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Faith Lens

May 4, 2014–Something About the Face

Contributed by Scott Moore, Erfurt, Germany

 

Warm-up Question

What is the first thing you notice about someone else?

Something About the Face

shutterstock_162110726editBoth Facebook and the FBI are working very hard to develop current face recognition software to be able to perfectly identify any person with just a picture of their face. Face recognition systems rely on two features in order to be successful: a data base of pictures of faces  and biometrics, which are the way a computer measures all the details of someone’s face and turns them into a mathematical algorithm and plots them on a chart in the form of data that can be analyzed and compared. The more pictures the face recognition system has, the greater the chances are the computer can make more accurate comparisons.

The US government, according to some sources, wants to compile a database large enough to be able to identify every individual in the United States. Facebook, in comparison, is equally interested in growing their database of face prints, but not in order to catch terrorists. Instead, Facebook wants to make the user experience friendlier by being able to identify friends for you tag in your pictures and perhaps even sell information about where you have been and who you were with.

There are groups very concerned about this capture of our identity and its potential abuse. What would it mean if the government could identify us and our whereabouts and our actions at any given time? Even as exciting as some of this technology is, there seems to be something attractive about being able to remain anonymous when we want to. Can we have both?

 

Discussion Questions

  • What is your feeling about face recognition software?
  • Where do you think we should draw the line as a society concerning our personal identity?
  • Have you ever had biometric data recorded? (ex. Finger prints at borders like at the airport when traveling?)
  • Do you spend a lot of time posting lots of pictures (selfies) on various social media sites? Do you know how your images are being used?

Scripture Texts (NRSV) for Sunday, May 4, 2014 (Third Sunday of Easter)

Acts 2:14a, 36-41

1 Peter 1:17-23

Luke 24:13-35

(Text links are to Oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year C at Lectionary Readings.)

For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic Agnus Day.

 

Gospel Reflection

Jesus has died a horrible death. His followers have been cast into fear and despair. The faithful women who went to the tomb, however, saw a vision of angels claiming that he is not dead. He has been raised. The crucified one is alive. One would think that his followers would be the ones that could recognize Jesus immediately. They’ve watched him and listened to him for years. They have spent days and nights with him. They would know his face anywhere. Yet, Jesus is able to walk up to faithful followers on the road and engage them in conversation without them recognizing who he is. He hears their grief and explains to them by interpreting scripture why all these things were supposed to happen.

As they reached their destination, Jesus starts to head on his way. The disciples offer him hospitality and ask him to stay with them because it is getting dark and dangerous on the road. He agrees and something crazy happens. Instead of them being the host, Jesus takes over the role at the dinner table and does something that he has done before. He takes the bread, blesses it and breaks it, and gives it to them.  Take, bless, break, and give. These are the actions of Jesus when he shared the last supper with his disciples. Take, bless, break, share. This is what we do when we gather at the Lord’s table today. Jesus face was hidden from them on the road. In Jesus action at the table they recognize the Lord. As soon, as they see him for who he is, he disappears. They are left with a memory of their entire walk. They see it all clearer now. They felt strong emotions of love and passion on the walk that they now understand, “were not our hearts burning within us?” they say.

This story of a simple walk among friends at a time of grief and pain becomes a model for our Christian walk. Jesus walks with us even when we aren’t able to recognize him. Jesus speaks to us even at our darkest hour even when everything around us tries to drown out his sweet voice. Jesus shares himself with us in holy words and in holy actions even when we find it sometimes difficult to see him in that. Jesus takes a conversation in grief and turns it into joy. Jesus takes simple bread that we have to offer and makes it into a meal where we can see and understand him, and maybe ourselves, in a new light. He blesses our walks through life, our talks about God’s word, and he blesses this meal that he has given to us. It is a gift that is supposed to open our eyes. It is meal that we are called to share in remembrance and recognition of him.

