Graceocalypse

Song of Solomon Chapters 7 and 8

Stuff for tables:

Grapes

Peace bells (bells)

Mixed nuts. (pun may or may not be intended)

Lectio Divina: This Marriage by RUMI

This Marriage

May these vows and this marriage be blessed. 

May it be sweet milk, 

this marriage, like wine and halvah. 

May this marriage offer fruit and shade 

like the date palm. 

May this marriage be full of laughter, 

our every day a day in paradise. 

May this marriage be a sign of compassion, 

a seal of happiness here and hereafter. 

May this marriage have a fair face and a good name, 

an omen as welcomes the moon in a clear blue sky. 

I am out of words to describe 

how spirit mingles in this marriage.

Overview of book so far.

Reading in parts (Amanda and Harley)

Conclusion Discussion.

Closing Prayer

Song of Solomon Chapters 4-6

5.8.2013 Meeting

Opening Prayer

Lectio Divina: Poem XVII by Pablo Neruda, 

pg 39 (100 Love Sonnets)

Poema XVII

Pablo Neruda 

from 100 Love Sonnets

I do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz,

Or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off.

I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,

In secret, between the shadow and the soul.

I love you as the plant that never blooms

But carries in itself the light of hidden flowers;

Thanks to your love, a certain solid fragrance,

Risen from the Earth, lives darkly in my body.

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.

I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;

So i love you because i know no other way

Than this: where I does not exist, nor you,

So close that your hand on my chest is my hand,

So close that your eyes close as i fall asleep.

History Introduction (short)

Mention what is on the tables, use at convenience when the text brings it up.

          + Have table decor set out

          + Musk cologne, Patchouli, Sage

          + Leafs, both rough and soft texture

Harley and Amanda read accordingly (MSG)

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

After reading about her dream and lover being gone, read LXV from Pablo Neruda’s Love Sonnets (pg139)

This is a “male” context version of what I think the “dream” would look like if it was the male voice in the Song of Solomon Chapter 5. - Harley

Poema LXV

by Pablo Neruda

from 100 Love Sonnets

Matilde, where are you? Down there i noticed,

Under my necktie and just above the heart,

A certain pang of grief between the ribs,

You were gone that quickly.

I need the light of your energy,

I looked around, devouring hope.

I reached the void without you that is like a house,

Nothing left but tragic windows.

Out of sheer taciturnity the cieling listens

To the fall of the ancient leafless rain,

To feathers, to whatever the night imprisoned.

So i wait for you like a lonely house

till you will see me again and live in me.

Till then my windows ache.

Chapter 6

Open for Dialogue.

Closing Prayer.

Its May! That means a new newsletter is out!

Song of Solomon study begins tonight!

Prayer

Lectio Divina
“Better Than Wine” by Derek Webb

• “Intoxication” Lots of alcohol
• Very visual “Lips like jewels, hair like gold…”
• poetic

Have you ever read Song of Solomon?

• Youth leader vehemently refused to teach on book.
• Thought of as a book of fiction
• Actively fought for when Bible was being put together
• Usually ignored or glossed over in Bible courses, or classes
• Quoted in wedding ceremonies
• Referenced in training young women to be women of God books, conferences, and classes

Its a book of poetry, and we will be discussing it as such. This is not a discussion on radical or verbatim interpretation.

Marriage between Solomon and Pharaoh Simons daughter solidified the alliance between Israel and Egypt. When Solomon dies, the alliance dissolves.

Solomon had a herem of 300 princesses and 700 concubines. He had a lot of ladies. What a tired dude,

Song of Songs in dated around 950-800 B.C.

Song of Songs Chapter 1-3

• Racy!
• Oh my!
• A woman openly sexual with her lover, her husband
• If not about royalty, the reference to King Solomon is a comparison of the lover to King Solomon (who was THE GUY of the day)
• King Solomoin could be a reference to God if read in the mindset of a a picture of Gods love of the church.
• There are some very explicit sexual texts about David and Jonathan, Ruth and Boaz, Naomi and Ruth. Why is Song of Songs so “hushed up”?

What is your favorite part about Chapters 1-3

• “He just motorboated that chick!” (1:12-13)
• “Does this dress make my butt look good?” (1:5-6)
• “My beloved is mine, and I am his.”
• Fragrance (1:12-14)
• Lotus Flowers…. description at end of Chapter 1
• “His love is a banner over me.” (2:4)

Prayers

• Glenns mother has a brain tumor and has been given a few days
• Deborahs maternal grandmother has 25 cm mass on ovaries, not thought to be malignant, but going in for surgery on Firday (5/3/13)
• Robi Pace had brain surgery yesterday to remove tumor, possibly cancerous. Surgery went well, prayers for recovery.

