVC's Weekly Spiritual Essay
NOVEMBER 28, 2010: FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Readings:
Isaiah 2:1-5
Romans 13:11-14
Matthew 24:37-44

As I mentioned back in September, the great Hans Walter Wolff was convinced that the role of a biblical prophet is to provide people with the future implications of their present actions. That's why few prophets died with their sandals tucked snuggly under their beds. Most people choose not to be reminded of those implications. They were content to zero in only on the present, rarely letting their minds wander beyond the immediate situation in which they found themselves.

Our sacred authors often take us into the future. Even on those occasions when they bring up the past, their goal frequently is to make certain our future isn't just a repeat of those former days.

First-Isaiah always has the threat of an Assyrian invasion before his eyes, yet he still paints a picture of a future world in which the military doesn't even exist. In what would become some of his best-known words, he speaks about the day when ". . . they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; one nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again."

Of course, the prophet is convinced such an ideal world will come only when people actually walk "in the light of Yahweh." Such a belief implies that all Jews will first have to be committed to Yahweh's values and carry out Yahweh's word. If they refuse to do either, Gentiles not only won't flock to Yahweh's mountain, they'll do their best to destroy both the city built on top of Mt. Zion and the people who reside in it.

The earliest followers of Jesus also focused on the future. They believed Jesus' return was just around the corner; an event which would completely transform the earth and its inhabitants. All our present problems would completely disappear. There was just one problem: his Parousia didn't happen as quickly as they'd anticipated. That's why Paul is compelled to remind the Christian community in Rome that their present actions aren't mirroring the world they're anticipating. "Let us live honorably," the Apostle writes, "as in daylight; not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual excess and lust, not in quarreling and jealousy. Rather, put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the desires of the flesh."

Paul's reasoning is perfect. If we're expecting to be one with the risen Jesus after the Parousia, why aren't we doing those things which make us one with the risen Jesus right here and now? How can we look forward to a future without imaging that future in the present?

Matthew, who also seems convinced the Parousia will happen in his lifetime, reflects on the suddenness of that glorious day. He clearly states his thesis: "The Son of Man is coming at a time you least expect!"

To get his point across, the evangelist brings up the unexpectedness of the great Genesis flood. "The coming of the Son of Man will repeat what happened in Noah's time." But he then mentions something which could be confusing. "Two men will be out in the field . . . Two women will be grinding meal; one will be taken and one will be left." Matthew doesn't seem to referring here to being taken to heaven. Rather, he appears to be zeroing in on those who are "taken" by the faith, and those who aren't - always a great mystery for early Christians. If this interpretation is correct, Matthew is warning his readers to make their faith the guiding point of their entire lives, the "awakeness" on which they ground their expectations of the future.

Some 5th-century Christians, instead of being awake with faith, must have fallen asleep. There's no other way to explain how St. Augustine could have developed his criteria for waging a "just war:" a 1st century Christian oxymoron.

LBC: Advent Meditation 1

2010-11-30T06:58:00.000-05:00

Debbie sends the advent text used on Sunday Nov 28:

We gather to begin our Advent season, a season when eternity nips at the heels of time.

Between the hushed expectancy of a waiting mother-to-be two thousand years ago,

and the anticipated triumphal return of our savior on clouds, we struggle into Advent along with

our unjust economics, oppressive politics, biased race relations, patriarchal gender roles,

hierarchical power structures, and all of the violence required to maintain them.

In our compartmentalized lives we pursue activities with little expectation of

more than one kind of reward at any one time. There is, for most of us,

no spiritual component to our recreation, no family component to our work,

no learning component to our shopping, no exercise component to our worship and

no laughter component to our study. To obtain satisfaction and reward in one part of our lives

we sacrifice rewards in another-we give up family time for work, worship time for yard work,

quiet time for getting the muffler fixed. Our most common complaint is that there are not enough hours in the day.

Advent can become a mirror in which we see ourselves becoming the whole and healthy people

we have the capacity to be. Either we hear the shrill criticism of the rapture, focusing on the lost majority

that are somehow expendable, or we hear the whispering of an enlightened parable,

one that has the power to coax us into a better way of living. The harvest will be according to the seed sown, f

or if you live by the sword of judgment you will die by that sword, in fear and trepidation of God's plan,

clinging to desperate hope to make the cut at the rapture. Or you can beat your sword into a plowshare,

and call all your creative energy to the planting of God's domain here on earth now, using the tools of peace, hope, joy and love,

not waiting for some distant time.

