Canterbury at Cal

This Sunday we will meet at 6:30 for dinner.  This week we will be working on an offrenda as part of our All Saint’s celebration.  Offrendas are traditional ways of remembering loved ones on the feast of All Soul’s or All Faithful Departed.  Please bring flowers, paints or other decorative items.  We will conclude with Sung Night Prayer at 8:30

Each Thursday at 6:30 there is a prayer in the tradition of Taizé each week in the canterbury house.  This form of contemplative prayer comes from the community of Taizé in Burgundy, France.  Visited each summer by tens of thousands of young adults, the monastery of Taizé explores reconciliation, simplicity of life and contemplation of God as a community experience.  Visit the website at www.taize.fr

This Thursday we will be changing our Thursday routine a little bit. In honor of the All Hallows festivities we will be watching selections from the Simpsons Tree House of Horror and discussing the many theologically rich overtones of these yearly favorites!

Below is the text we will be reviewing this Sunday

1:40-45  Jesus heals a man with a skin disease

And a man with scale-disease came up to him, pleading with him and saying, “If you want to, you are able to cleanse me.” and he, becoming incensed, stretched out his hand and touched him and said, “I do want to; be cleansed!”  And immediately the scale-disease left him, and he was cleansed.  And Jesus, growling at him, immediately cast him out and said to him, “See that you don’t say anything to anyone, but go and show yourself to the priest and offer for our cleansing what Moses commanded, as a witness to them.”  But he went out and bean to proclaim it all over and to spread the news abroad, so that Jesus was no longer able to go into a city openly, but had to remain out in deserted places.  And the people came to him from everywhere.

2:1-12  Jesus heals a paralytic

And he returned several days later to Capernaum, and it was rumored that he was at home.  And many people gathered together there, so that there was no room even in front of the door, and he was speaking the word to them.  And a paralytic was brought to him, carried by four of his friends; and not being able to reach him because of the crowd, they unroofed the roof where he was, and digging through they lowered the pallet upon which the paralytic was lying.  And Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, “My child, your sins are forgiven.”

But some of the scribes were sitting there and pondering in their hearts: “Why does this man speak in this way?  He is blaspheming!  Who can forgive sins except One, that is, God?”  And Jesus, immediately recognizing in his spirit that they were pondering within themselves in this way, said to them, “Why are you pondering in your hearts?  Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take up your pallet, and walk!’?  But so that you may know that upon earth the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins” - he said to the paralytic: “I say to you, get up, take up your pallet, and go to your house!”  And he got up, and immediately he took up his pallet and went out in front of them all, so that they all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like it!”

Each week the Canterbury House hosts a dinner followed by a discussion.  Currently we are looking at the gospel of Mark, it’s revolutionary tone, its contextual past and what it means for you now.  Delve into a book that is around 1940 years old!  We end our time with a sung version of night prayer based on a tradition dating back to the 6th century but words reflecting the reality of today.

Each week Canterbury continues a tradition dating back at least to the 6th century in which Christians sing the final prayers of the day known as Compline (from the Latin for completorium or completion).  Our community uses ancient melodies from eastern and western traditions combined with prayers developed by the Anglican Province of New Zealand.  The melodies ground us in our past while the prayers unite us with the ever expanding realities of faith in the world around us.

This week join us for dinner and then a conversation about the future of the campus ministry.  We are in a process of making some major decisions about how to insure a positive future for an Episcopal presence at Cal.  In order to make this vision one that can reach as many people as possible we need as broad of an input as possible.  New members, curious non-attendees and veterans alike can contribute in important ways.

Grad students and young adults (20’s 30’s) are invited to participate in a weekly discussion group. We will be using the monthly publication Context by Martin Marty, emeritus professor of religion at the University of Chicago. Context publishes excerpts from a wide variety of journals, periodicals and newspapers all focusing on important themes of culture and faith. Even if you miss one week you don’t have to catch up just show up. Beverages and light refreshments will be provided.

Each Thursday at 6:30 there is a prayer in the tradition of Taizé each week in the canterbury house.  This form of contemplative prayer comes from the community of Taizé in Burgundy, France.  Visited each summer by tens of thousands of young adults, the monastery of Taizé explores reconciliation, simplicity of life and contemplation of God as a community experience.  Visit the website at www.taize.fr

Canterbury is taking part with several other Episcopal and Lutheran Campus Ministries around the Diocese in our fall retreat at St. Dorothy’s Rest in the beautiful redwoods of the Russian River valley.  There will be time for rest, study, guided reflection and program, playing around with the costume closet and general rollicking fun!  November 6-8.  Sign up now!