January 9, 2010 Gathering
PRELUDE
Music by John Gerard
WELCOME
Welcome to The Pub Church! As a church in a pub, the Spirit is with us. In this space feel free to move about, help yourself to food and drinks, doodle, and express yourself openly!
We come together with diversity of thoughts, stories, talents, hopes and hurts. All we bring is welcome. Our prayer is that in coming together with all our differences and with Spirit, we participate toward a new divine reality.
This is sacred space.
OPENING PRAYER
Inspired by Mary Daly
‘Courage is like -- it's a habitus, a habit, a virtue: you get it by courageous acts. It's like you learn to swim by swimming. You learn courage by couraging.’
Loving Goddess, lure us to Courage. Open our hearts and minds, our bodies and actions, to the courage to Sin Big – to live differently, to live as participants of your divine realm.
May the testimony of courageous people like Mary Daly and Jesus the Anointed, who courageously practiced their courage and sinned BIG, inspire us to do likewise, and to in this hour share this table in courage and truth, so that the fruits of our time be hope, and love, and beauty.
TELLING OUR STORY
Any stories of Sinning Big?
PEACE – TOAST
In this place we creatively express;
Some of us are focused, some are a mess!
We participate during the sermon
And people do connect, we are learnin’
Greet all with a handshake, toast or a wave
At all times feel free to yell, rant or rave
Fake not friends, we can arrive as we are.
Cheers! Here’s to sacred space in a bar!
CREATIVE EXPRESSION
By John
CONVERSATIONAL SERMON
Text from an interview by Roseanne with Mary Daly
You and I are together right now, I'm experiencing it. We sort of itch to talk to each other, you and I, we like to talk to each other because it brings out the best in us.
And so, we sort of jump around, and it's logical, and it can seem to be illogical, but what it is, is the ringing of the vibes, not just the ringing of bells, but a ringing of the vibes: summoning women to think our deepest thoughts and say them out loud and have more powerful thoughts.
I studied in theological schools…and I turned theology on its head and that was my great contribution to the field of theology.
How – with what kinds of references?
The reference is my own life…Just saying what I truly believe and see how it resonated with other women. And that would generate conversations that kept us going forever.
Did you find it hard to break through to that level of consciousness with other women? Was it hard to find those other women?
It's not that hard to find those other women, it's hard to find yourself, because what’s in the way is fear, fear of being laughed at, fear of being despised. When you’re right on the right trail…so, and by right, I don’t mean right-wing right.
So, it’s about being free. If you are free to express what you truly experience, as we are right now, what do we have to loose? And you know the answer…So I’m glad to be a nothing loser – a what?
A nothing loser - one who loses nothing.
Silent Meditation: Be still and aware of the
Divine presence within and all around us.
COMMUNION AND SHARING OF RESOURCES
God is with us.
Yes she is.
FEEDBACK AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
BENEDICTION
Go in peace and be nothing losers.
Sin Big! Do something courageous, something new, something that brings out the best in you.
And drink in the Spirit.
POSTLUDE
By John