So I invite you to take refuge in Advent-if there are not enough hours in the day, rub shoulders with eternity.

It has been amongst us since the first Pentecost. It is the silence between our words, the laughter that needs no joke,

the touch that makes us fully human.

It is our original sanctity, shining brighter than any star, leading wisdom seekers to the abode of Christ,

sheltered within the humble humanity of our hearts.

We light the first candle for the harvest of Peace:

Black Elk said "The first peace… is that which comes within the souls of people when they realize their relationship,

their oneness with the universe and all its powers, and when they realize that at the center of the universe dwells the Great Spirit,

and that this center is really everywhere, it is within each of us."

content drawn from Original Blessing, Matthew Fox

NOTE: Don't forget our Advent Meditation, Dec 2 Thu, 6:30p. This will be the only evening Advent event hosted by LBC.

LBC: Announcements 20101128

2010-11-29T09:09:00.001-05:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday November 28
28 attended

Announcements:

1. Team 1 will be responsible for refreshments Dec 5; Tom and Patty, John, and Ann. There are a few blank spots on the refreshment team list -- see Pam if you would like to help out.

2. Debbie created advent calendars - pick one up on the table today.

3. Ellis celebrates a birthday this week. Happy birthday Ellis!

4. An Advent Service has been scheduled for Dec 2 Thu at 6:30p. It will start with bread and soup.

5: JohnI forwards this open letter from UD theologian Vince Miller to the Catholic Bishops. He asks them to take up issues of social justice and concern for the poor.
(The letter.)

Homily
20101128 - Matthew 24:37-44 - 23 min - 42 MB

Next Week (Dec 5):
First Reading - DonS
Second Reading - AnnW
Cantor - SteveM
Refreshments - Team 1

LBC: Announcements 20101121

2010-11-28T13:37:00.001-05:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday November 21
30 attended

Announcements:

1. Sign up for refreshment teams is continuing. Please sign up to help out. Team 1 will be responsible for refreshments Dec 5; Tom and Patty, John, and Ann. Thank you to everyone who has brought refreshments in the past.

2. Non-Violent Communication meets today, Nov 21 Sun at 12:15p.

3. A Spiritual Retreat is being planned for Sept 2011. The retreat will be held over a weekend at Maria Stein. Registration fees will be needed to cover the cost of the retreat center and meals. More details will be made available later.

4. An Advent Service has been scheduled for Dec 2 Thu at 6:30p. It will start with bread and soup.

5. Christ Episcopal thanked the community for our financial assistance with the ramp. thanks also for the volunteers who helped with Elsie's Attic and the Waffle House community fund raiser.

6. Ed will post a "closing check-list." The people who brought refreshments are responsible for turning off lights, locking up, etc. after they have cleaned up.

Homily
20101107 - Luke 20:27038 - 12 min - 22 MB
20101114 - Luke 21:5-19 - 22 min - 41 MB
20101121 - Luke 23:35-43 - 8 min - 15 MB

Next Week (Nov 28):
First Reading - DickY
Second Reading - PamD
Cantor - LauraG
Refreshments - Bill V

LBC: Breath of the Spirit 20101121

2010-11-21T07:11:00.000-05:00

Readings:

II Samuel 5:1-3

Colossians 1:12-20

Luke 23:35-4

Today’s first reading narrates one of the most important events in Jewish history. I always insist my students know the year it happened - the easiest date in all Scripture to remember: 1,000 BCE. Before “all the tribes of Israel came to David in Hebron,” Jews were divided into two tribal confederations: Israel in the North, Judah in the South.

Until the northern tribes met with David in Hebron, he was only ruler of the South. But once they “anointed him king of Israel,” he became ruler of a united Jewish nation, eventually leading up to “the glory” his son Solomon enjoyed. His Hebron anointing ushered in the most remarkable period in Jewish history. Though, as Hans Walter Wolff always reminded us, “While David is Scripture’s lousiest parent, he is, at the same time, Israel’s greatest king.”

