COALESCE: A time of connection in community:

We are reading John Phillip Newell’s, The Rebirthing of God: Christianity’s Struggle for the New Beginnings.  There are still a few books ($12.00) available at church, with the suggestion that it is good if you can read ahead of time, but is certainly not a prerequisite for listening and engaging in the seminar-like environment.

Newell offers eight features of “new beginnings”, reconnecting us to the earth, compassion, the Light, the journey, spiritual practice, non violence, the unconscious, and love. A primary question we are asking, What does the statement mean to you that we are made of God rather than simply by God? What are the implications of this question for our life perspective and how we live our lives?

During our session we were able to hear John Phillip Newell at a workshop at Harvard Divinity School. His challenging thoughts on the concept of original sin were introduced and our discussion allowed us to question and consider the impact of this formative precept in church theology.

Reading and discussion for Sunday October 13: Tying up loose ends of Chapter 1 Reconnecting with the Earth and begin discussing Chapter 2: Reconnecting with Compassion.  No new reading assignment for this week.  For a portion of our time together we will continue to hear Newell at the Harvard Divinity School Conference.

COME JOIN US, WHETHER YOU ARE A REGULAR OR JUST A ONCE-IN-AWHILE DROP IN.  WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU!