ACE of HEARTS
According to Paul (Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32), "the gifts and the calling of God are:
1. Temporary
2. A figment of Israel's imagination
3. Irrevocable
4. Now only offered to Christians
The answer is #3. Paul spends a good part of his letter to the Romans trying to offer an understanding of how Israel can continue to be God's chosen people despite the fact that most of Israel rejected Jesus. Paul says that Israel's gifts and calling of God will never be denied them. As Christians, we have a similar sense of the irrevocability of our call and gifts. Baptism is considered to leave an indelible mark on us. That means we will always be seen by God as his beloved even when we refuse to accept or live into that love.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
WHAT IS A CREDENCE TABLE?
Here is a photo of the Christ Church sanctuary. Do you see the credence table?
ACE of HEARTS
We are working with our young acoylytes and teaching them the names of different items used in the Eucharistic celebrations. Here is a question from that teaching.
What is a credence table?
A. A small table or shelf on the epistle side of the altar that holds the bread, wine and water before consecration.
B. Another name for the Altar.
C. A special table on which the creeds of the church are placed during an ordination service.
D. A table for candles.
THE CORRECT ANSWER IS A. Look at the photo above. See the small table on the right side of the photo? That is the credence table. Look below for a close up of the credence table.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
ACE FOR SEPTEMBER 2 and 9
ACE for 2 September
1. What did Jesus say about inviting folks to dinner?
A. Invite those less fortunate
B. Invite only those who are hungry
C. Only invite the most powerful people
D. Only invite those who agree with you
ANSWER: A
2. What advice did Jesus offer to guests invited to a meal
A. Check the master seating chart to find your place at the table
B. Sit at the place of the lowest honor
C. Allow the host to tell you where you are to sit
D. Rush to get the best seat at the table
ANSWER: B C
ACE for 9 September
1. According to this week's Gospel reading, what do you have to give up to become a disciple of Jesus?
A. Your cat fluffy
B. 20 dollars per week in pledge to the church
C. All your possessions
D. The idea that you own things
ANSWER: C and D
2. In telling people to plan ahead Jesus talked about going to war or building a tower. What would you use today as an example of planning ahead?
3. Do you have a favorite adage that expresses the view that one should always "count the cost" before one begins?
My personal favorite is "Plan ahead, it wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark."
1. What did Jesus say about inviting folks to dinner?
A. Invite those less fortunate
B. Invite only those who are hungry
C. Only invite the most powerful people
D. Only invite those who agree with you
ANSWER: A
2. What advice did Jesus offer to guests invited to a meal
A. Check the master seating chart to find your place at the table
B. Sit at the place of the lowest honor
C. Allow the host to tell you where you are to sit
D. Rush to get the best seat at the table
ANSWER: B C
ACE for 9 September
1. According to this week's Gospel reading, what do you have to give up to become a disciple of Jesus?
A. Your cat fluffy
B. 20 dollars per week in pledge to the church
C. All your possessions
D. The idea that you own things
ANSWER: C and D
2. In telling people to plan ahead Jesus talked about going to war or building a tower. What would you use today as an example of planning ahead?
3. Do you have a favorite adage that expresses the view that one should always "count the cost" before one begins?
My personal favorite is "Plan ahead, it wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark."
Sunday, August 19, 2007
August 26th
Read this week's Gospel story printed below.
Luke 13:10-17
Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, "Woman, you are set free from your ailment."
When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God.
But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, "There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the sabbath day."
But the Lord answered him and said, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?"
When he said this, all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing.
SABBATH TIME
1. Make a list of activities that you do on the Sabbath. Your Sabbath may be Saturday, Sunday, or both days. Or, Sabbath may be any days during the week that are your days off from work.
2. Next to each of these activities, place a letter indicating how these activities recharge you physically (P), spiritually(S), and emotionally (E)?
3. When Jesus heals the woman, what does she do?
4. Can you finish the following passage: "Come unto me, all ye that travail and are heavy laden, and I will ____________ _____ _______." Matthew 11:28 (Found on page 332 in The Book of Common Prayer)
5. Are these words of comfort to you?
SHAME
Have you ever experienced the shame of those who challenged Jesus' healing on the Sabbath? What caused you to feel shame?
