NEW WEBSITE - please link

Hi everyone

I have created a new Pathfinders website for 2011-12, on our own dedicated page (i.e. not linked to my other blogs by address and profile). Please go to http://youngadultpathfinders.blogspot.com and change any links you have in your own settings.

Please don't forget to sign up to follow the new blog by email or RSS feed!

Looking forward to seeing everyone on the first and third Mondays of the month -- for full info go to the new site!

Pathfinders Young Adults Group - gearing up for our first fall meeting

Please spread the word about our first fall meeting on September 19. It will be a cookout and potluck, and a good chance to invite friends and enjoy being together again. I'll start the Bible Study part with just a very brief, informal introduction to the Gospel of John -- why we're reading it, what some of the Big Questions are that it raises, how it's different from the other gospels, and who we think the original audience for this gospel was. I'll have copies of the commentary we'll be using available and can also order more. We'll also experience briefly what it might be like to "pray with" a passage from this gospel, which has often been considered the most "spiritual" of the four gospels. I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone again.

If you're new to the group -- or if you just want to remember "where we've been" so far in the past year's study, you might want to scroll down to earlier posts, and read from oldest to newest, from our study of 1 and 2 Samuel last year. I just did this and found that the posts give a pretty good sense of how we've been approaching Bible study and the kinds of questions and opportunities for exploration that come up.

If you have access to a church bulletin or other sort of newsletter (or a fb page, for that matter), here's an announcement about the group that you could post. We have 2 Sundays before the 19th so there is time to spread the word: Here's a sample announcement:

"PATHFINDERS" YOUNG ADULTS GROUP resumes its biweekly meetings on MONDAY September 19 with a cookout and potluck dinner at the Johnsons' home. This group of young adults in their 20's and 30's, sponsored by several local congregations, meets at a private home in Vienna, VA for Bible study in a "progressive Christian" framework. ] (contact our leader Kathy Staudt (kathleen.staudt@gmail.com) for directions. "Pathfinders" is an open and inclusive group and welcomes all who desire to question, explore and grow in faith, in fellowship with others in their 20's and 30's. This year the group will meet on the first and third Mondays of every month for dinner, fellowship,Bible study and prayer, from 7-9PM. More information, posts from last year, and updates can be found at our blog at http://www.poetproph-pathfinders.blogspot.com/

Looking forward to seeing everyone on September 19th!
KATHY

Next meeting September 19, 2011 - and Meeting Time Changes this fall

Hi everyone!
We had a great time with Rabbi Ita Paskind at our last meeting before the summer -- We'll start up again in mid-September with meetings on the FIRST and THIRD MONDAY of the month. That seems to work for people who have been coming and we're hoping it will be good for some of you who have wanted to come but had trouble with Tuesdays -- watch this space for updates over the summer, and feel free to be in touch with me if you've found us online and want to know more! You can email me directly at kathleen.staudt@gmail.com

In 2011-12, we'll be focusing our Bible study time on the Gospel of John. There are lots of riches there. Probably we'll use a commentary in the "Journey through the Bible" series that we've been using. I'll let you know more after I've had a chance to do a little more research.

Meanwhile, please put "Pathfinders" down on the first and third Mondays of your fall Calendar, beginning the third Monday in September, September 19th!

Last two sessions: June 14 and 28

Hi everyone!

At our last meeting, we finished up our discussion of the books of 1 and 2 Samuel, and were left grappling a bit with some of the “big questions” posed by that book. I’d like to return to some of those “big questions” (what kind of a God is this? What is the role of human memory and history? Does it make a difference to us now who is telling the story? How, if at all, can these stories help us figure out what we believe?) -- all good questions. We’ll need to stay with them.

