Summer 2011 Study

This summer, we are studying the thought of Paul Tillich through his sermons. All sermons will be available online. Since we will not have access to a copier, please bring with you a copy in print or on a tablet/laptop.

• Tuesday, June 7, 2011 at 8:15 pm
  Sermon: "To Whom Much Is Forgiven..."
• Tuesday, June 14, 2011 at 8:15 pm
  Sermon: The New Being
• Tuesday, June 21, 2011 at 8:15 pm
  Sermons: The Power of Love and The Golden Rule
• Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at 8:15 pm
  Sermon: "Is there any word from the Lord?"
• Tuesday, July 5, 2011 at 8:15 pm
  Sermon: Theology of Creation
• Tuesday, July 12, 2011 at 6:45 pm
  All-Star Break; we will watch the game at Caci's house
• Tuesday, July 19, 2011 at 8:15 pm
  Sermon: Knowledge through Love
• Tuesday, July 26, 2011 at 8:15 pm
  Sermon: Universal Salvation

Contemplating Jesus the Christ, Crucified and Risen

"... Christ crucified, a stumbling-block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." - 1 Corinthians 1.23-24

Wesley has provided questions for reflection, which have also been posted to our facebook page, throughout Lent. As we move through the heart of the Christian witness, let us hear reflections on the cross from Christian theologians.

• An Eastern Orthodox Palm Sunday
• John Cobb on Jesus' message (The Commonwealth of God)
• Douglas Otatti ("the right nightmares")
• Elizabeth Johnson (redemption of creation)
• Jürgen Moltmann (The Crucified God)
• Andrew Sung Park (Triune Atonment)
• Kathryn Tanner (Christ the Key)
• A Sermon for Passion Week
• James Cone, "Strange Fruit: The Cross and the Lynching Tree"

Some Easter Reflections

• The Disabled God
• Katy Hawker, "Easter is"
• Restoring the Senses: Orthodox Easter (On Being from American Public Media)
• Stephen Colbert: Easter Under Attack
• Easter Message from Palestinian Christians
• God of Movement
• "Meanings of the Resurrection "
• "The tomb’s empty, and it’s a scandal"
• "Easter Shouldn't Be Good News"
• "He Shouldn't Have Done it"

How do you think about Jesus' message? About Jesus' relationship to God and the world? About the meaning of the crucifixion and the resurrection? About the relevance of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection for your life and the life of the creation?

This Weekend at Wesley

As Lent winds down and spring (slowly) heats up, Wesley is offering several service opportunities this weekend. You can find more news, including Easter breakfast and worship information, in this week's Spire newsletter.

Wesley Spring Clean-up!

Saturday, April 16 9:00am-Noon
Wesley Church and Foundation

We would greatly appreciate your help with our outdoor cleanup! Bring your work gloves if you have some.

Green Service Project

Saturday, April 16 1:00-2:30pm
Center for Women in Transition

We won't be planting our tomato or pepper plants but we will plant some seeds Brian has, among other gardening tasks.

CROP Walk Volunteers

Palm Sunday, April 17

For those who cannot walk, but would like to be involved, the CROP Walk committee still needs volunteers for these important jobs on Sunday, April 17:

• putting up signs along the route in the morning, anytime before noon.
• registrars (1:30-2:30) before the walk (at St. Matthew Church on Philo Rd.) - receive donor sheets, add numbers of walkers and total pledges
• greeters at the rest stops, either Bahai Center (2:30-4:00) or Twin City Bible Church (3:00-4:30), to give out chocolates, direct walkers to water and rest rooms
• crossing guards at Vine & Illinois (probably 2:45-3:45), or Florida & Philo (probably 3:30-4:30)
• someone to drive a van around the route to pick up tired or stranded walkers

Please contact Jean (359-4642) if you can help with any of these tasks. We will credit you as a "Wesley Walker"! Thanks, on behalf of CROP.

