February 28, 2010 Gathering

PRELUDE

Music by John Gerard

WELCOME

Welcome to The Pub Church! As a church in a pub, the Spirit is with us. So feel free to move about as the Spirit inspires and express yourself openly!

We come together with all our diversity and everything that we bring is welcome. We pray that in coming together and sharing our differences with one another and with Spirit, we participate in a new divine reality. We are in sacred space.

OPENING MEDITATION

From Walking the Coast, by Kenneth White

the pebble of rough

and unprepossessing stone

the harsh dull case

splits open

to reveal

the lovely agate crystal

the boulder

cut asunder

shows a blue-gleaming layer of amethyst –

there is a principle

of beauty and order

at the heart of chaos

within life there is life

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it”

TELLING OUR STORY

What are the “harsh dull cases” in our lives

that may be hiding beauty and life?

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

Happy Birthday John!

CONVERSATIONAL SERMON

Reading from The Book of Creation, by Phillip Newell

And God said, “Let there be a dome in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.”

(Genesis 1:6)

If the ‘first day’ of creation is compared to the cosmic burst of light at life’s initial moment, the ‘second day’ can be viewed as the ongoing explosion of elemental particles hurtling through space. There is nothing neat and tidy about this mighty creative energy.

Like nature, God’s wildness is unrestrainable. The book of Genesis portrays all things as born out of the wild wind that swept over the face of the waters. Do we think that we can have creativity without such turbulence? Are we expecting it to be entirely different in our lives? Can creativity emerge without surges of unordered energy rising from the unknown depths within us?

Part of what we fear, of course, is the uncontrollableness of wildness. We have witnessed it from afar in places of terrible violence in our world. We have experienced it in ourselves and in our relationships when the eruption of unexpected passion has led us along self-destructive paths.

Have we thereby come to believe that wildness is essentially harmful, to be suppressed at all costs? What we need to reclaim is its creativity. At the beginning of life a mighty wind swept over the face of the deep. Creation emerges from this troubling of the waters. Yes, of course wildness can be destructive. We know that. But do we know also that the wildness that is at the heart of creativity, like the passion that is at the beginning of life’s conception? If we deny these depths of wildness the unsettled waters within us will turn to destructive rather than creative energy.

Whether emotionally or sexually or artistically, when fear suppresses the energies in us that have their origin in the wildness of God, they will be turned into forces of death rather than vitality.

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

v Wednesday Open Conversations

v Peter Rollins

v 3/6 Happy Hour, 3/13 Andrew

BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE

By John

February 13, 2010 - Gathering

PRELUDE

Music by Andrew Prete

WELCOME

Welcome to The Pub Church! As a church in a pub, the Spirit is with us. So feel free to move about as the Spirit inspires and express yourself openly!

We come together with all our diversity and everything that we all bring is welcome. We pray coming together and sharing our differences with one another and with Spirit, we participate in a new divine reality. We are in sacred space.

OPENING PRAYER

Holy Living God, you have called us to life. You have called us to live in love and compassion with one another – to live according to a different and divine standard; one that does not make sense.

We are grateful! Lead us now to be present to one another with the love and compassion that we see embodied in the life of Jesus, so that all that we do and say in this gathering will bring us closer to you.

TELLING OUR STORY

What is your most memorable experience with prayer?

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 Andrew

CONVERSATIONAL SERMON

Mark 9:14-29

When they had rejoined the disciples, they saw a huge crowd surrounding them and scholars arguing with them. And all of a sudden, when the whole crowd caught sight of him, they were alarmed and rushed up to meet him. He asked them, “Why are you bothering to argue with them?”

And one person from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you because he has a mute spirit. Whenever it takes him over, it knocks him down, and he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and stiffens up. I asked your disciples to drive it our, but they couldn’t.”

In response he says, “You distrustful lot, how long must I associate with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him over to me!”

And they brought him over to him. And when the spirit noticed him, right away it threw him into convulsions, and he fell to the ground, and jept rolling around, foaming at the mouth. And [Jesus] asked his father, “How long has he been like this?”

He replied, “Ever since he was a child. Frequently it has thrown him into fire and into water to destroy him. So if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us!”

Jesus said to him, “What do you mean, ‘If you can’? All things are possible for the one who trusts.”

Right away the father of the child cried out and said, “I do trust! Help my lack of trust!”

When Jesus saw that the crowd was about to mob them, he rebuked the unclean spirit, and commands it, “Deaf and mute spirit, I command you, get out of him and don’t ever go back inside him!”

And after he shrieked and went into a series of convulsions, it came out. And he took on the appearance of a corpse, so that the rumor went around that he had died. But Jesus took hold of his hand and raised him, and there he stood. And when he had gone home, his disciples started questioning him privately: “Why couldn’t we dive it out?”

He said to them, “The only thing that can drive this kind out is prayer.”

Silent Meditation: Be still and aware of the Divine presence within and all around us as we prepare for our conversation.

COMMUNION AND SHARING OF RESOURCES

God is with us.

Yes she is.

FEEDBACK AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

v Wednesday Open Conversations

v Quincy next Saturday

BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE

By Andrew

Happy New Year! We're back at the Dugout!