Discussion Questions

  • When have you recognized Jesus in the Eucharist/Holy Communion?
  • When do you feel more open to sharing in this meal of Holy Communion? When do you find it more difficult?
  • When do feel like the Eucharistic meal is a personal meal and when do you feel that it is a community meal?
  • In what other meals have you ever recognized Jesus?
  • Have you ever felt that your “heart was burning” when you have been talking about the bible with others?
  • What do you think your worshiping community could do in order to help everyone recognize Jesus more in this holy meal?

Activity Suggestions

Let’s Find Jesus Meal–Bring food for the participants (donuts, fruit, etc.) Invite them to take some food and either alone or in pairs to find a location within the church/facility where they recognize Jesus. Give them a few minutes to enjoy their meal. Invite them back to share where they ate and why.

Closing Prayer

Lord of Resurrection, you have walked with us along our journey in life. You have encouraged us and given us strength in difficult times and you have rejoiced with us in times of joy. Walk with us and share yourself with us now when we share in your word and when we break bread together. Show us your face and give us the grace to recognize you every step of our lives. We ask this in the name of the one who walks with us always, Jesus Christ, the Risen One. Amen

August 12-19, 2009 – True Blood: blood drinkers appear to be just around every corner

Contributed by Pastor Scott A. Moore
Eisleben, Germany

dracula288Warm-up Question:  What do you eat or drink when you need energy real fast? And, when you need long-lasting energy?

Once again, it is very cool to be a vampire.

The recent best-seller series, Twilight, with a second movie installment on the way, and the HBO series True Blood (adapted from the Southern Vampire Mysteries, novels written by Charlaine Harris) prove the public’s thirst for this most sanguine of themes.

These stories have not just filled the imaginations of many young people (not to mention quite a few older folk), they have also worked very hard to help us see the mysterious and supernatural in our hum-drum, everyday (read: boring) lives. Beautiful, interesting, and extremely talented vampires in our towns and in our schools… a much better sell than in the days of dreary Transylvania with a pasty-complexioned man wearing an old, dusty tuxedo who sleeps in a coffin and says, “I vant to zuck your bloooood” and then turns into a bat and flies away.

Where the Twilight story is satisfied with living within its created fantasy world, the creators of True Blood have decided to work at blurring the line between that Southern fantasy world and the world in which we live. HBO, with the help of the marketing firm, Digital Kitchen, created 30 fake ads for products by real companies we all know, all geared for those blood drinkers living among us. This campaign is striving to create an air of authenticity in order to help viewers believe the story.

Discussion Questions

  • Where you afraid of vampires as a little kid?
  • What do you find intriguing or repulsive about the vampire legends in general?
  • What do you appreciate about the particular vampire stories that are told in Twilight or True Blood?
  • Why do you think there is such a huge interest in the vampire legends these days?
  • What do you imagine living forever would look like? What would you be willing to do in order to achieve that? Where would you draw the line?

Scripture Texts (NRSV) for Sunday, August 16, 2009.

(Text links are to oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings at Lectionary Readings.)

For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic Agnus Day.

Gospel Reflection

In the first years of the Church, after Jesus ascended into heaven, the disciples did what he commanded them to do. They made disciples by teaching and baptizing, they preached, and they gathered around the table and shared in that special meal Christ instituted for them known by a variety of african eucharistnames: the Lord’s Supper, Holy Communion, Eucharist, just to name a few. Jesus says in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, “take and eat, this is my body… take and drink, this is my blood”. And here in the Gospel of John, Jesus says, “‘Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them.”

The Jewish leaders in our Gospel story ask the question that has troubled believers and non-believers alike for centuries: “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” How indeed? The idea of really eating Jesus’ flesh and drinking his blood has bothered many for 20 centuries. It seems somehow really gross.

We don’t seem to be too bothered, however, by the idea of this kind of eating and drinking when we think about Edward Cullen or Jessica Hamby eating flesh or drinking blood (and yes, all of the die-hard vampire fans will say, “They only drink blood!”). It doesn’t seem to gross us out that much. We shy away from really trying to sit with the idea of what that means when we think about the miracle-working and eternal Son of God, who doesn’t need to eat and drink but instead gives himself for our consumption. Jesus is like the anti-vampire, who lives and gives his life for those who feast on him. It is easier to quickly think about Jesus words as a mere signs. He couldn’t have really meant what he said, could he?