On this day dedicated to kingship, I trust we won’t get lost in the glories of that position. Instead, it’s far better to reflect on a recent Call to Action talk by Sr. Diane Bergant. This scholar of the Hebrew Scriptures zeroed in on the importance of an oft-forgotten biblical person: Ruth.

Diane pointed out that this fascinating woman wasn’t even a Jew. She belonged to a despised people: the Moabites. But after the unexpected death of her Jewish husband, who had migrated to Moab with his mother Naomi, Ruth unselfishly stepped forward and offered to travel to Israel and care for her widowed mother-in- law. It was a heroic gesture. Normally it would condemn the young foreigner to a life of widowhood. But because of her dedication to Naomi, she eventually marries Boaz, a wealthy landowner, and as we read in the book’s second last paragraph, “Yahweh enabled her to conceive and she bore a son . . . . They called him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.”

The author of Ruth did his or her best to remind the Israelite readers of the book that the only reason their greatest king even existed was because his Gentile great-grandmother had been willing given up her own future and dedicated her life to caring for her Jewish mother-in-law.

In a parallel way, Luke wants us also to zero in on the dedication dimension of the crucified Jesus. Though “above him there was an inscription that read, ‘This is the King of the Jews,” Luke’s Jesus demonstrates his kingly power not by saving himself, but by his concern for one of the criminals sharing Golgotha with him that fateful Friday afternoon.

Jesus answers the dying man’s request to be remembered when he comes into his kingdom with a promise far beyond anything the thief could have expected. “This day,” he assures him, “you will be with me in Paradise.”

Knowing this, the most important line in today’s Colossians pericope becomes the statement, “He (Jesus) is the head of the body, the church.” Jesus is both the person and force who points the direction into which we Christians should always be traveling. Though Jesus is “... the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation,” he’s also the person we daily strive to imitate.

Commenting in a recent Church Chat column about his recent visit to the traveling Vatican Splendors exhibit, Tom Smith writes, “All that Vatican splendor washes away the human service inspired by the gospel, ignores the experience of genuine faith communities, and enshrines the institutional church. The splendor of the art obliterates the splendor of a humble, lived faith.”

I’m certain if Ruth lived long enough she would have often reminded her great-grandson that self-giving is at the heart of faith, as the kingly Jesus once reminded us from Golgotha. True faith revolves around it.

LBC: DignityUSA News re Election of US Catholic Bishops

2010-11-18T22:00:00.001-05:00

Richard forwards the following. Phil.

DignityUSA News

November 16, 2010

US Catholic Bishop Elections Signal Continued Targeting

of Gay, Transgender People

Statement of Equally Blessed, November 16, 2010

The leaders of Equally Blessed, a coalition of Catholics working for justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, have issued a statement expressing deep concern over the outcome of the election of new leaders for the US Catholic Bishops Conference.

"The election of New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan and Louisville, Kentucky Archbishop Joseph Kurtz as President and Vice-President of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) sends an ominous message to LGBT Catholics and our families," said Francis DeBernardo, Executive Director of New Ways Ministry and an Equally Blessed member. "Both men have made strong statements against gay and transgender people. Indeed, for the past two years, Archbishop Kurtz has led the US Bishops' nationwide campaign against marriage for gay couples."

"It is ominous because the bishops broke with tradition and did not elect this past year's vice-president, Bishop Gerald Kicanas of Tucson, as president, someone known to be more moderate on LGBT issues and signals that the bishops are targeting families with loved ones who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender," said Nicole Sotelo, Program and Communications Director at Call To Action.

Marianne Duddy-Burke of DignityUSA, another Equally Blessed spokesperson added, "The selection of these two men as leaders of the US Bishops' Conference means it is more important than ever for Catholics who want our Church and world to be more welcoming and just for LGBT people to speak out and to act for justice. The majority of Catholics in the pews are supportive of LGBT people and issues, so this election is another example of how the hierarchy is out of step with the faith experience and ideas of Catholic people."

"At a time when Catholics and the larger society have become so painfully aware of how anti-LGBT religious messages and personalities have contributed to youth suicide, we wish the bishops would have elected leaders whose records were not so damaging," said Casey Lopata, Co-Founder of Fortunate Families. "As father of a gay son and as Catholics, we choose to tell our youth about Jesus' unconditional love for them."