Join us as we celebrate the life of a truly Courageous Revolting Hag, Mary Daly. Who revolted against patriarchal death-dealing and necrophilic reversals. Her website states: During this time of profound loss those who wish to memorialize Mary should have local get-togethers where they read or discuss her work. So in today's gathering, we will remember my friend who lived in OutRageous participation in Be-ing :-)

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

December 26, 2009 and January 2, 2010 Gatherings

Happy Holidays!

The Dugout is closed the next two Saturdays, Dec. 26th and Jan. 2nd, so instead of gathering at our favorite pub, we will gather at our place: 124 Hamilton St. Cambridge. Home #617-714-4184.

We will meet at the same time as usual, 5pm, and we will have some food as usual, but we will be a little less structured than usual. :-)

Also, Jan. 2nd, John Gerard will join us to play his wonderful music and if you all stick around after pub church (6pm), we will also be celebrating my birthday then! :-P

Merry, merry Christmas and I hope to see you all soon!

-Xochitl

December 19, 2009 Gathering

PRELUDE

Music by Andrew Prete

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

Loving Goddess, open our hearts and minds to the truth made manifest in Jesus --- That you are with us. You took flesh, dwelt among us, and offered us an embodied witness to your divine way. May the simple beauty of the birth of Jesus summon us always to love what is most deeply human, and to see your love reflected in the humblest of lives. May the testimony of this incarnation summon us to new life and inspire us to share this table in openness and truth, so that the fruits of this gathering may be hope, and love, and friendship.

TELLING OUR STORY

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 Andrew

CONVERSATIONAL SERMON

“Mark is not very helpful in the season of advent.”

At that time, Mary set out in haste for a town in the hill country of Judah, where she entered Zechariah’s house and greeted her Elizabeth. And it so happened, when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, that the baby jumped in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with holy spirit and proclaimed at the top of her voice, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! Who am I that the mother of my lord should visit me? You see, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby jumped for joy in my womb. Congratulations to her who trusted that what the Lord promised her would come true.”

And Mary said, "My soul extols the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has shown consideration for the lowly status of his slave. As a consequence, from now on every generation will congratulate me; the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name, and his mercy will come to generation after generation of those who fear him. He has shown strength of his arm; he has put the arrogant to rout (retreat/defeat), along with their private schemes; he has pulled the mighty down from their thrones, and exalted the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has come to the aid of his servant Israel, remembering his mercy, as he spoke to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."

Silent Meditation: Be still and aware of the Divine presence within and all around us…

v What is advent?

v Is Mark really not helpful in advent?

COMMUNION AND SHARING OF RESOURCES

God is with us.

Yes she is.

FEEDBACK AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

BENEDICTION

In this holy season of winter-darkness hearth-time, welcome the stranger you have feared:

your own desires, your memories, your losses.

And in the quiet of candlelight,

may you hold hope again,

like a newborn child in your arms,

cradle hope again.

Blessed be your holidays and

Go forth in hope, in peace, in joy, and in love.

POSTLUDE

By Andrew

December 12, 2009 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

Holy Spirit, in Jesus the Anointed one you took flesh and dwelt among us, offering us an embodied witness to a divine way of living and relating in this world. May we be inspired to follow, to act, and to share this table in openness and truth, so that the fruits of this gathering may be loving friendship and new life.

TELLING OUR STORY

What do we wish we had enough trust in?

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

Mark 6:30-45

Then the apostles regrouped around Jesus and they reported to him everything that they had done and taught.

And he says to them, “You come privately to an isolated place and rest a little.” (Remember, many were coming and going and they didn’t even have a chance to eat.)

So they went away in a boat privately to an isolated place. But many noticed them leaving and figured it out and raced there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When he came ashore, he saw a huge crowd and was moved by them, because they ‘resembled sheep without a shepherd,’ and he started teaching them at length.

And when the hour had already grown late, his disciples would approach him and say, “This place is desolate and it’s late. Send them away so that they can go to the farms and villages around here to buy something to eat.”

But in response he said to them, “Give them something to eat yourselves!”

And they say to him, “Are we to go out and buy half a year’s wages worth of bread and donate it for the mean?!”

So he says to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go look.”

And when they find out, they say, “Five, and two fish.”

Next he instructs them all to sit down and eat, some over here, some over there, on the green grass. So they sat down group by group, in hundreds and in fifties. And he took the five loaves and the two fish, looked up to the sky, gave a blessing, and broke the bread apart, and started giving it to his disciples to pass around to them, and even the two fish they shared with everyone. Everybody had more than enough to eat. Then they picked up twelve baskets full of leftovers, including some fish. And the number of men who had some bread came to five thousand.

And right away he made his disciples embark in the boat and go ahead to the opposite shore toward Bethsaida, while he himself dispersed the crowd. And once he got away from them, he went off to the mountain to pray.

Silent Meditation: Be still and aware of the Divine presence within and all around us as we prepare for our conversation.

COMMUNION AND SHARING OF RESOURCES

God is with us.

Yes she is.