Peace and Grace Friends

Of Course, our prayers are with Boston and those effected by the bombing.

Prayers going out for the happenings around the world.

Prayers for Brennan Mannings family

Lectio Devina
Psalm 86:3-5, 11-13
“And Rain down your love in our hearts and in your world…” Acknowledgement this is God’s world, not ours
“nether…”
“knit my heart to you that I may fear your name…” Intimacy, there is a healthy “fear” we have to get over or accept when we get close to someone.

Ruth 1

• Naomi was married and settled in an area unfamiliar to them.
• There was a famine where they were, so they went across the river to where there was no famine and found a place with a completely different religion. They felt disconnected, and unsure what the social norms were
• Husband died. Sons married women from the area (Orpah and Ruth), and the sons died themselves.
• Naomi decides to go back to the land of Judah but wants the daughter in-laws to stay, remarry, and have a life where they are familiar.
• .3 Single women traveling together, what does that look like?
• Ruth bonding herself to Naomi, “Where you will go, I will go…”
• Naomi cleaved to Ruth
• Same commitment level as Adam to Eve, same language of love as Adam and Eve
• Ruth commitment to Naomi used in marriage ceremonies
• Ruth saying “social convention be damned! I’m sticking with Naomi”

Ruth 2 & 3

• “Ruth, where God says its ok to be a slut!”
• “One day Ruth, the Moabite foreigner, said to Naomi, “I’m going to work; I’m going out to glean among the sheaves, following after some harvester who will treat me kindly.” (2;2)
• One day her mother-in-law Naomi said to Ruth, “My dear daughter, isn’t it about time I arranged a good home for you so you can have a happy life? (3:2)
  
• “Feet” in the ancient vernacular didn’t necessarily mean the body part. “Uncover the feet..” could be a reference to his genitals.
  
• Naomi says “If you like they you should put a ring on it.”
  
• We’re seeing different levels of family here. Ruth and Naomi are whole. Naomi wants Ruth and Boaz to be whole.
  

Ruth 4

• Boaz “wins” Ruth and seals it with a shoe.
  
• “Naomi has a baby…” the commitment between Ruth and Naomi was so strong and blessed by God that the community around them referred to Ruth and Boaz’s child as Ruth and Naomi’s. Boaz was there and involved…but the child was referred to as Naomi’s. As Ruth’s child.
  

Next week is Communion/Family Night at the Mathews apartment. DM for directions and more information.

Prayer

Grace and Peace Friends

Welcome!

Newsletter is hot off the press!

Jennifer Knust “Unprotected Texts”

Lectio Divina
Luke 1: 46-55
“His mercy extends to those who fear Him…”
”He has shown strength with his arm;
    he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
    and exalted those of humble estate;” (similar to the beatitudes)
“remembering…as I told your fathers…”

Women in the Bible
Deborah: Judges 4 Saved Israel when a man wimped out
Bathsheba: Ancient Desperate Housewife
Jezabelle & Esther: Both use looks to convince leadership to do save a people group
Mary Mother of Jesus: Enough said
Lydia: merchant, Acts 16:1-15, image or progressiveness in church, started and lead churches
Women had a huge role in the teachings of Jesus.
Phoebe: Letter Carrier (assigned by Paul) (Romans 16)

Were women treated, or represented fairly in the Old Testament?

The Bible is a living, breathing thing.

Are we still writing, and/or living, stories where the good girl goes to heaven and the bad girl goes to hell? If so, how do we respond to that? How do we respond to that in current culture?

Prayers and Praises:
Adams knee is getting better
2 more months til Adams knee is 100%
Mariam has show in New Braunsfels, need confirmation on a travel vehicle, traveling safety, etc
Mariam in battle of the bands next Saturday
Sequester pay cuts affecting families
Transmission went out in Joseph’s Moms vehicle
Craig’s PA family (Death in family, break-ups, kids involved)
Wells family and friends dealing with death of Mary Wells
Amanda traveling to Austin for a Bead Show for work
Gina is here!
Deborah’s Aunt Lida on dialysis, prayers for health and family in dealing with transitions.
John’s Aunt Linda fell, had a concussion, hurt her knee, prayers for quick recovery
Nicole’s grandmother admitted to not knowing who Nicoles father was. Very hard on her father.
Howards mother getting older, dealing with health issues
Craig’s mother recovering well after surgery, prayers for continued recovery.
Howard will be house-sitting starting in May
Ruth will be in town before the cruise! Traveling mercies, and a wonderful vacation.

Prayer

Grace and Peace Friends.

~The Brewery