Equally Blessed is a coalition of faithful Catholics who support full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people both in the church and in civil society. Equally Blessed includes four organizations that have spent a combined 112 years working on behalf of LGBT people and their families: Call to Action, DignityUSA, Fortunate Families, and New Ways Ministry.

LBC: Announcements 20101114

2010-11-15T20:17:00.000-05:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday November 14
34 attended

Announcements:

1. Sign up for refreshment teams is continuing. Please sign up to help out.

2. Board meeting next Sunday, Nov 21 at 8:30a.

3. Nonviolent Communication meets next Sunday, Nov 21, at 12:15p.

4. Waffle Shop and Elsie's Attic still in need of volunteer help.

5. An Advent Service has been scheduled for Dec 2 Thu at 6:30p. It will start with bread and soup.

Homily
20101114 - Luke 21:5-19 - 22 min - 41 MB

Next Week (Nov 21):

First Reading - DonS

Second Reading - JohnS

Refreshments - Ed and John

Cantor - LauraG

LBC: Announcements 20101107

2010-11-12T22:53:00.001-05:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday November 07
30 attended

Announcements:

1. Liturgy Meeting next week, Nov 14 Sun at 9:00a.

2. Christ Episcopal still needs volunteers for Waffle Shop; sign up sheets upstairs.

3. Process to provide refreshments is changing to Teams instead of individuals. Sign up for a team on the yellow sheet on the small round table.

4. Sophie won both first prizes in the children's category of the Oakwood Annual Photography contest. Here is a one minute video where you can see her response minutes after learning. She had no idea she had a chance. The titles alone are something which you can see and hear her say. So there is some English!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80lGXzqMGTQ (from John)

Homily
20101107 - Luke 20:27038 - 12 min - 22 MB

Next Week (Nov 14):

First Reading - MarkS

Second Reading - PamD

Refreshments - MarkS and MikeC

Cantor - JoeG

LBC: Breath of the Spirit 20101114

2010-11-12T22:42:00.001-05:00

From: Peggy Burns
Subject: Breath of the Spirit 11.14.10
Date: Wednesday, November 10, 2010, 8:15 AM

Luke's theology directs his readers' eyes from heaven (from whence Jesus will come) to the everyday people and events of life (in which the risen Jesus is already present.)
DignityUSA: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Catholics
Breath of the Spirit

Pastoral, Liturgical, Teaching, and Social Justice Moments brought to you by DignityUSA.

Breath of the Spirit is our electronic spiritual and liturgical resource for our members and potential members. Nothing can replace your chapter or other faith community but we hope you will find further support here for integrating your spirituality with your sexuality and all the strands of your life.

http://www.dignityusa.org/breath

RVC's Weekly Spiritual Essay
NOVEMBER 14, 2010: TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY OF THE YEAR

Readings:
Malachi 3:19-20a
II Thessalonians 3:7-12
Luke 21:5-19

I'm grateful to Dominic Crossan for pointing out something I'd never noticed. In his book God and Empire, he shows how the Book of Revelation differs from the apocalyptic sections of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, especially when it comes to the "end of the world." Familiar with C.S. Lewis' Tales of Narnia, and the Left Behind series, most of us picture a vengeful, destructive God finally "setting things straight" on earth. On that fateful day, and in periods leading up to it, God will punish all evil doers with great calamities. (Think of the four horsemen, not of Notre Dame, but of the Apocalypse.) When this horrible earth and its horrible inhabitants are finally decimated, God and Jesus will welcome the just into the realm of eternal, heavenly joy.

In all the Christian Scriptures, we find such a vindictive divine personality only in the book of Revelation. In today's Lucan pericope Jesus certainly talks about "things (which) are about to happen," and mentions "wars and insurrections," warning that "nation will rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom." He tells us that we'll have to endure "powerful earthquakes, famine and plagues," and experience "awesome sights and mighty signs (coming) from the sky." But for Luke these happenings are to be looked upon as "natural" phenomena.

