Community Circle Inspiration Resource

You DO NOT need to use all or any of this. You can pick or choose or use it for inspiration for something else or take it in a completely different direction. Your groups are all meeting in different ways. Some via phone calls or texts, some via email, and some through virtual meetings. So, use this as is helpful. The main goal of these groups is connection and sense of community. If these resources help you have a deeper and more fruitful conversation or sharing – then great. New information will be added by Wednesday.  Pastor Tad Monroe

The Church as Commons: Rooted in Mutuality and the Common Good

This week we continue our series on the nature of the church. We have talked about being rooted in our story; about the church as a home, family, and belonging. We’ve talked about the church being rooted in place, neighborhood, and community. This week we move the circle out again to talk about the church with all. The church as the commons world wide; a community seeking solidarity beyond our Christian faith, our region, nation, culture, and so forth. The church as a movement working for the common good and committed to mutuality even among our differences.

Scriptures: Romans 12:9-21 & Colossians 3:12-17

Poems: Out Beyond Ideas by Rumi & Shoulders by Naomi Shihab Nye

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Questions:

1. How would you define the “common good”? What is “commonly good” to all? Is there such a thing?

2. Do you think the first step in getting to what we have in common is first acknowledging how are experiences have made us different? Explain why this is or isn’t important for you. Can there be difference and unity at the same time? What does that look like?

3. When you think about the people that are most different from you – race, gender, culture, values, belief systems, etc – what is it that you think you hold most in common with them? What do you think is most different for you and for them?

4. Gandhi and the Dalai Lama talk a lot about tolerance. What does it mean to be tolerant? What doesn’t it mean? Is tolerance enough?

5. Queer theology often defines sin as a “rejection of radical love”. Is that how you understand sin? Why or why not? And if so, what does that look like – rejecting radical love? Can you give an example?