March 7th Prayer Service and Discussion

“Becoming-Transformation” was the theme of the March 7, 2007 Lenten Prayer Service. Mary Havstad and Ron Joki led the service. Anna, Fred and Carin Vagle provided musical accompaniment. Mary opened the service leading the congregation in the prayer “Come, O’Spirit” followed by the congregation singing “I Say Yes My Lord.” The first reading was the Matthew’s Gospel story of the transfiguration of Jesus, Matthew 17: 1-8.

Fred and Anna Vagle Mary reflected on the readings and this year’s Lenten theme of “Dangerous Stories”. God tells us to listen to Jesus; Jesus tells us not to be afraid; and that life without fear is a life with peace. Lent is a time for reflection Mary said. What is a dangerous story- a time when we felt threatened and afraid? But it is also, Mary noted, a time for transformation. Lent is a time to look at barriers that prevent you from becoming all that you can become. Mary asked us to look at our own barriers. Are there barriers that keep you from becoming all that you can become? Envision a life without barriers. How would life be without fear. Can you give your fear to God, can you face your fear? Make a promise, Mary asked, to go back to a time of fearlessness. In doing so Mary said there are people who can support you and a loving God to help you overcome your fear. We all need moments of transformation, Mary noted in conclusion, so look for little moments of transformation.

Carin Vagle followed the reflection with a beautiful rendition of “Listen To Your Heart” accompanied by Anna on the flute and Fred on guitar. Following a responsorial prayer “Called to Become” adapted from Psalms of a Laywoman by Edwina Gately, Ron Joki made a request for prayers from the congregation. One by one people prayed for friends, family and other members of the community who had recently died; were suffering from an illness; undergoing surgery; suffering from addiction. People prayed for an end to war in Iraq, Afghanistan and everywhere else; for our soldiers who come home from war and are abandoned; homeless children in Minneapolis; refugees of war; and a friend looking for employment.

The Prayer Service ended with the prayer “We Are Grateful” and the closing song “I Can See Clearly Now.”

Joan Riebel, Julie Madden and Tom Myott-Smith ARE YOU A SINNER? ARE YOU SAVED?

Following the Prayer Service, Tom Smith-Myott, Joan Riebel and Julie Madden led a thought-provoking discussion on Sin and Salvation. Are you saved and what does that mean? Tom discussed the old paradigm of substitutionary atonement. Under that paradigm, we were all born sinners because Adam and Eve fell from the Garden of Eve. Their fall required redemption. Someone needed to take on the wrath of God and atone for all of us. This led to the need for Jesus, the Son of God, the perfect human, who could atone for our sins. In this paradigm, we are saved through redemptive violence. It took the violent and painful death of Jesus to atone for our fall from Grace. Tom noted however, that this view only became the central in the Church around the year 1,000. Modern scripture study does not center on substitution atonement, Tom said. Instead the focus is on the offering of a gift. To say that Jesus’ death was a sacrifice means it is sacred to us. The mystery of original sin, Tom reflected, is subordinate to the mystery of faith, the mystery of grace. In this context, the Cross is the dominant system saying no to Jesus and no to his message. For us in this time, Tom noted, the Cross is the price you pay for following Jesus. Tom ended with asking the congregation to discuss in small groups the question “How has your world view change in the last few years and how had this affected your understanding of sin and salvation.”

discussion group members Following lively discussion Joan Reibel spoke. She said she grew up thinking sin was the reason she needed church. The total focus was on individual sin. In contrast, Joan said, now we talk about the sin of the world. Joan noted that the theologian Marcus Borg encourages the use of many words to describe sin. In doing so we see that sin is part of human reality. Joan concluded asking “What Stands in Your Way of Being Open to the Good.” The responses from the congregation were many and numerous, including: fear; comfort; consumerism which cuts us off from pain and the suffering of others; not wanting to be out of control; and afraid of being the lone voice and speaking out when everyone else is doing something different.

Julie Madden concluded the lecture with a discussion of what the emerging paradigm means in terms of salvation. What did Jesus say he came to do, Julie asked. To answer that question Julie looked to what Jesus said: “To bring the Good News to the poor; to liberate the oppressed.” In the new paradigm, salvation equates to liberation. We are so much more connected to the whole than we have experienced in the past, Julie said. Human dignity is realized only in community. How we live with one another is our liberation. Julie concluded with examining the meaning of Justice. The biblical definition of Justice is “being in right relationship.” Our work for justice is what liberates us. Julie asked the congregation to go back into discussion one more time to reflect on “how have you been liberated by being part of this Community.”


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Ric Rosow has worn many hats at St. Joan of Arc. He is currently chair of the parish Finance Committee. He has also spoken several times at Sunday Mass and was on the Fellowship of Reconciliation trip to the Middle East in 2003. His wife, Vicki Underland-Rosow, is currently a member of the Pastoral Council.
If you were not at last week’s soup, prayer and education and did not have a chance to reflect on this and the prior questions, think about them now and join the congregation at next Wednesday’s program for a continuation of this thought provoking series.

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