ARTS & MISCELLANEOUS

Carry Me
by Tim Lowly

Brian Volck in the on-line blog “Image: Art, Faith, Mystery” writes: “Lately, I’ve been reading some works at the intersection of theology and the impaired body. As a physician trying to live as a Christian, that’s where I spend much of my professional time. While I treasure idealized portrayals of the human figure in classical and Italian Renaissance art, I, like you, perhaps, am an imperfect body in a suffering world. In my life and work, I experience pain and suffering less as a brutal shattering of perfection than a familiar, often ironic companion - Here’s where I find the work of (21st century) visual artist Tim Lowly so compelling. His daughter, Temma, who appears frequently in his paintings, has a constellation of impairments Lowly never disguises. - Lowly lovingly places his daughter in contexts which neither idealize nor demean her.
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Faith-Related Links & Blogs

(Blogs are like on-line journals kept by individuals with the addition that they are often interactive.

Often visitors may comment on entries and create discussion. These sites are not related in any way to First Congregational Church and are provided only as a way to provoke thought on faith and faith issues.)

Philocrates (commentary on liberal religion and politics)
Image:Art, Faith, Mystery
BuildingBridges
Faith Stories
thecampbell chronicles
Killing the Buddha
Emerging Church Blog
Soul Gardeners
Ragamuffin Minister
Blog.Culture and Faith.com

UCCTruths
(critiques of UCC policies and actions, particularly those of
Natl. Office)
« Are you concerned about the future of the church?
Vacation Bible School: June 26 - 30, 6 - 8:30pm »

Looking Ahead

Living the Questions Logo<br />“> While most of us are just getting ready to take a deep breath and<br /> relax into the heat of summer and the lower level of commitments summer<br /> brings, a few of us are already looking ahead to the fall. In the<br /> tradition of “The Grand Sweep”, and The Companions in Christ<br /> congregation-wide group studies, we are going to be offering a 12-week<br /> small group experience for youth and adults called <span style=Living the Questions.

The web page for Living the Questions introduces it this way:

“Wisdom is asking the questions for which there are no answers” — Harrell Beck

People know that at its core, Christianity has something good to offer
the human race. At the same time, many have a sense that they are alone
in being a “thinking” Christian and that “salvaging” Christianity is a
hopeless task. What is needed is a safe environment where people have
permission to ask the questions they’ve always wanted to ask but have
been afraid to voice for fear of being thought a heretic. Living the
Questions is a 12-week DVD and web-based small group study exploring
beyond the traditions and rote theologies in which so many people and
local churches seem to be stuck.î

Themes for the study include:

An Invitation to Journey
Thinking Theologically
Creativity and Stories of Creation
Restoring Relationships
Evil and a God of Love: The Place of Suffering
Intimacy with God
Social Justice and The
Prophets
A Kingdom Without Walls: Ruth
& Jonah
Lives of
Jesus
Compassion: the Heart of
Jesus’ Ministry
A Passion for Christ: Paul the
Apostle
Out into the World:
Challenges Facing  Progressive Christianity

Each weekís meeting will last two hours (plus a half-hour if the group
is sharing a meal together). There will be 20-30 minute videos for each
session which will include conversation, sermon clips, comedy/satire,
lecture excerpts, and spiritual exercises for practical applications
(including different forms of prayer and meditation, movement, walking
the labyrinth, etc). Since the overall theme is that of faith as a
journey, not a destination, the Living the Questions web site will
offer resources for continued exploration, including downloadable
expanded study guides, extra video resources, and links.

Living the Questions will help youth, adults, seekers and “church
alumni/ae” alike in discovering the relevance of Christianity in the
21st Century and what a meaningful faith can look like in today’s
world. If youíre ready to begin a great adventure, fill out a
registration form available in the narthex.  Sessions will be offered
on various days and at various times in response to registrations
received

This entry was posted on Sunday, May 28th, 2006 at 6:23 pm and is filed under Adult Education. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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