Spring Break Trip to Taize, France

Last night, we got to experience a mini Taize service in Loper chapel, and also learned about the upcoming spring break trip to Taize that will be sponsored by Progressive Christians at Berkeley, First Congregational Church at Berkeley, and Wesley House and Campus Center.  The estimated total cost for the trip is $1300, but we will be doing fund-raising so that the cost to students should be $200.  Learn more about the Taize community here, and email Shelly for more information and to obtain an application.  The application is due at 4 pm on October 29.

Watercolors!

On Wednesday night, we had fun painting with watercolors; we felt so young at heart! Each of us shared a story which celebrated our gifts, and others painted a picture of what our story sounded like to them. In a society where we so often self-deprecate, it was positive and encouraging to remember that we each bring something special to the table. The paintings were so pretty! but we forgot a camera, so unfortunately can't post them.

"Field Trip" to Glide Memorial in San Francisco

This Sunday, we all got up early to take BART into the city to volunteer at Glide Memorial Church and share in their wonderful Sunday morning service.  We bagged 700 lunches for their free meals program, and then enjoyed amazing music and an inspirational message at their 11 am celebration.

Amanda, Brittany, and another volunteer make ham sandwiches.

Sara had peanut butter sandwich duty.

So many sandwiches!  Cassie mans the bagging area.

Aline and Allan filling up bagged lunches with granola bars.

Sean counts out how many lunches we've made so far...


In the sanctuary, waiting for the celebration to begin!

The 8 Points of Progressive Christianity

Yesterday for our Wednesday meeting, we discussed the 8 points of Progressive Christianity, developed by the Center for Progressive Christianity.  These points really spoke to us, with one person commenting: "I've never been able to look at a religious doctrine and say...wow, that's me!"  I think we all now feel better able to discuss our faith with others who might wonder what progressive Christianity is all about and why we feel drawn to this particular faith tradition.  The 8 points are listed below, along with a sampling of some highlights from our discussion.  Feel free to add your own thoughts in the comments!

By calling ourselves progressive, we mean we are Christians who...

1. Have found an approach to God through the life and teachings of Jesus.

We liked that this point emphasizes that there is no "right" way to worship - everyone must interpret the teachings of Jesus for themselves.  We also appreciated the emphasis on the life and teachings of Jesus, rather than his death.

2. Recognize the faithfulness of other people who have other names for the way to God's realm, and acknowledge that their ways are true for them, as our ways are true for us.

Truly engaging in interfaith dialog with others with a fully open heart can be a scary thing, since it can make us question our beliefs. At the same time, we both value this questioning and realize that the willingness to enter into these discussions demonstrates faithfulness in that we aren't so afraid of losing our beliefs that we're unwilling to learn from the beliefs of others. Many of us saw this interfaith dialog as central to our faith experience.

3. Understand the sharing of bread and wine in Jesus's name to be a representation of an ancient vision of God's feast for all peoples.

Some of use talked about the fact that, even as Christians, we would be denied communion at some churches. We appreciate the fact that this point emphasizes the idea that everyone is welcome at God's table, and that one doesn't have to subscribe to a certain religion to share a meal and be part of a community. We also preferred this type of symbolism (stated at FCCB as "the bread of life and the cup of blessing") to the body/blood imagery that is often used.

4. Invite all people to participate in our community and worship life without insisting that they become like us in order to be acceptable (including but not limited to):

believers and agnostics,
conventional Christians and questioning skeptics,
women and men,
those of all sexual orientations and gender identities,
those of all races and cultures,
those of all classes and abilities,
those who hope for a better world and those who have lost hope

We saw this point as ultimately being a challenge to fully welcome all people with open arms, and to not try and push our faith onto other people.

5. Know that the way we behave toward one another and toward other people is the fullest expression of what we believe.

People can easily go to church but miss the point of going out and helping others as Jesus would have. We need to act out what Jesus taught us, bringing our faith into the real world and into all our actions.

6. Find more grace in the search for understanding than we do in dogmatic certainty - more value in questioning than in absolutes.

This was difficult for some, because we sometimes just want answers! At the same time, though, we realize that there may not be answers out there (or at least, we haven't found them yet), but that doesn't mean there isn't value in the search. There is a leap of faith involved in a commitment to uncertainty. As one person put it, "I like grappling with things more than certainty."