SYMPATHETIC?
With whom are you most sympathetic?
Most Sympathetic = 1 Neutral = 0 Least Sympathetic =6
Jesus ____ Opponents _____ Woman ____
Satan _____ Entire Crowd _____
How does the division between Jesus' opponents and the crowd demonstrate the division and the fire that Jesus brings to the earth?
What makes change happen in our world?
Luke 13:10-17
Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, "Woman, you are set free from your ailment."
When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God.
But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, "There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the sabbath day."
But the Lord answered him and said, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?"
When he said this, all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing.
SABBATH TIME
1. Make a list of activities that you do on the Sabbath. Your Sabbath may be Saturday, Sunday, or both days. Or, Sabbath may be any days during the week that are your days off from work.
2. Next to each of these activities, place a letter indicating how these activities recharge you physically (P), spiritually(S), and emotionally (E)?
3. When Jesus heals the woman, what does she do?
4. Can you finish the following passage: "Come unto me, all ye that travail and are heavy laden, and I will ____________ _____ _______." Matthew 11:28 (Found on page 332 in The Book of Common Prayer)
5. Are these words of comfort to you?
SHAME
Have you ever experienced the shame of those who challenged Jesus' healing on the Sabbath? What caused you to feel shame?
SYMPATHETIC?
With whom are you most sympathetic?
Most Sympathetic = 1 Neutral = 0 Least Sympathetic =6
Jesus ____ Opponents _____ Woman ____
Satan _____ Entire Crowd _____
How does the division between Jesus' opponents and the crowd demonstrate the division and the fire that Jesus brings to the earth?
What makes change happen in our world?
Saturday, August 4, 2007
AUGUST ACE of HEARTS
ACE of HEARTS
August 12, 2007
Here is the Gospel for this Sunday. Please read it carefully and then consider the questions that follow.
Luke 12:32-40
Jesus said to his disciples, "Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
"Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.
"But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour."
TREASURE CHEST OF LIFE
Below you will find a treasure chest that is closed.
1. You are invited to make a list of treasures that are closest to your heart. Place these descriptions below the treasure chest as if you had just unpacked it. Feel free to decorate the treasure chest anyway that you would like.
2. When you complete this exercise, consider which of these things cannot be stolen or subject to destruction.
THEY CAN'T TAKE THAT AWAY FROM ME
Here is a tune from my parent's generation that sings of things that cannot be taken away.
There are many many crazy things
That will keep me loving you
And with your permission
May I list a few
The way you wear your hat
The way you sip your tea
The memory of all that
No they can't take that away from me
The way your smile just beams
The way you sing off key
The way you haunt my dreams
No they can't take that away from me
We may never never meet again, on that bumpy road to love
But I'll always, always keep the memory of
The way you hold your knife
The way we danced till three
The way you changed my life
No they can't take that away from me
3. Do you have people and memories that God has given to you "on that bumpy road to love?" Here is some space to write about them.
ACE of HEARTS
August 19, 2007
Here is the Gospel for this week. Please read it carefully and consider what in it is GOOD NEWS.
Luke 12:49-56
Jesus said, "I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided:
father against son
and son against father,
mother against daughter
and daughter against mother,
mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law
and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."
He also said to the crowds, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, `It is going to rain'; and so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, `There will be scorching heat'; and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?"
Interpreting the Present Time
1. Have you ever been the scapegoat in your family or avoided being the scapegoat? See if you can remember one time in particular and write it down in the space below.
2. How do Jesus' words about division in the family represent a change in the way peace and unity are normally held together in our world?
3. What is the difference in a family dispute between 5 against 1 versus 3 against 2 and 2 against 3?
4. What happens when there is no clear majority for or against someone?
5. What does it mean "to interpret the present times?" Is Jesus the new thing in our times that needs to be understood and factored into our view of reality?