Since we’ve just got two sessions left, we’re going to spend a little more time looking at some other parts of the Old Testament, with some of these questions in mind. On Tuesday June 14 we’ll look together at the Book of Ruth -- it’s just 4 chapters and has lots in it that is familiar, and perhaps some things that will be surprising. On June 28, we’ll have a visitor -- By popular demand from the group -- Rabbi Ita Paskind, from Congregation Olam Tikva in Fairfax, will come to speak to us about Jewish ways of reading Scripture. She will be looking especially at passages from the “Torah,” the first 5 books of the Old Testament, including the story of Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:1-16), and some of the commandments that appear in multiple places in the Bible, for example Ex. 20:7-10 and Deut 5:11-14. The 28th will be our last meeting of the year and it will be a potluck--everyone can bring something to share to make it a festive occasion.

Looking forward to seeing you all on the 14th -- in preparation, just read through the book of Ruth, and pay attention to what appeals to you about the story and where you have questions. Or just come, and we'll tell the story together and see what we make of it! Bring a friend, feel free to come for the first time if you're new. We look forward to seeing everyone on Tuesday June 14!

KATHY

Bible study this Tuesday 5/24: 2Samuel 24 and 1 Chronicles 21

Hi everyone -- the plan for this Tuesday is to finish up our reading of 2 Samuel. The last chapter of our commentary focuses on 2 Samuel 24, when David displeases God by ordering a census of the people. It's interesting to see how this part of the story ends (remembering that it was originally part of one "whole story" -- and also to reflect on the different ways that we're invited to see David's rule in these last chapters of Samuel (I suggest reading through 19-24 -- you can skip over the long lists of names). We may go back to the question that we began the year with: is it really a good idea to have a king? What are the problems, from God's point of view, with the decision of the Israelites to have a king? How do those problems connect with the view of David's spirituality -- his relationship with God. This part of 2 Samuel also includes more of David's poems -- the exultation over another military victory - -which is also reflected in Psalm 18 -- and his 'last words."

I think we'll be holding our fingers in various parts of our Bibles for this week's discussion: Psalm 18 -- 2 Samuel 24, and also -- this is just fascinating to me -- 1 Chronicles 21, where the exact same story of the census is retold in a different way, by a writer from the Persian period in Jewish history (i.e. the Babylonian exile - reflecting back on the story and "how did we get here") Here's an opportunity to see how reading one part of Scripture sometimes "reads" or reflects on another, and the understanding shifts depending on where in time and history you are when you're reading the story. That's still true for us today: we may even find ourselves bringing contemporary political perspectives to the end of 2 Samuel. We may also want to see what we make of these stories from the perspective of the New Testament. Much to explore here.

Looking forward to seeing everyone on Tuesday night.

Next Bible Study this Tuesday May 10

Hi everyone -- sorry I missed you all last time, but glad to hear that it worked out for Joel to fill in - Thanks, Joel!

This week we're going to focus on chapters 15 and 18 of 2 Samuel -- particular the rebellion of Absalom, his death, David's response. I can't help thinking that this will invite some reflections on how we react to the death of our enemies -- think about David's reaction to Absalom's death v. the reaction that his messengers expected. How does his reaction reflect his own experience of God? What do you make of this? Also, especially if you missed last time, look back at the story of Tamar and Amnon in Chapter 13. Here again, as throughout 1 and 2 Samuel, we have challenging stories about what can happen in families, and about the choices we make, in relationships, in seeking to be compassionate and human and survive in the "real world," which is itself seen in a lot of different ways. There's much to reflect on in this last piece of the story of David's family, about human nature, and God's nature, and how we are invited to live. Looking forward to more conversation about this on Tuesday! Do have a look at chapters 11 and 12 in our commentary.

See you soon!

Easter wishes - Bible study 4/26 - and a link to some other thoughts

As we head toward Easter I thought I'd share with you a blog post I put up in mid-Lent -- My attempt, I guess, at a kind of personal belief statement. Or at least a "wondering." Maybe it will speak to some of you. Check it out here
Bible study group will be meeting Apri 26 - the Tuesday after Easter. Joel has agreed to take leadership of the Bible study part this week-- our commentary directs us to 2 Samuel 13, one of the more heinous stories about the disfunction in David's family once he is established as king.

Come back to this site soon for updates on Citigate and other service opportunities.

A blessed and happy Easter to all!