resources for 2023-2024
belonging
1. Welcome back! 1st Principle: The inherent worth and dignity of every person.
3. Listen to Belonging by Rev. Thom Belote (August 7, 2022). The sermon starts at 53:10.
- What does this mean to you?
- What do you find most difficult in applying this principle?
- Describe a time when you used this principle to make a decision.
- When did you first recognize this principle in your life?
- How is this principle present in your daily life?
- How does this principle impact how you are in community with others?
- Was this a value taught in your family of origin or religion? If so, under what circumstances did it unfold?
- How has this principle caused you to question previously held beliefs or the opinions or others in your life?
- How did or does this principle challenge you? In what types of situations does this occur?
- Can you share something that was painful to you, but after it happened, it brought new wisdom and deeper connections? What insights about yourself (and others) did it allow you to discover?
- Why do you believe there is pain?
3. Listen to Belonging by Rev. Thom Belote (August 7, 2022). The sermon starts at 53:10.
- Where did you first experience a feeling of belonging?
- Describe a time when you desperately needed to feel like you belonged and found that you did belong.
- Describe a time when you desperately needed to feel like you belonged and found that you did not or could not belong.
- Do you feel that you belong to yourself? Please describe this feeling.
- Do you believe there is something about human nature that keeps us from embracing diversity? Are we meant to only belong to communities that look like us, think like us, and behave like us? Could you belong to a community of bigots?
wholeness
4. Body: Exercise
6. Spirit: Spirituality
- Do you have any regular exercise routines?
- What do you find helpful to encourage exercise? A gym? Friends? Apps?
- What are your barriers to exercise and movement? How have you worked on overcoming them?
- Which historical figure do you admire the most? Why?
6. Spirit: Spirituality
- Do you think of yourself as a spiritual person? Do you see yourself on a spiritual journey? Has this changed over time?
- Has The Community Church helped with this? Or has there been more religiosity than spirituality at church?
- Have you ever felt any connection to a goddess? or other spiritual symbol?
- Do you have any spiritual practices? Meditation, readings, blessings at meals, walking a labyrinth, etc.?
- Have Rare Women discussions helped you think about this more?
freedom
7. Listen to Courage by Rev. Thom Belote (September 11, 2022). The sermon starts at 53:00.
9. 2nd Principle: Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations.
- The root of the word "courage" is "coeur" (heart). How often do you have the courage to speak your heart? Give some examples.
- Does it require bravery for you to listen to your heart - even if you don't act upon its advice?
- Rev. Thom says in his prayers during the worst of the pandemic that he found himself asking for the courage to live wholeheartedly in spite of the challenges. What challenges have you faced that required you to have serious courage?
- Are you the source of your own anxiety, e.g. Tillich's anxieties about death? If so, how and what do you do to challenge this foe?
- How do you pursue meaning in the face of meaningless?
- What is your 10 Meter Tower?
- As a young person, were you concerned with "coloring inside the lines", or did you have your own way of doing things? Who were your guides in rule following? How about the "rebels" in your life? Who were they?
- Were you ever praised for being unique or creative in writing your own rules? Or, were you disciplined instead? Do you believe you are unique and unrepeatable?
- Share a recent time when you refused to follow the rules? How did it turn out?
9. 2nd Principle: Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations.
- What does this mean to you?
- Do you find this difficult to apply in your daily life?
- Describe a time when you used this principle to make a decision.
- When did you first recognize this principle in your life?
- Was this a value taught in your family of origin or religion? If so, under what circumstances did it unfold?
- How did this principle cause you to question previously held beliefs or the opinions of others in your life?
- How is this principle present in your daily life?
- How did or does this principle challenge you? In what types of situations does this occur?
- How does this principle work (or not work) in your communities (work, friends, congregation, etc.?)
Ghosts
10. Ancestors
11. Read the poem, Ghosts, by Michael Estabrook.
12. Listen to Facing Our Hungry Ghosts by Rev. Thom Belote (January 8, 2023). The sermon begins at 55:20.
13. The practice of letting go of the life you wished for.
- Do you know much about your ancestors (grandparents and further back)?
- Have you done any searching for your family roots? Have you found any roadblocks?
- Do you know when your family came to this country and why?
- What have you learned from your study of your ancestors? Any familiar themes in your family? Any lessons learned?
11. Read the poem, Ghosts, by Michael Estabrook.
- Who are the ghosts in your life that you began thinking about when you read this poem?
- Were you surprised by how many people came to mind and all the different parts of your life and circumstances that the poem made you think about?
- Were there any “ghosts” that caused you to really think in depth about them? Were these people who had had a positive influence on your life, a negative influence, or both types of ghosts?
- Are there “ghosts” in your life that you would like to get in touch with again? If they are still alive, can you think of a way to reach them? If you can find them, do you think that they are the kind of people with whom you can just pick up with where you left off?
- Do the “ghosts” that you would like to reach out to include any with whom you feel that you need to make amends?
12. Listen to Facing Our Hungry Ghosts by Rev. Thom Belote (January 8, 2023). The sermon begins at 55:20.
- What do you think has caused our society's "Hungry Ghosts?" Do you think it can be addressed?
- We all have hungry ghosts. Without disclosing too much, how do you temper your hungry ghosts?
13. The practice of letting go of the life you wished for.
- What were some things you wished for when you were young? Did these wishes come true or not?
- Tell us an instance when you experienced something that was unexpected? How did you react?
- As a whole, do you find it easy or difficult to change course or "let go" of your expectations? Is this the life you wished for?
Joy
14. Bring your favorite poem to read. How did you discover it? Why are you drawn to it?
15. Read Transplanting from Ross Gay's book, The Book of Delights.
16. What is your go-to musical genre? Give an example of a wonderful piece/song from this genre. Wrap up!
15. Read Transplanting from Ross Gay's book, The Book of Delights.
- Have you ever carried joy around in a bag? Tell us about it.
- Have you ever found delight in transplanting plants or seeds from someone else’s garden to yours or vice versa?
- Have you had any experiences following a person’s death that made you feel that they were still close by and, some would say, were sending you a sign of their love?
- Describe a series of delights that you have experienced in an hour, afternoon, or day.
16. What is your go-to musical genre? Give an example of a wonderful piece/song from this genre. Wrap up!