A good question for those of us who celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus by sharing in this special meal might be: why do we believe and teach these strong and vivid words of eating and drinking Jesus if there isn’t something more going on than eating some bread and drinking some wine? Why would Jesus say, “this is my flesh, this is my blood… those who eat of my flesh and drink of my blood have eternal life… my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink”?

There are certainly many ways to twist and turn Jesus’ words in order to make them more palatable or easy to digest. We do know, however, that Jesus gave himself to us. Not only in the cross, not only in the words we share, but also in a meal. Bread and wine, broken and shared. Christ’s true body. Christ’s true blood. It doesn’t get more authentic than that.

Discussion Questions

(Information on communion in ELCA Worship’s FAQs. Some of these FAQs may be helpful background for your discussion.)

  • What do you think about when you receive (or watch others receive) communion?
  • Why do you think Jesus shared his body and blood with the world this way?
  • What form of “bread and wine” do you prefer or think is best? (wafers, bread, wine, grape juice) Why?
  • What different forms of receiving the bread and wine of Eucharist have you experienced? (at a rail, passing and giving to each other, separate small cups of wine, common cup, intinction, kneeling, standing, walking by a “station”, etc.) Which do you prefer or think is best? And why?
  • How would you explain Communion/Eucharist/Lord’s Supper to a friend who doesn’t know what Christians do?

Activity Suggestion

Same-day activity
Learn how to set the table/altar for Eucharist. With help from someone in your congregation, see what your congregation uses for wine and bread. Find out what all the various things on the altar/table are and what they mean.

Few-day activity
Make a communion set for your congregation out of pottery or wood. There are lots of opportunities to talk about the meaning of the Eucharist during this kind of activity.

Long-term activity
Train and send participants either for a one-time experience or as permanent members on home communion visits. If you do not have this kind of ministry, talk about establishing one.

Closing Prayer

O God, who sustains and upholds us, we hunger and thirst for you in our lives. Feed us with your love, feed us with your truth, and feed us with the life-giving power of your Son, Jesus Christ, the Bread of Heaven. In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen.

August 5-12, 2009 – Bread for Bentonville

(updated 08/26/09)

Contributed by Erik Ullestad
West Des Moines, IA

Warm-up Question:  What is the best meal you’ve ever eaten? Did you leave anything on the plate? What happened to the leftovers?

It all began with some brown bananas… sort of.

BananaBread

Rick Boosey and his family, after much prayer, reflection, doubts, and wrestling with discerning God’s desire for their lives, opened a soup and salad shop in Bentonville, Arkansas. Part of the plan was to donate a portion of their income from the venture to feeding others. It started small, and grew into something amazing and life-giving.

A conversation with his restaurant food supplier, James Urich, revealed that the food supplier was throwing out enough fruits and vegetables to fill a 15-passenger van every week. Most of it was still perfectly healthy to eat, but restaurants and grocery stores require at least five days of guaranteed freshness on all purchased produce. Even if a pear is healthy to eat for 3-4 days, it will never be sold or eaten. Urich gave Boosey a list of his “throw aways” — food to be disposed of. It was the brown bananas on the list that first caught his eye.

After discussions with his employees and family, they decided that they could use the still-edible produce to make banana bread. The supplier donated the produce and Boosey’s soup and salad shop made loaves of banana bread for a local shelter to give to people who were hungry.

Little did he know that a few loaves of banana bread for a local homeless shelter would lead to serving 5,000 free meals a week and sprouting new efforts and ministries to care for people in need.

Little by little, Boosey and Urich were able to find volunteers to provide ingredients and spend a few hours in the kitchen preparing meals. The team distributed food through local shelters and food pantries. The whole thing continued to grow in unexpected ways.