6. Bob Dylan sang a song back in the 1960's with the recurring phrase, "The times they are a-changin." Here are the lyrics to this song. See if you hear anything like what Jesus is saying in our reading today. Here is a link to Dylan performing this piece on YOUTUBE. http://youtube.com/watch?v=z8rD1GpIgpo
Come gather 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'.
Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won't come again
And don't speak too soon
For the wheel's still in spin
And there's no tellin' who
That it's namin'.
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin'.
Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside
And it is ragin'.
It'll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'.
Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don't criticize
What you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin'.
Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin'.
The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin'.
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin'.
5. What is the Gospel message for this generation, this present time? What are the signs that we should be using to understand our present time?
6. Do we hear it in the music of our young?
7. Who are the prophets today?
ACE of HEARTS
August 26, 2007
Read this week's Gospel story printed below.
SABBATH TIME
1. Make a list of activities that you do on the Sabbath. Your Sabbath may be Saturday, Sunday, or both days. Or, Sabbath may be any days during the week that are your days off from work.
2. Next to each of these activities, place a letter indicating how these activities recharge you physically (P), spiritually(S), and emotionally (E)?
3. When Jesus heals the woman, what does she do?
4. Can you finish the following passage: "Come unto me, all ye that travail and are heavy laden, and I will ____________ _____ _______." Matthew 11:28 (Found on page 332 in The Book of Common Prayer)
5. Are these words of comfort to you?
Luke 13:10-17
Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, "Woman, you are set free from your ailment."
When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God. But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, "There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the sabbath day." But the Lord answered him and said, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?" When he said this, all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing.
SHAME
Have you ever experienced the shame of those who challenged Jesus' healing on the Sabbath? What caused you to feel shame?
SYMPATHETIC?
With whom are you most sympathetic?
Most Sympathetic = 1 Neutral = 0 Least Sympathetic =6
Jesus ____ Opponents _____ Woman ____
Satan _____ Entire Crowd _____
How does the division between Jesus' opponents and the crowd demonstrate the division and the fire that Jesus brings to the earth?
What makes change happen in our world?
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT?
I would really appreciate your input for future ACE of HEARTS. You can tear off this page and give it to me on Sundays or use the ACE online to copy and paste your input and then send it to me by email at rwcornner@aol.com. Your input is most welcomed and valued.
1. What sorts of learning experiences would like us to offer at the church that would meet your need as an adult Christian?
2. What questions would you like to see in future ACE offerings?
3. What is the hardest part about learning more about your Christian faith?
August 12, 2007
Here is the Gospel for this Sunday. Please read it carefully and then consider the questions that follow.
Luke 12:32-40
Jesus said to his disciples, "Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
"Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.
"But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour."
TREASURE CHEST OF LIFE
Below you will find a treasure chest that is closed.
1. You are invited to make a list of treasures that are closest to your heart. Place these descriptions below the treasure chest as if you had just unpacked it. Feel free to decorate the treasure chest anyway that you would like.
2. When you complete this exercise, consider which of these things cannot be stolen or subject to destruction.
THEY CAN'T TAKE THAT AWAY FROM ME
Here is a tune from my parent's generation that sings of things that cannot be taken away.
There are many many crazy things
That will keep me loving you
And with your permission
May I list a few
The way you wear your hat
The way you sip your tea
The memory of all that
No they can't take that away from me
The way your smile just beams
The way you sing off key
The way you haunt my dreams
No they can't take that away from me
We may never never meet again, on that bumpy road to love
But I'll always, always keep the memory of
The way you hold your knife
The way we danced till three
The way you changed my life
No they can't take that away from me
3. Do you have people and memories that God has given to you "on that bumpy road to love?" Here is some space to write about them.
ACE of HEARTS
August 19, 2007
Here is the Gospel for this week. Please read it carefully and consider what in it is GOOD NEWS.
Luke 12:49-56
Jesus said, "I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided:
father against son
and son against father,
mother against daughter
and daughter against mother,
mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law
and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."
He also said to the crowds, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, `It is going to rain'; and so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, `There will be scorching heat'; and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?"
Interpreting the Present Time
1. Have you ever been the scapegoat in your family or avoided being the scapegoat? See if you can remember one time in particular and write it down in the space below.
2. How do Jesus' words about division in the family represent a change in the way peace and unity are normally held together in our world?
3. What is the difference in a family dispute between 5 against 1 versus 3 against 2 and 2 against 3?
4. What happens when there is no clear majority for or against someone?
5. What does it mean "to interpret the present times?" Is Jesus the new thing in our times that needs to be understood and factored into our view of reality?
6. Bob Dylan sang a song back in the 1960's with the recurring phrase, "The times they are a-changin." Here are the lyrics to this song. See if you hear anything like what Jesus is saying in our reading today. Here is a link to Dylan performing this piece on YOUTUBE. http://youtube.com/watch?v=z8rD1GpIgpo
Come gather 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'.
Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won't come again
And don't speak too soon
For the wheel's still in spin
And there's no tellin' who
That it's namin'.
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin'.
Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside
And it is ragin'.
It'll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'.
Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don't criticize
What you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin'.
Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin'.
The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin'.
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin'.
5. What is the Gospel message for this generation, this present time? What are the signs that we should be using to understand our present time?
6. Do we hear it in the music of our young?
7. Who are the prophets today?
ACE of HEARTS
August 26, 2007
Read this week's Gospel story printed below.
SABBATH TIME
1. Make a list of activities that you do on the Sabbath. Your Sabbath may be Saturday, Sunday, or both days. Or, Sabbath may be any days during the week that are your days off from work.
2. Next to each of these activities, place a letter indicating how these activities recharge you physically (P), spiritually(S), and emotionally (E)?
3. When Jesus heals the woman, what does she do?
4. Can you finish the following passage: "Come unto me, all ye that travail and are heavy laden, and I will ____________ _____ _______." Matthew 11:28 (Found on page 332 in The Book of Common Prayer)
5. Are these words of comfort to you?
Luke 13:10-17
Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, "Woman, you are set free from your ailment."
When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God. But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, "There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the sabbath day." But the Lord answered him and said, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?" When he said this, all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing.
SHAME
Have you ever experienced the shame of those who challenged Jesus' healing on the Sabbath? What caused you to feel shame?
SYMPATHETIC?
With whom are you most sympathetic?
Most Sympathetic = 1 Neutral = 0 Least Sympathetic =6
Jesus ____ Opponents _____ Woman ____
Satan _____ Entire Crowd _____
How does the division between Jesus' opponents and the crowd demonstrate the division and the fire that Jesus brings to the earth?
What makes change happen in our world?
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT?
I would really appreciate your input for future ACE of HEARTS. You can tear off this page and give it to me on Sundays or use the ACE online to copy and paste your input and then send it to me by email at rwcornner@aol.com. Your input is most welcomed and valued.
1. What sorts of learning experiences would like us to offer at the church that would meet your need as an adult Christian?
2. What questions would you like to see in future ACE offerings?
3. What is the hardest part about learning more about your Christian faith?
Saturday, July 14, 2007
ACE of Hearts in July 2007
ACE OF HEARTS
in July 2007
An Experiment: During the month of July, I would like to experiment with a different format for our ACE of Hearts. You will find the next two weeks of Gospel readings below.
I need your help in deciding if this format is helpful to you in preparing for each week's worship experience. Please let me know if you find this format helpful or not by either calling me at 310 613-5146 or writing me an email at rwcornner@aol.com or just handing me a note on Sunday.
I greatly appreciate your input. I want to make sure that the time I spend preparing such things is helpful to you in your Christian formation and understanding.
God's Peace in Open Hearts and Minds,
Bob+
Instead of our usual multiple choice format, you will have an opportunity to explore some of your own attitudes in relation to people in the Gospel stories and in response to some of the things that Jesus taught.
JESUS, MARTHA AND MARY
For SUNDAY JULY 22, 2007
(Luke 10:38-42)
As Jesus and his disciples went on their way, Jesus entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he was saying.
