I am excited to be leading a small group during the four weeks of Advent using the book, "Learning to Walk in the Dark" by Barbara Brown Taylor, former Episcopal Priest, author and teacher. It is conventional for us to advertise this season of anticipation with headliners and candles that speak of hope, joy, peace and love, but rarely do we fully embrace the darkness which is actually anecdotal for receiving the fullness of what this season brings. Reminiscent of the Buddhist tradition, Taylor, who invites an exploration of our relationship to the darkness, naming the harmful dichotomy the Christian Tradition has set-up between light and dark, says, "If I have any expertise, it is in the realm of spiritual darkness: fear of the unknown, familiarity with divine absence, mistrust of conventional wisdom, suspicion of religious comforters, keen awareness of the limits of all language about God and at the same time shame over my inability to speak of God without a thousand qualifiers, doubt about the health of my soul, and barely suppressed contempt for this who have no such qualms. If even one of these rings a bell, it is possible that you too could benefit from learning to walk in the dark."
All are welcome to join us at Community UCC - or online - Sundays at 9:15am: Dec. 3 - 24th. Whether or not you are able to read the chapters ahead of time, the discussion questions are very accessible to all who wish to participate in this experience. ~ Rev. Jenny Shultz-Thomas
Attached is the HarperOne discussion guide that we will follow through the class.
Reading guide for discussions:
Sunday, Dec. 3 - Introduction and chapters 1-2
Sunday, Dec. 10 - chapters 3-5
Sunday, Dec. 17 - chapters 6-7
Sunday, Dec. 24 - chapters 8-9, and epilogue
Online participants: Please download discussion guide and read chapters accordingly. Each Sunday
morning prior to class, questions will be sent to group listserv via email. Please email Jenny Shultz-Thomas at rev.cucc@gmail.com to be included in listserv.