Never does his Jesus say these are how God inflicts God's wrath on a sinful earth. Christians are not to think these happening are prerequisites for Jesus' arrival. They're simply things that occur in the course of our existence, not signs of Jesus' imminent return.

According to Luke, his readers must be prepared to live their normal lives until their natural deaths without expecting Jesus' Parousia to interrupt that process.

Luke's theology directs his readers' eyes from heaven (from whence Jesus will come) to the everyday people and events of life (in which the risen Jesus is already present.) Here, right now, disciples of Jesus should be able to discover and surface his/her presence, even in the middle of persecution.

The author of II Thessalonians, writing at least a generation after Paul's death, seems to buy into the same theology. Though his mentor, Paul, expected Jesus' return in his lifetime, today's writer mentions nothing of that belief in this passage. Instead, he or she zeroes in on the most down to earth happenings in the community. Addressing readers in the "person" of Paul, the author reminds them that the Apostle was no slouch. Even while evangelizing others, he constantly worked for his room and board - unlike those free-loaders in earshot of this original letter. Others, because of the free time their refusal to work provides, are "conducting themselves... in a disorderly way, by not keeping busy but minding the business of others." The things which people are concerned with right here and now are far more important than wasting time in futile attempts to pinpoint the exact time and place of the Parousia.

Malachi seems, at first glance, to be more at home with the book of Revelation than with Luke or the II Thessalonians author. He speaks about the "proud and evildoers" being burned into stubble. Yet, we must remember that when the prophet was active, there still was no concept of an afterlife as we know it today. Malachi seems to presume that the same sun which is a problem for proud evildoers will be a blessing for those who "fear (Yahweh's) name." The latter will experience it as a "sun of justice with . . . healing rays." What some judge to be a curse, others receive as a blessing.

No one knows why Jesus' Second Coming still lies in the future. We can only be certain that the time we're allotted before that glorious day should be a period in which we imitate the non-vindictive historical Jesus, even on those occasions when we're tempted to put the book of Revelation at the top of our reading list.

LBC: Breath of the Spirit 20101031

2010-10-31T19:45:00.001-04:00

Richard forwards this week's Breath of the Spirit. ~Phil.

From: Peggy Burns
Subject: Breath of the Spirit 10.31.10
Date: Wednesday, October 27, 2010, 8:15 AM

Jesus' ministry of seeking and saving "what was lost," is now our ministry.
DignityUSA: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Catholics
Breath of the Spirit

Pastoral, Liturgical, Teaching, and Social Justice Moments brought to you by DignityUSA.

Breath of the Spirit is our electronic spiritual and liturgical resource for our members and potential members. Nothing can replace your chapter or other faith community but we hope you will find further support here for integrating your spirituality with your sexuality and all the strands of your life.

http://www.dignityusa.org/breath

RVC's Weekly Spiritual Essay
OCTOBER 31, 2010: THIRTY-FIRST SUNDAY OF THE YEAR

Readings:
Wisdom 11:22-12:2
II Thessalonians 1:11-2:2
Luke 19:1-10

According to most scholars, Luke is the first Christian author to presume everyone in his community will die a natural death before Jesus returns in the Second Coming. This appears to be one of the reasons he frequently hammers away at mercy and forgiveness in his two-volume work.

The earliest followers of Jesus took for granted his Parousia was just around the corner. Because of this belief, some, preparing for his imminent arrival, focused on heaven (from where he would come), instead of on this earth. After all, they presumed Jesus, upon his arrival, would totally transform this planet. So why worry about something that wasn't going to be around for long.

We hear about some of this misdirected belief in our II Thessalonians passage. "We ask you, brothers and sisters, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling with him, not to be shaken out of your minds suddenly, or to be alarmed by a 'spirit,' or by an oral statement, or by a letter allegedly from us to the effect that the day of the Lord is at hand."

Obviously the disciple of Paul responsible for this letter is still dealing with "Parousia rumors" long after the Apostle's death. When the writer speaks about "the name of our Lord Jesus (being) glorified in you, and you in him," he's not speaking about someone's ability to pick the exact date of Jesus' arrival.

Those who spend their days concentrating on such future events are usually overlooking the presence of Jesus in their lives right here and now. That misfocused faith seems to be one of the forces driving Luke to write. As I frequently mention in these commentaries, if there are no problems, there are no Scriptures. Behind every important passage of Scripture lies a problem which triggered its writing.

