Walter used the painting that arrived recently from Krista Heide to talk about our commitment to being “rooted in the way of Jesus.” The powerpoint shows some pictures from the SSU week at Camp Chiputneticook, which Walter used as an example of the importance of rootedness and commitment.
After Peter’s talk last week about “Seeking first the kingdom,” Walter explored another of the simple, foundational understandings of our faith in affirming the “fruit of the Spirit.” He talked about how slowing down and being reminded of our human mortality can help us make room for the Spirit.
Walter Thiessen explores the role that the church has played in
helping people to make a new start and hit a re-set button, including
the need to let go of things that can be like a death.
Walter begins with how his work
on the Reconciliation Studies program has centred “truth-telling” and
then reflects on how the church can be an example of truth-telling.
Walter Thiessen explores the response of the elder brother in the Prodigal Son story, as well as the father’s invitation. If everything is ours, including relationships with the father, why don’t we celebrate? (It was pretty interactive, and so apologies for all the bits you can’t hear on the recording…)
Walter Thiessen recalls how important it is for us to find meaningful, familiar and emotionally rich things to hold onto even as we need to keep using our heads about “letting go” of the systemic problems that get in the way of institutions and traditions being compassionate and just. He ended with a loose paraphrase of the “armour of God” that you can download.
Walter Thiessen followed up his last talk addressing what a church community is for. This time he talked about the need to keep structure & teaching integrated with a living Spirit. Lots of chat at the end about how we keep exploring new things that resonate with the teaching of Jesus and the diverse ways that we can invite the Spirit.
In a short (8 minute) talk, Walter asks what the reason is for having a local church community, and he suggests that it’s to create a social place that welcomes everyone interested to participate in exploring meaning together – to express it, to weave it into our lives, to act on it together, to connect it to where we’ve been and where we’re going. You can read the transcript if you’d rather read than watch the video. And after you listen, share your thoughts on what you think is the main reason to have a local church community.
Walter Thiessen was reminded of the importance of memory – both because of the positive memories of Advent
and because of the lingering memory of those with dementia. This encouraged him to share about making peace with our history so that we feel ok about re-visiting all the parts of our past – even while we reinterpret the traditions and understandings that were problematic.
With life being a bit full and poignant lately, Walter Thiessen felt the need to focus on what matters most – loving with acceptance regardless of hurts, disappointments and frustrations. And yet love also means believing in the value of inviting people to step up. So, we explored how that invitation can happen without doubting the love.