Monday, June 11, 2007

Life @ The Crossing: A June to Chill

Just a shout-out to invite everyone to come and chill this June with The Crossing! Because summer is nearly here, AND we'll still be here: worshiping here at the Cathedral on Thursdays, holding scripture talks in Cambridge 2x a month and scrums 1x a month, hosting some house parties in August, and generally keeping the door open for the God who doesn't take summers off

THURSDAYS IN JUNE
Edith and Corey will partner up to lead our reflections on the gospel (see below for the readings, and post your own comments!), and Chris and company will help us to pray with the Psalms. Sarah Thiemann (our Booty Vortex-singing sister) will take over as song leader for the month, and she can't wait to take everybody to "higher ground" (thank you, Stevie). So come at 6 p.m. for practice, 6:30 p.m. for worship. Stay afterward to eat, clean and hang. It's a good life.

MONDAYS IN JUNE
** Got extra time this summer? You can volunteer at the Cathedral's Monday Lunch Program every Monday @ 11:30-12:30. Grab an apron, slip on some gloves and practice radical hospitality with our hungry neighbors.
** Scripture Chats in Cambridge on the 2nd and 4th Mondays at 6:30-8 pm. This week, Grendel's Den in Harvard Square (corner of JFK St and Winthrop St., part of the tiny park with the Peet's Coffee), with special guest Rachel Anderson from the Boston Faith and Justice Network.

SUMMER SCHEDULE
Okay, so maybe we will lighten up JUST a bit as the summer flows on:)
** Take off in August: In August, we take a break from worship, though you can stay tuned for house parties and opportunities to enjoy each others' company (and the Spirit) in different venues.
** The Faith-sharing Group -- meets every third Monday at Kendra's home -- will pause for June and July but reconvene in August. Stay tuned for the details …

So keep cool, keep on grooving, and let's stay together!


And now, for the June scripture lessons ...

June 14: Luke 7:36-50
One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and took his place at the table. And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him-- that she is a sinner."

Jesus spoke up and said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." "Teacher," he replied, "Speak." "A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?" Simon answered, "I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt." And Jesus said to him, "You have judged rightly."

Then turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little." Then he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

June 21: Luke 8:26-39
Jesus and his disciples arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. As he stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me" -- for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many times it had seized him; he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilds.) Jesus then asked him, "What is your name?" He said, "Legion"; for many demons had entered him. They begged him not to order them to go back into the abyss.

Now there on the hillside a large herd of swine was feeding; and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.

When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away, saying, "Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you." So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him.


June 28: Luke 9:51-62
When the days drew near for Jesus to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" But he turned and rebuked them. Then they went on to another village.

As they were going along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." But Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home." Jesus said to him, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."