If Jesus' Parousia actually is just around the corner, we presume he'll personally take care of the divine mercy and forgiveness we hear praised in our Wisdom pericope. "You (Yahweh) have mercy on all, because you can do all things; and you overlook people's sins that they may repent. . . You spare all things, because they are yours.... for your imperishable spirit is in all things." God's mercy and forgiveness is based on God recognizing part of God's self in all people - even sinners.

Part of Luke's unique theology, prompted by Jesus' delayed Parousia, revolves around his John Kennedy-like conviction that here on earth; God's work is truly our work. We not only praise God for acknowledging part of God in everyone, it's also our mission to acknowledge part of God in everyone.

The evangelist demonstrates how Jesus goes about this acknowledging, even in extreme situations, with extreme sinners. Good Jews thought tax collectors were about as far from Yahweh's image and likeness as one could get. Zacchaeus not only spent much of his ordinary day hobnobbing with hated, unclean Gentiles, he also did his best to guarantee the Roman army of occupation would stay in Palestine by collecting taxes from his own people to support its domineering presence.

No wonder the Jewish crowd grumbles when they hear Jesus invite himself to be Zacchaeus' house guest. "He's gone to stay in the house of a sinner." Yet Luke's Jesus sees something in this sinful person that no one in the crowd noticed. Yahweh has embedded Yahweh's spirit in this hated tax collector just as much as Yahweh's spirit was embedded in Abraham, the first Jew.

Jesus' ministry of seeking and saving "what was lost," is now our ministry. Can we surface anything better to occupy another Christ's time between now and the Parousia?

LBC: Announcements 20101031

2010-10-31T18:46:00.001-04:00

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday October, 31
31 attended

Announcements:

1. Non-Violent Communication - Nov 07 Sun 12:15p.

2. Dianne has perennials to share: sedum, 3 medium pots of anemones. See Dianne if you would like them.

3. Dianne brought old newspapers from the 1850's to share. They can be seen at the side table.

4. AnnW has extra green tomatoes to give away. See Ann if you would like any.

5. University of Dayton.

6. The Third Quarter tithe was given to Christ Episcopal Church to help with costs of refurbishing the exterior ramp; $1,180.

7. Support the Waffle Shop and Elsie's Attic, two fund-raisers organized by Christ Episcopal Church. See sign-up sheets are found in the first floor social hall.

8. MikeC reccommends this UD event. Sr. Helen Prejean vs. Ohio's Death Penalty will take place Tuesday, Nov. 9th at 2:00pm in Sears Recital Hall. Rally with us to end Ohio's death penalty with Sr. Helen Prejean, death penalty activist and author of Dead Man Walking. Contack Nick Cardilino at njc@udayton.edu with any questions.

Homily
20101031 - Luke 19:1-10 - 14 min - 27 MB

Next Week (Nov 07):

First Reading - MarkS

Second Reading - EdL

Refreshments - Strickers/Wilger

Cantor -- SteveM

LBC: Breath of the Spirit 20101024

2010-10-27T06:06:00.001-04:00

Dick forwards this week's Breath of the Spirit. Phil.

From: Peggy Burns
Subject: Breath of the Spirit 10.24.10
Date: Wednesday, October 20, 2010, 8:15 AM

Social status or hierarcharical distinctions mean nothing to God. All are equal.
DignityUSA: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Catholics

Breath of the Spirit

Pastoral, Liturgical, Teaching, and Social Justice Moments brought to you by DignityUSA.

Breath of the Spirit is our electronic spiritual and liturgical resource for our members and potential members. Nothing can replace your chapter or other faith community but we hope you will find further support here for integrating your spirituality with your sexuality and all the strands of your life.

http://www.dignityusa.org/breath

RVC's Weekly Spiritual Essay
OCTOBER 24, 2010: THIRTIETH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR

Readings:
Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18
II Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
Luke 18:9-14

Scholars presume Paul had been dead for sometime before the author of II Timothy composed today's second reading. That enables the writer to do for the Apostle what the evangelists did for Jesus in their Last Supper narratives: he creates a "farewell discourse." Our sacred authors are experts in composing such passages. We find farewell discourses in Scripture's earliest books. Jacob gathers his children around his death bed in Egypt and delivers one at the end of Genesis; Moses, before his death, is given the whole book of Deuteronomy to say "a few words" to the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land. A dying person's words are treasured, especially if that person is treasured by the community.