7. Form ourselves into communities dedicated to equipping one another for the work we feel called to do: striving for peace and justice among all people, protecting and restoring the integrity of all God's creation, and bringing hope to those Jesus called the least of his sisters and brothers

We saw helping the disadvantaged as central to our faith, giving it a connection to the real world. The phrase "least of his sisters and brothers" really spoke to us, emphasizing the challenge to treat strangers as if they really are part of our families. We also saw this point as focusing not only on each person's individual mission ("the work we feel called to do") but also on community support ("equipping one another") in this difficult task.

8. Recognize that being followers of Jesus is costly, and entails selfless love, conscientious resistance to evil, and renunciation of privilege.

Being a progressive Christian requires a lot of courage. All of these points are truly challenging, which is not often acknowledged by some churches. Actually putting our faith into practice is not an easy thing, but this struggle is part of what makes our faith meaningful. We also discussed the need to consider the privilege that comes from being able to call ourselves Christian in our society.

Walking the Labyrinth

This Wednesday, our group walked FCCB's portable labyrinth in Loper Chapel.  The chapel was lit with candles and filled with beautiful music; this was truly a spiritual retreat in the middle of a busy first week of classes at Cal.

FCCB's seven circuit labyrinth provides the opportunity to take a long journey in a small space.  We left the "chatter" in our minds on cards at the altar at the opening of the labyrinth, and then meditated once we reached the center.

Our group this Wednesday, after dinner and before heading over to Loper Chapel.

A Progressive Interpretation of John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  (John 3:16)

This passage is sometimes used to justify a message against non-Christians, but we used it as a starting point for a discussion about the importance of religious diversity at our first dinner and fellowship of the semester.  Below are some of our thoughts on the different translations of the verse that we read. Please click through to read each of the translations, and feel free to share your own thoughts in the comments.

A. The Message Version:
1. This translation seems to focus more on "this life" as opposed to a "next life."
2. The phrase "by believing in him (in Jesus)" we are invited to ask ourselves, "What does Jesus represent? Love and compassion." Thus, if anyone believes in that (love and compassion), they can have a "whole and lasting life."

B. Amplified Bible:
1. "God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that he [even] "gave up" His only begotten. . ." What does it mean to say that God "gave up?"
2. By adding adjectives to the phrase, "so that whoever believes" such as "trusts in, clings to, relies on," this translation opens up more options than just belief--more than dogma.
3. In the phrase "shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost)" the inclusion of the words "be lost" makes it easy for humans to relate because we have all felt lost from time to time.

C. Based on Aramaic Text:
1. The words "unity" and "diversity" in referring to the relationship in and among the divine attributes makes this translation wide open for inclusion of other faith traditions.
2. The phrase stating that Jesus, a child of Unity, was "fulfilled in all its aspects of self," is provocative on many levels--humans are invited into a state of fulfillment of self.
3. Similarly, humans are invited into "the same confidence in their own fulfillment" as Jesus, a child of Unity.
4. The phrase "continue, from world to world," is reminiscent of the Buddhist tradition and/or reincarnation.

To sum up our discoveries of the text study on John 3:16, one might say:
1. "Those who believe in love and compassion will have a whole and lasting life."
2. "Jesus is a child of Unity who loves Diversity."

Favorite Berkeley Spots

Today at our student lunch, we shared our favorite hangouts in Berkeley and the Bay Area.  Feel free to share your own favorites in the comments.

Food
Cheeseboard
Joshu-ya Sushi
Monterey Market
Berkeley Bowl
La Farine
Bakesale Betty
Remedy
Urban Turban
Chez Panisse
Bistro Liason
Elmwood Cafe
Nabolom Bakery

Study Spots
Wesley House and Campus Center
Graduate Lounge in Stephens Hall
Graduate Theological Union Library
Eschelman Library
Morrison Library

Entertainment
Lawrence Hall of Science
Tilden Park
Campus Museums
California Academy of Sciences
Walk to the top of Coit Tower
Ferry Building
Farmers' Markets in Berkeley, San Francisco, and Oakland

Academic/Student Life Tips
Go to office hours
Take classes you enjoy
Join a co-op
Get out of Berkeley and make friends outside the university
Get to know GSI's and professors