The World Garden Restaurant and World Garden Artisan Coffee Roasting now serves meals that are made almost entirely out of food that would have otherwise been thrown away. The staff is comprised largely of volunteers. In addition to the meals they serve, the World Garden sells their breads in local supermarkets and the farmers market. They are also working on the start-up of a community garden/farm. Boosey and Urich have teamed up with the Cobblestone Project, a service ministry for homeless and low-income people, to distribute food to even more people. They have hopes that their project will continue to grow, and that they will be able to inspire other communities and organizations to start similar projects across the country.

Boosey describes it as one small decision snowballing into something huge. Everyday seems to bring new calls from people and organizations stepping forward with new ideas, resources, and services to contribute. Boosey is clear that it is all God’s work and nudging.

Discussion Questions

  • What surprised you about this article?
  • How much edible food do you think gets thrown out at you house? School? Favorite restaurant?
  • What do you think about restaurants requiring at least five days of freshness for their produce?
  • What might be some of the challenges of starting this kind of program in our community? How would someone get started with something like this?

Scripture Texts (NRSV) for Sunday, August 9, 2009.

(Text links are to oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings at Lectionary Readings.)

For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic Agnus Day.

Gospel Reflection

There goes Jesus, talking about bread — again!

For the third consecutive week, we are focusing on a bread-related story from the 6th chapter of John’s Gospel. Two weeks ago we read the familiar story of Jesus using five loaves of bread and two fish to feed thousands. Last week Jesus started talking about “bread coming from heaven”. This week, he takes it a step further and makes the outrageous claim that HE is the bread of life that is given by God.

Jesus has chosen bread as the focus of his conversations. For some of his friends, talk of bread conjured up images of when God provided bread in the wilderness for Moses and the Israelites. For others, bread was a symbol of what was needed for their daily survival. Bread was an essential food that everyone ate multiple times a day.

(Perhaps if Jesus was speaking to 21st century American youth to get his message across, he would have talked about being the “pizza of eternal life from heaven”.)

Jesus was making two points in his extended bread chat. First, he was showing people that God is a God that provides for the needs of God’s people on earth. God was not only able, but WILLING to feed a multitude of hungry people with table scraps of bread and fish. Surely this same God cares about caring for people in other aspects of their life. Second, God has sent Jesus to be the bread of life not just on earth, but for eternity.

It is this second claim that gets Jesus into some trouble. It’s one thing to say that God cares for people. It’s much messier for him to claim that HE is the Son of God and, therefore, holds the key to salvation and eternal life. It was understandably confusing for people back then to look at Jesus, the son of Joseph and Mary, as “one who was sent from heaven”. It can also be difficult for us to comprehend that one person (Jesus) can bring about eternal life for generations of believers.

The good news in this story is that, despite our doubts and questions, Jesus continues to offer himself as “bread from heaven”. This bread not only satisfies our hunger here on earth, but gives us life even after our physical bodies have died. Jesus declared himself as bread from life back then, and he promises to continue offering himself as the true bread of life for the whole world. 

Discussion Questions

  • Why do you think Jesus spent so much time talking about bread?
  • How would you respond to Jesus’ claims if you were among those in the story?
  • What are some ways that Jesus provides for your physical needs here on earth? What is our role and opportunity?
  • How can you take Jesus’ promise of bread and share it with others? Think beyond just words…

Activity Suggestion

Baking communion bread

Ask your pastor or the worship committee if your group can make communion bread for an upcoming service. Discuss the various kinds of breads (leaven, unleavened, etc.) and decide which would be best for communion.

Consider making a few extra loaves of bread and take it to a local food pantry or shelter. You may even want to write out John 6:51 on a small piece of paper, wrap the bread in a plastic bag, and affix the paper to the bag with a twisty tie. What a great way to share the bread of life with those who are hungry! Learn more about the work and ministries of the World Garden Restaurant and World Garden Artisan Coffee Roasting.

Closing Prayer 

God, thanks for providing for our physical needs here on earth. We also thank you for sending Jesus to be our eternal bread. Help us to tell others about your sacrificial love for the whole world. May we find new ways to feed your people in the days ahead. Amen.