In words that have echoed in our ears for almost 20 centuries, the writer tells us Paul went to his martyr's death as a person pleased with his life's work." . . . The time of my departure is at hand. I have competed well; I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

As a child I couldn't understand why the Roman Empire killed Christians. They seemed a rather harmless lot. If they were good followers of Jesus they simply went around all day practicing love. Seems any community would have been overjoyed to have them as members.

One needs only read Dominic Crossan's God and Empire to understand why Christians so quickly ran into problems with the status quo. Their imitation of Jesus led them to craft a vision of the world quite different from that of most of the people around them. Christians were committed to changing much of what Rome wanted to maintain. Clashes were inevitable. Historians tell us that one of the most aggravating issues for the Empire revolved around Christian men's refusal to be inducted into the army. For the first two and a half centuries of the faith, followers of Jesus actually tried to carry out his Sermon on the Mount commands about retaliation and killing. Conscientious objection, an exception for us, was the rule for them.

But the Christian vision of "how things should be" also clashed with the Roman ideal on lower profile levels. Followers of Jesus simply related to others in a unique way in their daily lives. The class distinctions which had served the Empire well over the centuries were constantly being challenged by Jesus' disciples.

We hear about some of this uniqueness in our first and third readings. Trying to imitate Yahweh's personality traits which Sirach mentions, they started to develop a spirit of "egalitarianism" long before the French Revolution popularized the term in 1789. As Sirach states it, "Yahweh is a God of justice who knows no favorites." Social status or hierarcharical distinctions mean nothing to God. All are equal.

Luke's Jesus reinforces Sirach's insight. No two individuals could be on further ends of the religious spectrum than Pharisees and tax collectors. The former observed even the most minute law of Moses, while the latter's association with Gentiles was a sign he was willing to dump the whole Mosaic code. Jesus and his followers believed their relationship with God was far more important than their relationship with laws.

I often reflect on a significant part of my Grandma's "farewell discourse." Aware she was dying, she was in the midst of receiving the Sacrament of the Sick from her care facility's chaplain, when he asked, "Mary, do you want to go to confession one last time before you die?" She smiled, and, to the priest's surprise, weakly replied, "No thank you, Father. I went last week. I think that was good enough."

My grandma's relationship with Jesus was so tight that she didn't worry about dotting an eternal "i" or crossing a heavenly "t." She was unique, in the Christian sense of that word.

LBC: Announcements 20101024

2010-10-26T23:14:00.000-04:00

Dated -- I'm just back. Phil. (Thanks, Dick.)

Living Beatitudes Community

Sunday October, 24
26 attended

Announcements:

1. From TomS: Tom has tickets for a presentation at 7:00 P.M. this Tuesday, October 26, at Precious Blood Church entitled Angels of the Amazon - Sr. Dorothy Strang's Legacy Lives On. See Tom for tickets or call Nympha or Jessica at Catholic Social Services at 937-223-7217.

2. From JoeG: Joe has two articles to share. One is about the perceptions by various Christian groups about how their rhetoric leads to anti-gay violence. That article can be found at http://www.christiancentury.org/article/2010-10/americans-say-religious-messages-fuel-negatives-views-gays. The other piece is from Dan Savage, about how this rhetoric has led to suicide and how many religious people don't seem to understand. His views are found at http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2010/10/01/sl-letter-of-the-day-sorry-nothing-fun.

3. MichaelK turns 14 this Wednesday.

4. From BobB: Please support the Dignity/San Antonio chapter in your prayers. They have been kicked off church property. You should have received the announcement about this from the DignityUSA national office.

Homily
20101024 - Luke 18:9-14 - 9 min - 17 MB

Next Week (Oct 31):

First Reading - BillV

Second Reading - PamD

Refreshments - Bill and Mike

Cantor -- TomS

Respectfully submitted and looking forward to Phil's return (because he does this job so much better than I),

Dick