Next Meeting February 7 - Meanwhile - some information about service, food, and sheep -

Hi all -- it was great to have so many people there last time -- 10 young adults around the table.  And I really enjoyed our conversation looking at the 4 different versions of the Feeding the 5000 story -- some great insights and good sharing -- please continue to hold your "prayer-partner" in prayer 'til next time.  And welcome to anyone checking this site for the first time. If you'd like to join us and need directions, please contact me at kathleen.staudt@gmail.com.

A reminder that a number of people in this group are also participating in the ministry to City Gate, a ministry to children and families in Southeast DC.  (see photo featured here)   Volunteers meet at Vienna Baptist one Saturday a month to carpool downtown - leave at 10, back by1:00.  The next time will be February 18.  Also volunteer slots are still available for next week's work at the hypothermia shelter sponsored by FACETS, the week of January 29.  Contact Ben Wagener for information about both opportunities for service.  He's at bwagener@vbc-va.org

Next time we'll be continuing our conversation about the various "I am" statements by Jesus in the gospel of John -- last time it was "I am the bread of life."  Next time "I am the good shepherd."  I think we've learned a lot by unpacking some of this familiar language together so I'm looking forward to this.  In the commentary some of you have (and I have more copies), it's chapter 6, on John 10: 1-18.  (This part of the gospel of John contains what may be my favorite single sentence from the gospels.  See if you can guess which line it is! )

Notice that we'll be meeting on Tuesdays in February, and then shifting back to Mondays in March.  Here are the dates, with info on who is cooking when:

TUESDAY 2/7: Kathy

TUESDAY 2/21:(mardi gras/shrove Tuesday --  Pancake supper-- Heidi and Kunal will bring griddle and batter: everyone bring a favorite topping or accompaniment for pancakes.

MONDAY March 5:  [Kathy]

MONDAY March 19:  Natalie

MONDAY April 2:  Cameron

MONDAY April 16:  Mary Beth

MONDAY May 7:  Joe and Carolanne and Eva

WEEKEND OF MAY 11-13: RETREAT at Lost River

MONDAY May 21:  Joel

There's always room for other cooks to sign up with those who have already picked a date. 

Next Meeting this Tuesday January 17

Hi everyone

Just to remind you that we meet this Tuesday, January 17. Carolanne and Joe are cooking. Please be thinking about when you can cook as I think we're at the end of the signup list.  And also whether continuing on Tuesdays seems like a good idea for spring.

We got so involved in the "Bread of Life" conversation that we never got to the Feeding of the 5000 so we'll go back to that, at the beginning of John 6, this week - and maybe also compare it to the telling of the same story in the other gospels. If you remember, bring your own Bible, whatever translation you like best.   We also will have some available.

See you Tuesday!
KATHY

TUESDAY January 3 -- Feeding the Five Thousand, the Bread of Life etc.

Hi again all, and Happy New Year! - just a look ahead to our meeting this Tuesday January 3.  We'll be looking at much of Chapter 6 of the Gospel of John -- as much as we get through with our usual questioning mode.  In particular I thought it would be interesting to pay attention to the way John tells the story of the feeding of the 5000 -- how it's different from other versions of the story in the other gospels and what that tells us about who Jesus is in this gospel, and what that might mean for us.  That is probably enough to keep us busy for one evening's discussion - or maybe more.

Also let's talk in a preliminary way this week about plans for a retreat in May -- we've been talking about SAVING THE DATE of May 11-13 for a weekend away.   And watch this space for more info.

See you Tuesday!
KATHY