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community schola
No, we haven't forgotten. We will not let it drop out of memory. The Vine & Branches Community Schola moves forward. Kyle and I were talking more about it last night and I think we'll go back to the original idea of studying some of the Church Fathers, especially at the beginning. Some of it may be a little thick but I think, well worth it. I'll be looking through some of the early basic teachings and we'll have something to read through.
The plan, loosely, is to have our introductory meeting in early September. I'll put up more details later. Looking forward to it.
| posted by + Alan | 9:16 AM | 2 comments |
Friday, July 23, 2004
testing
our domain name lapsed and now it's causing problems - testing.
| posted by + Alan | 4:49 PM | 0 comments |
Wednesday, July 21, 2004
Morning Prayer
From today's morning prayer:
Lord, keep us in your love, preserve our community, do not let us become separated from one another. Give us strength in temptation, endurance in trial, and gratitude in prosperity.
| posted by Bryan | 6:30 AM | 1 comments |
Friday, July 16, 2004
Communion Question
As many of you know from reading my blog, I've been listening to a great message that a friend of mine did called A Mixed Drink. In this message, he looks at how the Bible views alcohol and basically concludes that alcohol is one of the many good things given by God meant for our enjoyment, within moderation (i.e. no drunkenness). That's the view I hold as well.
To get more to my question . . . many Christians today use wine during communion. As a matter of fact, we follow that practice at VBCC. One question that Chris touches on is using grape juice vs. wine for Communion. How does a faith community handle Communion when someone who is a struggling alcoholic becomes a part of that and shares in Communion each week? That's not an issue with VBCC now but what about down the road?
Thoughts?
| posted by Bryan | 8:20 AM | 4 comments |
Thursday, July 01, 2004
Another Idea
This might be a silly suggestion, if it is just say so. My feelings won't be hurt, I promise. We talked some this past Tuesday about some practical ways to share things as a community. Alan mention some good ones, (garden, Sam's Club, helping each other) and I meant to suggest one other. What about sharing books? Perhaps we could include a complete list on the VBCC website? I don't know . . . just a thought. It seems a bit silly for all of us to be buying books when someone in our community may own it already! Thoughts?
| posted by Bryan | 6:23 PM | 2 comments |
Yet another good quote
I hate to only ever be posting quotes on here, but it seems like every time we get together and deal somewhat seriously with a subject, it comes up in my CQOD email a day or two later. Just as a little disclaimer, I realize that this quote could (by some) be read as a kind of "rebuke" of our planning stages, but I don't see it that way. I see it as a kind of confirmation that we're on the right track, that we're trying to move away from some of the things Mr. Reid is talking about. And, too, if you notice the date of the quote, it also tells us that we Christians have been struggling with some of these issues for quite a while. Anyway, with no further ado, here's the quote:
"This is the age of the conference and study group--people talking about what they know they should be doing. In a subtle way, talking about something becomes an excuse for not doing it. This new bolt-hole of the conference and study group is not confined to the local congregation. It is a painful fact of life in the central structures of the churches. We have a welter of reports, commissions, surveys, liaison bodies, and so on. They have the appearance of progressive thinking and readiness to face change, combined with the function of being delaying devices. They are the sacraments of current Christianity, and its dilemma. Outreach is a move from power structures to meekness structures, and, in spite of the fact that Christians believe that it is the meek who shall inherit the earth, they show (as in the ecumenical movement) a distinct reluctance to relinquish power-structure thinking.
~Gavin Reid, The Gagging of God [1969]
| posted by #Debi | 7:00 AM | 0 comments |