Exploring websites last week, I was somewhat surprised to come across that of an Episcopal parish that featured the below posting with their front page schedule of worship services. I am aware of and somewhat familiar with the Progressive Christianity movement, and in fact regularly receive a newsletter type email from an associated source.  Progressive Christianity is an open, intelligent and collaborative approach to the Christian tradition and the life and teachings of Jesus that creates a pathway into an authentic and relevant religious experience. The 8 Points of Progressive Christianity WORSHIP SCHEDULE Sunday Morning 9:00 am Holy Eucharist 8:30 am Choir Practice 9:45 am Nursery Care (up to 4 years of age) 10:00 am Church School 10:00 am Holy Eucharist 11:15 am Fellowship Time Opening their link "The 8 Points of Progressive Christianity" brought up the following panel, which I shared with our adult Sunday School class gathering yesterday, for discussion after we had...

Greetings, Sunday School friends! This morning I hope to get to two different topics, but if we only get to the first, there's lots of summer still ahead of us for straying off our usual path of lectionary-oriented Bible study. The first topic is the OT book Obadiah. I have a chat sheet to use in class and is added to this blogpost at the end (scroll way down). For now, here's handout information about Obadiah. עֹֽבַדְיָ֑ה   Obadiah (Complete Jewish Bible) 1  This is the vision of ‘Ovadyah. Here is what יְהוִ֜ה לֶאֱד֗וֹם yehVAH haShem Adonai Elohim says about Edom. As a messenger was being sent among בַּגּוֹיִ֑ם the Goyim the nations saying, “Come on, let’s attack her,” we heard a message from Adonai : 2  “I am making you the least of all nations, you will be beneath contempt. 3  Your proud heart has deceived you, you whose homes are caves in the cliffs, who live on the heights and say to yourselves, ‘Who can bring me down to the ground?’ 4  If you make you...

Just thinking this morning, worrying a bit, distressed about and sad for people who are hurting and anxious. While recalling the petition in the old Litany, "... and from sudden death", lately revised to "... from dying suddenly and unprepared". And another prayer, a collect: Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away, to hold fast to those that shall endure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen . On this Saturday morning, digging frantically to find dozens of people missing and increasingly hopelessly silent in the pancaked concrete ruin of a collapsed condominium building in South Florida, loved ones distraught with fear and grief.  Long-classified military secrets being aired sensationally, confirming unidentified flying objects, not inconceivably otherworldly beings visiting e...