Category Archives: Lenten reflection

Bible Study, Fellowship, Lenten reflection, News

2017 Lenten Study Groups

Liberation Theology Study Group Sundays at 3 pm

Stand Your Ground: Black Bodies and the Justice of God

Liberation Theology Study group is currently discussing Stand Your Ground: Black Bodies and the Justice of God by the womanist theologian Kelly Brown Douglas. Local activist T. Marie King is co-facilitating the book discussion with Rev. Jennifer. All are welcomed to join the discussion!

 

Bible study Wednesday nights at 6 PM
Plenty Good Room: A Lenten Bible Study Based on African American Spirituals

This unique short-term Bible study combines an in-depth look at Scripture, American history, and the music and lyrics of six African American spirituals. The six-session study provides biblical, social, and historical analyses of  ‘Ev’ry Time I Feel the Spirit,” “This Lonesome Valley,” “Bow Down on Your Knees,” “Plenty Good Room,” “Ain’t Dat Good News,” and “Were You There?” Bible Study facilitated by Rev. Sally Harris at Beloved, Wednesday nights at 6 pm.

 

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Get to know Beloved, Lenten reflection

Holy Saturday Reflection from Palmer Maxwell: An unfailing light

Frescos in St. George Church in Macedonia show Jesus and the harrowing of hell

From a sermon by St. Maximus of Turin, Bishop, 5th Century AD:

“I have caused an unfailing light to rise in heaven.”

And as in heaven no night can follow day, so no sin can overshadow the justice of Christ. The celestial day is perpetually bright and shining with brilliant light; clouds can never darken its skies. In the same way, the light of Christ is eternally glowing with luminous radiance and can never be extinguished by the darkness of sin. This is why John the evangelist says: ‘The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never been able to overpower it.’
Continue reading Holy Saturday Reflection from Palmer Maxwell: An unfailing light →

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Get to know Beloved, Lenten reflection

Good Friday Reflection from Palmer Maxwell: A bridge from death to life

Icon of Christ’s Descent into Hell from an unknown Russian artist, c. 1500

The cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified is, and always will be, a sign that is ambiguous because it represents at one and the same time two seemingly contradictory realities: suffering and salvation.

Continue reading Good Friday Reflection from Palmer Maxwell: A bridge from death to life →

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Get to know Beloved, Lenten reflection, Social justice

Lenten Reflection from Ramallah Friends Meeting in Palestine

“Do not weep for me. No! Weep for yourselves and your children.”

This week, the worldwide Christian fellowship will turn its attention to the last days and hours of Jesus’ earthly life. Many will travel here to Palestine as pilgrims to participate in our spiritual observances.  Once again, together and wherever we may be in the world, our thoughts will dwell upon his suffering. We will undoubtedly be moved by compassion as we allow ourselves to enter into both the horror and the wonderment of this experience.

Continue reading Lenten Reflection from Ramallah Friends Meeting in Palestine →

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Bible Study, Get to know Beloved, Lenten reflection, Social justice

Lenten Reflection from Rev. Lawton Higgs: A message to the white protestant church

2 Corinthians 5:16 (New Revised Standard Version)

“From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view, even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer that way.”
 
2 Corinthians 5:16 (The Message)
“Because of this decision we don’t evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don’t look at him that way any more.”
 
Phil. 3:4b (New Revised Standard Version)
“If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more:”
 
Phil. 3:4b (The Message)
“we can list what many might think are impressive credentials.”

The White Protestant Church in Alabama has failed God. We evaluate people by what they have and how they look. You have to be born straight, out of a white, thin, rich belly from a white male, as a white male to count. We no longer see our Christ as a poor, brown, unattractive, Jewish, Palestinian, peasant as the embodiment of God’s rule among us, as the spokesperson and demonstration of the Queendom/Kingdom of God.

Continue reading Lenten Reflection from Rev. Lawton Higgs: A message to the white protestant church →

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Bible Study, Economic justice, Gender Justice, Get to know Beloved, Healthcare, Housing Justice, Immigration Justice, Lenten reflection, LGBTQI, Racial Justice, Social justice

Lenten Reflection from Rev. Lawton Higgs: Praxis

Luke 4: 5-8 Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, “To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'”

Romans 10: 11-13 The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Continue reading Lenten Reflection from Rev. Lawton Higgs: Praxis →

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Bible Study, Get to know Beloved, Lenten reflection, Sermons

Sermon from Rev. Emily Freeman Penfield: Can’t Keep Quiet


The Procession in the Streets of Jerusalem by James Tissot, 1890s

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Bible Study, Get to know Beloved, Lenten reflection

Lenten Reflection from Carmen Maria Austin: Smell the Flowers

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads in every place the fragrance that comes from knowing him. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not peddlers of God’s word like so many; but in Christ we speak as persons of sincerity, as persons sent from God and standing in his presence. -2 Corinthians 2:14-17

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Get to know Beloved, Lenten reflection, Music

Lenten Reflection from Susan Proctor: God is Alive

When I was a teenager, I left the Methodist church and joined LRY, Liberal Religious Youth, of the Unitarian Church in Birmingham. At one point, we decided to each bring a song that had affected our hearts in a very powerful way. Below is the song that I shared. Now, at sixty, I find that this song has stayed with me, grows in meaning and strength and comfort.

What we knew when young, is often our greatest truth. This is to me. I am very grateful to these artists. – Susan Proctor


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Get to know Beloved, Lenten reflection

Lenten Reflection from Deborah Nell: Beloved

This post appeared on the blog Daily Painters of Pennsylvania. All artwork and words are the copywright of painter Deborah Nell. 

“So there is a story to this painting. I went into my studio the other day to get something and happened to glance at the newsprint covering my art table. I haven’t changed it for quite some time. Continue reading Lenten Reflection from Deborah Nell: Beloved →

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