But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her."
Invitation: Having read the Gospel above, rank the following characters in the story according to your sense of who seems most sympathetic to you. Go with your first impressions and then see if you can explain what led you to your decisions about the interaction of the characters.
Use the following 6 point scale to rate each character:
1= Most Sympathetic
3= Neutral
6= Least Sympathetic
In order of appearance:
Jesus _____ Martha ______ Mary ______
FOR SUNDAY JULY 29, 2007
Jesus on Prayer: Persistence and Patience
Luke 11:1-13
Jesus was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." He said to them,
"When you pray, say:
Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.
And do not bring us to the time of trial."
And he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, `Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.' And he answers from within, `Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.' I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.
"So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
Jesus responds to his disciples' request to learn his way of praying. From that we get the Lord's Prayer. It is not exactly like the one we use on Sundays. Can you identify how it is different from what we use?
Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.
And do not bring us to the time of trial."
Having read the Gospel above, rank the following characters in the story according to your sense of who seems most sympathetic to you.
Go with your first impressions and then see if you can explain what led you to your decisions about the interaction of the characters.
Use the following 6 point scale to rate each character:
1= Most Sympathetic
3= Neutral
6= Least Sympathetic
In order of appearance:
One of you who has a friend _____
Friend to whom you go at midnight ______
The Visitors from out of town
The Children of the Friend ______
Invitation: In the final section of this Gospel reading, Jesus connects the persistent person who goes to his neighbor at midnight to prayer. Respond to each of the statements below according to the following scale.
1= Strongly agree
3= Not sure
6 = Strongly disagree
1.I believe persistence in prayer always results in an answer to my prayer. _____
2. I believe that how I pray reveals what I believe about God and other people in the world. _____
3. I believe that prayer changes the person who is praying. _____
4. I believe that you have to be careful what you pray for because
you might get it. _____
5. I believe that I know what's best for those for whom I pray. _____
6. I believe that prayer makes me a more humble. ____
7. I believe that prayer allows me to surrender my sense of being in charge and responsible for everything. _____
8. I believe that prayer changes the people for whom we pray. _____
9. I believe that Jesus frequently prayed. _____
10. I believe that prayer makes my life better. _____
11. I believe that we should pray and work for bringing the compassionate of God into our world. _____
We have all prayed at some time during our lives. Here is some space to write down some of your experiences with prayer. Perhaps focus on both positive and negative experiences and offer some thoughts as to why you pray or don't pray today. The questions to which you responded above may help you in this last reflection on prayer.
FEEDBACK ON THE ACE EXPERIMENT
1= Agree 3= Neutral 6= Disagree
1. I like the old ACE format better. _____
2. I don't like the new or the old ACE format. _____
3. I like the Sympathy exercise. _____
4. I like the agree/disagree exercise. _____
5. I like being asked to compare the two versions of the Lord's Prayer (Luke to the one we say) _____
6. I like having input on the ACE. _____
7. I don't feel qualified to give input on the ACE. _____
8. I would rather not give input on the ACE. _____
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT?
1. What sorts of learning experiences would like us to offer at the church that would meet your need as an adult Christian?
2. What questions would you like to see in future ACE offerings?
3. What is the hardest part about learning more about your Christian faith?
in July 2007
An Experiment: During the month of July, I would like to experiment with a different format for our ACE of Hearts. You will find the next two weeks of Gospel readings below.
I need your help in deciding if this format is helpful to you in preparing for each week's worship experience. Please let me know if you find this format helpful or not by either calling me at 310 613-5146 or writing me an email at rwcornner@aol.com or just handing me a note on Sunday.
I greatly appreciate your input. I want to make sure that the time I spend preparing such things is helpful to you in your Christian formation and understanding.
God's Peace in Open Hearts and Minds,
Bob+
Instead of our usual multiple choice format, you will have an opportunity to explore some of your own attitudes in relation to people in the Gospel stories and in response to some of the things that Jesus taught.
