Rev. Diana Recommends
For Everything a season
By Joan Chittister
Spiritual Reading for Lent
(Group Study and Independent Reading)
“For everything, there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven"
– Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Joan Chittister takes time to reflect on the timeless themes of purpose and value in human life ... She looks at the balances of joy and sorrow, work and rest, love and loss ... Meditating on the various and contrasting seasons of our lives, she reflects on how human fulfillment and true happiness come – not from getting and having more – but from knowing and valuing what we have ... From birth to death – we experience friendship and laughter, patience and sorrow, humility and compassion – are we open to the reality that God is present in every moment of life itself.
(Goodreads Review)
The author is easy to read, mixing her theological reflections with stories and difficult questions. Her meditations on Ecclesiastes' famous passage require us to wrestle with good questions ... assess our values... and note if we are awake to the present hours of the life we are given.
(a reader’s review)
CONVERSATIONS ... CONNECTING SPIRITUAL JOURNEYS
Fr. Dan Graves and Reverend Diana McHardy to co-host a 1-hour group gathering once a week for 5 weeks.
Dates: Thursdays February 22, 29, March 7, 14, 21
Time: 10.30 - 11.30 AM
Place: Historic Chapel at Trinity Church
Please register by email at dianamchardy@rogers.com
EVERYONE WELCOME!
This will be an invitation to reflect and chat about how we respond to this scripture, along with timeless themes of meaning and purpose in being human.
Some thoughts
A time for everything under heaven
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within the context of our everyday life journey, spiritual journey, and value system
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within the contexts of wider world views, lifestyles, events
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asking what is life-giving versus what is life-denying
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asking if God is present in every moment of life itself
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being Lent … might we find a connection with Jesus’ three temptations of the Gospels...
References
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ourselves
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scripture Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
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Lenten sermon series on Ecclesiastes
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reflective book by Joan Chittister “For Everything A Season”