FEEDBACK AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

v Dec. 26^th and Jan. 2 at

v John Gerard plays Tommy Doyle’s 12/15, 9:00pm

BENEDICTION

Go tell the earth to shake with marching feet

Of messengers of peace

For the old wrongs are over

The old days are gone

A new world is rising

Where god’s people shall be one.

Today is the beginning of everything.

Go in peace, with new life, and Drink in the Spirit!

POSTLUDE

By John

December 5, 2009 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

Holy Spirit, in Jesus the Anointed one you took flesh and dwelt among us, offering us an embodied witness to a divine way of living and relating in this world. May we be inspired to follow, to act, and to share this table in honesty and toward truth, so that the fruits of this gathering may be loving friendship and new life.

TELLING OUR STORY

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

Mark 6:12-30

So they set out and announced that people should turn their lives around, and they often drove out demons, and they anointed many sick people with oil and healed [them].

King Herod heard about it – by now, [Jesus’] reputation had become well known – and people kept saying that John the Baptizer had been raised from the dead and that, as a consequence, miraculous powers were at work in him. Some spread the rumor that he was Elijah, while others reported that he was a prophet like one of the prophets.

When Herod got wind of it, he started declaring, “John, the one beheaded, has been raised!”

Earlier Herod himself had sent someone to arrest John and put him in chains in a dungeon, on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her. You see, John had said to Herod, “It is not right for you to have your brother’s wife!”

So Herodias nursed a grudge against him and wanted to eliminate him, but she couldn’t manage it, because Herod was afraid of John. He knew that he was an upright and holy man, and so protected him, and, although he listened to him frequently, he was very confused, yet he listened to him eagerly.

Now a festival day came, when Herod gave a banquet on his birthday for his courtiers, and his commanders, and the leading citizens of Galilee. And the daughter of Herodias came in and captivated Herod and his dinner guests by dancing. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish and I’ll grant it to you!” Then he swore an oath to her: “I’ll grant you whatever you ask for, up to half my domain!”

She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?”

And she replied, “The head of John the Baptist!”

She promptly hastened back and made her request: “I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist on a platter, right now!”

The king grew regretful, but, on account of his oaths and the dinner guests, he didn’t want to refuse her. So right away the king sent for the executioner and commanded him to bring his head. And he went away and beheaded [John] in prison. He brought his head on a platter and presented it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and got his body and put it in a tomb.

Then the apostles regrouped around Jesus and they reported to him everything that they had done and taught.

Silent Meditation: Be still and aware of the Divine presence within and all around us as we prepare for our conversation.

COMMUNION AND SHARING OF RESOURCES

God is with us.

Yes she is.

FEEDBACK AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

v Dugout 12/26, 1/2 open?

BENEDICTION

Go tell the earth to shake with marching feet

Of messengers of peace

For the old wrongs are over

The old days are gone

A new world is rising

Where god’s people shall be one.

Today is the beginning of everything.

Go in peace, with new life, and Drink in the Spirit!

POSTLUDE

By John

Announcements for Thanksgiving

• As usual, we have been meeting every week on Saturdays, 5:00pm at The Dugout . That's right, we meet every week unless the Dugout is closed, in which case I will email with alternate plans.
• And so guess what? The Saturday after Thanksgiving, Saturday, November 28th, the Dugout is CLOSED. Soooo...
• Saturday, November 28th, The Pub Church will gather at 124 Hamilton St. in Cambridge for dinner and a movie. Dinner is at 5:00pm and then we will get on the T and head to Harvard Sq. AMC for a movie (TBD).
• On Thanksgiving, 11/26, at 5:00pm all are invited to Thanksgiving dinner at 124 Hamilton St. in Cambridge. Please join us in giving thanks, eating good food, and enjoying each other's company. Feel free to bring anyone else with you too. Also if you want to bring a favorite side-dish or dessert let me know so we won't double cook :-)
• In other news, The Pub Church has an intern this academic year! Wes Dalton is a Master of Divinity student at the BU School of Theology and is doing his field education with us at pub church. Already a regular participant at pub church, we now get to participate with him in accomplishing his learning objectives. Ask him about it :-)

Hope to see you soon!

-Xochitl

November 21, 2009 Gathering

PRELUDE

Music by John Gerard

WELCOME

Welcome to The Pub Church! We are a church in a pub and the Spirit is with us. In this space you are free to move about, order drinks/food, doodle, and express your ideas 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

God, you have already blessed this table as the means for our coming together, help us now to share in honesty and towards truth, so that the fruits of this gathering may be loving fellowship and new life. Amen.

TELLING OUR STORY

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

Mark 7: 24-30

From there he set out and went away to the region of Tyre.^* He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, ²⁵but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. ²⁶Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. ²⁷He said to her, ‘Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.’ ²⁸But she answered him, ‘Sir,^* even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.’ ²⁹Then he said to her, ‘For saying that, you may go—the demon has left your daughter.’ ³⁰So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.

· Initial thoughts? Comments?

COMMUNION AND SHARING OF RESOURCES

God is with us.

Yes she is.

FEEDBACK AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

BENEDICTION

Go now in peace, in love, in contemplation, and in whatever way the Spirit pulls at you.

POSTLUDE

By John