JESUS, MARTHA AND MARY
For SUNDAY JULY 22, 2007
(Luke 10:38-42)
As Jesus and his disciples went on their way, Jesus entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he was saying.
But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her."
Invitation: Having read the Gospel above, rank the following characters in the story according to your sense of who seems most sympathetic to you. Go with your first impressions and then see if you can explain what led you to your decisions about the interaction of the characters.
Use the following 6 point scale to rate each character:
1= Most Sympathetic
3= Neutral
6= Least Sympathetic
In order of appearance:
Jesus _____ Martha ______ Mary ______
FOR SUNDAY JULY 29, 2007
Jesus on Prayer: Persistence and Patience
Luke 11:1-13
Jesus was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." He said to them,
"When you pray, say:
Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.
And do not bring us to the time of trial."
And he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, `Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.' And he answers from within, `Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.' I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.
"So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
Jesus responds to his disciples' request to learn his way of praying. From that we get the Lord's Prayer. It is not exactly like the one we use on Sundays. Can you identify how it is different from what we use?
Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.
And do not bring us to the time of trial."
Having read the Gospel above, rank the following characters in the story according to your sense of who seems most sympathetic to you.
Go with your first impressions and then see if you can explain what led you to your decisions about the interaction of the characters.
Use the following 6 point scale to rate each character:
1= Most Sympathetic
3= Neutral
6= Least Sympathetic
In order of appearance:
One of you who has a friend _____
Friend to whom you go at midnight ______
The Visitors from out of town
The Children of the Friend ______
Invitation: In the final section of this Gospel reading, Jesus connects the persistent person who goes to his neighbor at midnight to prayer. Respond to each of the statements below according to the following scale.
1= Strongly agree
3= Not sure
6 = Strongly disagree
1.I believe persistence in prayer always results in an answer to my prayer. _____
2. I believe that how I pray reveals what I believe about God and other people in the world. _____
3. I believe that prayer changes the person who is praying. _____
4. I believe that you have to be careful what you pray for because
you might get it. _____
5. I believe that I know what's best for those for whom I pray. _____
6. I believe that prayer makes me a more humble. ____
7. I believe that prayer allows me to surrender my sense of being in charge and responsible for everything. _____
8. I believe that prayer changes the people for whom we pray. _____
9. I believe that Jesus frequently prayed. _____
10. I believe that prayer makes my life better. _____
11. I believe that we should pray and work for bringing the compassionate of God into our world. _____
We have all prayed at some time during our lives. Here is some space to write down some of your experiences with prayer. Perhaps focus on both positive and negative experiences and offer some thoughts as to why you pray or don't pray today. The questions to which you responded above may help you in this last reflection on prayer.
FEEDBACK ON THE ACE EXPERIMENT
1= Agree 3= Neutral 6= Disagree
1. I like the old ACE format better. _____
2. I don't like the new or the old ACE format. _____
3. I like the Sympathy exercise. _____
4. I like the agree/disagree exercise. _____
5. I like being asked to compare the two versions of the Lord's Prayer (Luke to the one we say) _____
6. I like having input on the ACE. _____
7. I don't feel qualified to give input on the ACE. _____
8. I would rather not give input on the ACE. _____
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT?
1. What sorts of learning experiences would like us to offer at the church that would meet your need as an adult Christian?
2. What questions would you like to see in future ACE offerings?
3. What is the hardest part about learning more about your Christian faith?
Sunday, July 8, 2007
The Parable of the Samaritan: Sympathetic or Not Sympathetic
Here are the results of the surveys you completed about the characters in the Parable of the Samaritan.
1= Most Sympathetic
3= Neutral
6= Least Sympathetic
In order of appearance:
Man beaten and robbed 1.14
The Robbers 5.86
The Priest 4.71
The Lawyer 4.14
The Samaritan 1.29
The Innkeeper 2.14
1= Most Sympathetic
3= Neutral
6= Least Sympathetic
In order of appearance:
Man beaten and robbed 1.14
The Robbers 5.86
The Priest 4.71
The Lawyer 4.14
The Samaritan 1.29
The Innkeeper 2.14
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