September 17, 2006
Gretta Vosper opens by reflecting on how she was taught homiletics: there was the law & the gospel of the sermon. Law explained the systems of the world, and the gospel was about the possibilities that can transform the systems. Her task was to create a spark that brings law and gospel close together. Gretta shifts her reflection to Kahlil Gibran’s meditation upon work. Typically we view work as drudgery; certainly the protestant work ethic suggests that work is not to be enjoyed, even if we view it as good for us. The protestant way of life has promoted expansion without any opportunity for reflection. This is the “law” part of our social system, but the “gospel” part suggests an emerging desire to think about the meaning of our work. Church can be an agent for bringing together these two approaches to work. Gretta then turns the discussion to the “work” of believing. Here, the church was traditionally responsible for the business of salvation on our behalf. This is the “law.” But the “gospel” or good news is that we are increasingly assuming responsibility for our own believing.
34.4 Mb; 26:37 min.
September 10, 2006
We need to be intentional in the business of our emotional well-being. Why? If we are to be spiritual leaders in the world, we must first do the difficult work of self–examination. Gretta reviews some homework – monitoring our responses to some basic emotional states: sad, mad, glad, and afraid. She reviews a few of her own responses (talking a lot when she is glad; shutting down when she is mad or afraid; doing busy–projects when she is sad). Many of these responses come from strongly entrenched habits, and to counter them requires an intentional reworking of habits, beginning with goal–setting. Near the end of her meditation, Gretta opens the floor and gets others in the congregation to share their recent encounters with the four big emotional responses. Readings are from the Gospel of Thomas and a Yom Kippur prayer.
44.1 Mb; 31:47 min.