Sunday's Discussion

We had a good discussion Sunday during meditation time. We seemed to agree that it is not God that makes bad things happen to good people. That it is just "the way life is." Amma Susan's sermon was quoted "God doesn't get you into it, but He will get you through it." There was some concern that the book was written by a Jewish Rabbi and was, therefore, not Christian, but as we searched for issues, we found a number of "Christian" points of view in the book. In discussing Chapter 3, we felt that we could hold all three propositions to be true - God is omnipotent, God is just, and some suffering people are good - if we realize that God chose not to control this world in order to give us free will. Much of the suffering in the world, we felt, was due to human error in the exercise of free will. That's what I remember. Let us know your views. +Tom

Whoops! Sorry about the spelling. Should have checked it before posting.
Amma Susan+

First blog

This is my first posting. I love this book. Kushner doesn't pull any punches or retreat into theological platitudes. This age old question had led to a crisis of faith for so many. Our author meats the hard question head-on. I look forward to our "little chats" on this site.
Amma Susan+

Thanks, Fr. Jim, for doing this!

I'm in!!

If this post appears, I think we have it fixed.

OK, Fr. Jim! I think we have it fixed.

I have invited you to post to the blog!

Tom mentioned today that it was your opinion that I needed to invite each of you to post to the Stephen Ministry blog.  I have done so this afternoon and each Stephen Minister and Leader should receive an invitation in your email.

Fr. Jim+

Continuing Education Schedule

St. Catherine’s Stephen Ministry
Summer Continuing Education Schedule

"When Bad Things Happen to Good People"

Week                    Week of Date                       Chapter
1                               June 5                                   1
2                               June 12                                 2
3                               June 19                                 3
Supervision              June 26                Review Chapters 1-3
4                               June 26                                 4
5                               July 3                                    5
Supervision             July 10                  Review Chapters 4-5
6                               July 10                                 6
7                               July 17                                 7
8                               July 24                                 8
Supervision              July 24                  Review Chapters 6-8

All Stephen Ministers are requested to participate in the blog dialogue for each chapter as well the Supervision discussion on June 26, July 10, July 24 in order to satisfy the Continuing Education requirement.

You can discover more about the author and the book at this link

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/When_Bad_Things_Happen_to_Good_People

 

Fr. Jim+

Stephen Ministry Retreat

This summer our Stephen Leaders have suggested we try out a different form of continuing education for Stephen Ministry.  We will be using Rabbi Harold N. Kushner’s famous book, “When Bad Things Happen to Good People.”  We invite you to join us in this study using the books and materials we will distribute in our upcoming Stephen Ministry Retreat.  And, of course, to let us know how this type of forum works for everyone involved.

 

Thanks and I look forward to the conversation.

 

Fr. Jim+