As we contemplate Slow Church, it seems appropriate that the natives are crying for slower reading. Over the past week, we’ve enjoyed rich conversation in the discussion forum, and folks have been generous with sharing their observations and personal stories. Many are just getting started with the book and, rather than rushing through to adhere to the schedule, we’ve decided to extend discussion of First Course: Ethics for another week. That’s good news for those of you who want to dig deeper into the first several chapters and good news for those of you who haven’t started reading (or ordered the book yet) but want to join us.
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Here are a few more quotes/questions to add to the first three:
“Slow Church happens when people live, work, worship, go to school, eat, grow, learn, heal and play in proximity to each other, often outside of the sanctuary.” (p.44)
4) Do you agree? If so, what obstacles stand in the way of your developing such a community? How could you overcome (or mitigate) one of those obstacles?
“Place, like all things in life, is a good gift from God. Our calling is to come to know our places in ways that reveal God’s gifts to us and that evoke in us deep gratitude and rejoicing.” (p.70)
5) What are some practical ideas that could help you “get to know your place”? Are you willing to try one of them and report back to the group?
“How do we grow deeper into our calling as the patient people of God when our surroundings reinforce our inner restlessness?” (p. 80)
6) How would you want your life to look differently as you grow to be more patient?
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