ORDINARY LIFE - Thoughts and Ideas to Help You Live a Happier Life
* * *
Summary of Ordinary Life for September 8, 2024
* * *
Dear Ones -
Promotion to the wider community of the Jacqui Lewis event will begin this week. So, if you want to be assured of a place for the afternoon time with her, I encourage you to register now. You may do so by clicking here. I have neglected to mention that there will be child care provided during the afternoon time as well, of course, as on Sunday morning.
Also, I expect the space where we meet to be completely full this coming Sunday for the time when Rep. James Talarico and Rep. Ann Johnson will be in dialogue with Dr. Jeff McDonald about “Faith and Politics.” I mention this to encourage you to be on time.
I called the teaching I offered this week -
Santa Claus Meets The Good Samaritan (and friends)
I began the time by affirming that “our image of ‘God’” - and we all have one - “shapes who we are.” Our image of “God” is shaped, until we take conscious control of the matter, by the “tribe/culture” into which we are born. We all live by myths, whether we are aware of them or not. Santa Claus is a myth that grew out of the St. Nicholas of Bari story. Wise and useful myths create a livable and meaningful world for ourselves and others. A parable, on the other hand, seeks to re-create destructive and unwise myths. Both the parables of “The Good Samaritan” and “the two men who went up to the temple to pray” illustrate this.
That’s a very brief summary of this week’s time in Ordinary Life.
The audio/video versions of the talk has some differences from the text I spoke from. You can find the text of the talk, the presentation slides and links to the audio and video version of the talk using the links below.
Our podcast, “In Between,” can be accessed through the Ordinary Life web site.
If you are interested in making a contribution to Ordinary Life, click here. There is an option to scroll to “Ordinary Life” as the option for how to designation your gift. Thank you!
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Ordinary Life is exploring new ways to foster community, connection, service, and care in our community. To that end, we are launching a monthly community newsletter that will highlight announcements, events, and joys/concerns. If you are interested in receiving this newsletter, please visit this link to add your name to the list. Rest assured that whether you opt-in to this newsletter or not, you will continue to receive the weekly class previews and summaries for Ordinary Life.
St Paul’s is beginning a “Stephen Ministry” program. Stephen Ministry is a caring ministry that equips and empowers trained lay car givers to provide one-on0one care to those going through difficult times such as grief, divorce, job loss, illness, relocation, and other life-changing circumstances. For more information on how to receive care or serve as a Stephen Minister, contact Rev. Melinda Owens at mowens@stpaulshouston.org
Be well and much love,
Bill Kerley
In order to read or download the text version of the talk, click here.
In order to view or download the presentation slides, click here.
In order to view or download the announcement slides, click here.
In order to either download or just listen to the audio recording of today’s talk, use the audio player below.
To watch the video recording of today’s talk, use the YouTube video link below.