September 24

UCMHE

This Week at UNO:

Our goal is to provide meaningful religious discussions of depth and power. Look for the green table cloth with fish.

Monday Gathering, noon, MBSC food court: Session two of “Misquoting Jesus: The Story of Who Changed the Bible and Why.” Bart Ehrman tells the story behind the mistakes and changes that ancient scribes made to the New Testament and shows the great impact they had upon the bible we use today. He frames his account with personal reflections on how his study of the Greek manuscripts made him abandon his once ultraconservative views of the Bible. (from the cover).

Last week we shared our hopes for this time together: learning about Christianity from a variety of world religion perspectives; get some perspective about how the Bible is used by fundamentalists, evangelicals, traditionalists, progressives and ourselves; be centered enough to be less judgmental. My hopes are that we read the book and the bible, and we share leadership.

If you have a friend who might be interested in such a discussion, please feel free to bring them.

This week: chapter one. Q’s what does it mean to be a religion “of the book.” What do you think of Marcion, Iraneaus, and Hegel? (ha! Hegel’s not in the book, but he’s important. Because he gets credit for a crucial way of looking at things—thesis, antithesis, synthesis; write a song about that and bring it).

Tuesday Gathering: noon, MBSC food court: God within. Barbara Catterton is leader. These are spiritual pieces written by college age folks. This week’s is about a young woman’s reflection on witches and goddesses.

Wednesday: Gathering: Community: Liz Polivka is leader, Noon at the food court. The Bible reflects strong light on the

Thursday: 10 am at SPO. RIPV—you can join us in the planning for the February event—Responses to Intimate Partner Violence. We received a $3,500 grant and we’re using it to leverage additional support for a day of learning.

Mornings this week, I’ll have a presence in the fireplace lounge area. Informal conversation and legitimate religious endeavors will be the norm. You’re welcome to join in. Our ministry needs student energy and spiritual growth. Please help out with growing our program and relationships. Talk to me for specific suggestions.

Is gathering signatures to end Bookstore support of sweatshops in your future? Let me know about your feelings!

Program thoughts for the near future:

1. a group of three or four recent college graduates spent a year on the world stage volunteering in severe situations. If you want your life to be meaningful, this might be a way for you. See us Thursday, October, 5 at noon MBSC.

2. Movies should be seen and reflected upon. There are lots out there and could be the focus of Thursday night gatherings for dinner and a movie with reflections and brief worship. Let me know if you want to volunteer to help. Free Food!

3. Next Habitat for Humanity Saturday: October 14; please feel free to offer yourself as coordinator.

4. Islam 101: a teleconference course for you, 13th and Farnam, reduced course costs and free lunch for registrants. Taught by Dr. Paul Williams. Tuesdays beginning October 10.

5. Katrina relief volunteer work: Near New Orleans, December 31-Jan 7







I delivered a sermon at Elkhorn Hills United Methodist Church this morning. I talked about our two basic hungers:

1) to live a life that has meaning and
2) to be included and cared for

My hunch is that we all want these two components in our faith lives. Sure, free food is great, but what about meaning? We all know we want stuff, but we also know we want meaning--What we do should matter and make a difference.

I also think we want to be in a group or with another person that cares for us--deeply and without reservation. Along with independence and being able to be self-sufficient, we want to be able to share our lives of importance.

What I want to help develop at UNO is a group of at least 12 people who want to live lives with meaning and who want to learn to care deeply about each other and others.

God is key for all this to take place. We hear about God in scriptures and in songs and from those who have been in touch with God's spirit. We can learn more about God by being together learning and sharing ourselves--deeply.

Let's talk more.


--Fred