Today … some random thoughts and ideas that have been rattling around my brain this week …
The image today is from a Bethany United Church member, Kathy Brown. During these weeks when we are exploring the idea of stewardship as being about something bigger than money … or, as Rev. Dr. Rob Fennell put it in last week’s video “my life as a steward”, we are also highlighting some of the gifts, talents and stories of people and groups at Bethany United Church.
Kathy has many talents, and one of them is that she paints watercolours. You can check out her website at Kathy Brown Fine Art. When Kathy heard about the title of our Faith Study Painting the Stars, she emailed me and said “Painting the Stars is what I do.” … and sent me a selection of her paintings, which I find quite stunning. She has generously offered her paintings to be used during this time, and there will be another one as the image on our bulletin this week. Thank you Kathy!
And, speaking of Painting the Stars, we started our faith study this week, which is all about exploring the relationship between science and religion. It’s pretty fascinating, and I think it’s safe to say it is unlike any “bible study” you may have taken before.
I was approached this week by someone in the community who would prefer to meet in person during the daytime. I would be happy to offer an additional session during the daytime if there were several of you that are interested in that. Send me an email at marthamartin2687@gmail.com and let me know if there is a day that you would prefer, and whether you would prefer morning or early afternoon and we’ll find a time that works.
Next week we also begin a monthly book study on Thursdays at noon called “Talking about God.” Don’t be mistaken … these will not be heavy theological volumes … but accessible books by current authors and speakers - Anne Lamott, Nadia Bolz Weber, Brian McLaren, Rachel Held Evans, Diana Butler Bass - there are many to choose from. Many of them I will have used in groups before, and I have found them to open up conversations of meaning and understanding. They also, in my opinion, break the stereotype of what (some think) it means to “think theologically”.
Our first book, which I chose specifically because next week is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30, we will take a look at David A. Robertson’s 52 Ways to Reconcile: How to Walk With Indigenous Peoples on the Path to Healing. I spoke a bit about this book in one of my sermons back in June, and you can find a recent Broadview interview with Robertson at Your beginner’s guide to living out reconciliation — one week at a time | Broadview Magazine
Also, remember that we have a copy of the book in the office if you want to borrow it. I think it’s a pretty quick read, and even if you haven’t finished the book (that’s always one of my rules for the book club … that you don’t need to have finished the book to come to the discussion … but you also have to be prepared for spoilers …) please feel free to come along. There are lots of great ideas about how individuals and groups can really begin to live out what we say we believe.
Finally, last week Pat and I thoroughly enjoyed watching the new documentary “Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery”, which you can watch on CBC Gem. Lots of great tidbits about the music industry, the role of women, and Halifax’s own Sarah MacLaughlin. And how this particular event (Lilith Fair) changed the music industry. Here are a couple of articles about it.
5 things we learned from the documentary Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery | CBC Music
The Lilith Fair doc isn't just a very good movie — it's also very good for the soul | CBC Arts
See you Sunday!