Melchizedek

According to Robinson, Melchizedek is a Greek text translated into Coptic and dates from the late second to early third century. It was likely favored by Egyptian Sethian Gnostics with a fascination for Melchizedek. (page 598)

The text has three parts: "(1) a revelation mediated by the angel Gamaliel (1,1-14,15); (2) a liturgy performed by the priest Melchizedek on behalf of his community (14,15-18,bottom); and (3) a revelatory vision to Melchizedek by unnamed heavenly 'brethren,' probably including Gamaliel (18,bottom-27,10). (page 595)

Highlights:

• An unusual (for a gnostic source) polemic against docetism:
  "Furthermore, they will say of him,
  'He was not born,' though he was born;
  'he does not eat,' though he does eat;
  'he does not drink,' though he does drink;
  'he is not circumcized,' though he was circumcized;
  'he is without real flesh,' though he did endure suffering;
  'he did not rise from the dead,' though he did rise from the dead."
• "O essence of [every aeon, A]BA[BA AI]AIAI ABABA (read: Primal Father)
  O divine Autogenes of ...,
  O movement of every nature, Mother of the aeons, Barbelo
  O firstborn of the aeons, Aithops Doxomedon Domedon,
  O possessor of lives, Jesus Christ,
  O commandeers in chief, luminaries, power--Harmozel, Oroiael, Daveithe, Eleleth,
  And you, luminons immortal aeon, Pigeradamas,
  And you, good God of the virtuous worlds, Mirocheirothetou,
  I call upon all of you through Jesus Christ, Son of God. (page 600)
• "When he came he caused me to be raised up from ignorance and the fructification from death to life. (page 603)"

Spring 2011 Grad Study: Nag Hammadi Library

Graduate students and friends will study the Nag Hammadi codices this spring. The primary text for the study will be The Nag Hammadi Scriptures: The Revised and Updated Translation of Sacred Gnostic Texts, edited by Marvin Meyer. A sketch of the semester's study follows.

• January 18 - Meet & Greet
• January 25 - Preface (p xi-xiii), Introduction (p1-13)
• February 1 - Snow Day
• February 8 - Thomas Christianity (777-783), Book of Thomas (p235-246)
• February 15 - Gospel of Thomas (p133-156)
• February 22 - Dialogue of the Savior (p297-312)
• March 1 - The Sethian School of Gnostic Thought (p784-789), Gospel of Judas (p755-770)
• March 8 - Mardi Gras Break
• March 15 - Secret Book of John (p103-132)
• March 22 - Spring Break
• March 29 - Melchizedek (p595-606)
• April 5 - The Valentinian School of Gnostic Thought (p790-794), Tripartite Tractate part 1 (p57-77)
• April 12 - Tripartite Tractate part 2 (p77-102)
• April 19 - Gospel of Philip (p157-186)
• April 26 - Hermetic Religion (p795-798), Prayer of Thanksgiving (p419-424)
• May 3 - Gospel of Mary (p737-748)
• May 10 - Meet at Jarlings

Session 8: Methodism

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

It is said that Methodism is holds the "extreme center". This may sound like Methodists are the great fence-sitters in the landscape of Christian tradition. However, as we will discover, Methodists tread a path of balance that embraces heart and intellect, "high church" and "low church" worship, salvation of individuals and of the world, and grace and holiness.

1. What does it mean to you to be part of a Christian movement rooted in the "extreme center"?
2. How do you approach faith with passion and intellect?
3. How is/can God working through you, your congregation, and the ecumenical community to change lives, transform the world, and reform/revitalize the church?

I hope you'll join us in this final session of Christianity's Family Tree, in which we will examine Methodism, including its roots, beliefs, and practices.

Chapter 5: Anglicanism

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Tuesday night we will explore the context and gifts of Anglicanism as it emerged from western Christianity. Our study will include the history of British reformation, Anglicanism's contribution of the via media, and the valuable emphasis on a rich devotional life.

Join us tonight at 8:15 pm in the Wesley Student Lounge (located in the room across from Etc. Coffeehouse in the Wesley Foundation).