During service this morning we discussed spiritual practices that bring us closer to the divine. One such practice is the contemplative "Jesus Prayer."It is a practice that has roots back to the Byzantine era and desert ascetics in Egypt. Below is a film about the history, practice and mystery of The Jesus Prayer. Dr. Norris J. Chumley and the Very Rev. Dr. John McGuckin travel to monasteries in Egypt, Mt. Sinai, Transylvania, and Russia among others seeking to learn more about this prayer and how it can deepen our conversation with God.
0 Comments
Central Christian Church of Danbury is currently seeking a part-time music director. Responsibilities for this position include:
The time commitment will include a one-hour service on Sunday mornings, a weekly meeting with the pastor and whatever time you need to prepare for Sunday. Experience with various forms of classical church and also contemporary/gospel worship music is desired. Please email a cover letter and resume to centralchristiandanbury.music@gmail.com. by Stephen Tickner
On Sunday I opened my sermon by discussing the Palestinian poet Taha Muhammad Ali. I thought I would give everyone the opportunity to read one of my favorite examples of his poetry. If you would like to read the biography of his life written by Adina Hoffman, you can find it here. Revenge by Taha Muhammad Ali At times ... I wish I could meet in a duel the man who killed my father and razed our home, expelling me into a narrow country. And if he killed me, I'd rest at last, and if I were ready-- I would take my revenge! But if it came to light, when my rival appeared, that he had a mother waiting for him, or a father who'd put his right hand over the heart's place in his chest whenever his son was late even by just a quarter-hour for a meeting they'd set-- then I would not kill him, even if I could. Likewise ... I would not murder him if it were soon made clear that he had a brother or sisters who loved him and constantly longed to see him. Or if he had a wife to greet him and children who couldn't bear his absence and whom his gifts would thrill. Or if he had friends or companions, neighbours he knew or allies from prison or a hospital room, or classmates from his school ... asking about him and sending him regards. But if he turned out to be on his own-- cut off like a branch from a tree-- without a mother or father, with neither a brother nor sister, wifeless, without a child, and without kin or neighbours or friends, colleagues or companions, then I'd add not a thing to his pain within that aloneness-- not the torment of death, and not the sorrow of passing away. Instead I'd be content to ignore him when I passed him by on the street—as I convinced myself that paying him no attention in itself was a kind of revenge. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
April 2017
Categories |