December 3: Last day on the Song of Songs

Hi everyone - I hope you've all had a Happy Thanksgiving!  Looking forward to our next meeting, which is THIS TUESDAY, December 3 from 7-9 at the Johnsons'. 

After a fascinating conversation with Rabbi Ita, I think we're ready to return to the beautiful poem that comes at the end of Song of Songs 8: 6-14 and reflect together about what this study is teaching us about the story of Scripture and the love of God.  I say a little about this in a blog I've posted on Episcopal cafe.  and will probably put up on my own poetproph blog, too.   But I'm hoping that we can look again at the poetry we've been reading over the course of this fall and also make some connections to the season of Advent and Christmas that we are moving into now.   

Joel is cooking  (Thanks Joel).  Hope to see everyone Tuesday night.

A couple of reminders about upcoming matters:  December 17 will be our Christmas potluck and party, and our last meeting at the Johnsons' home.

Then, beginning after the New Year, we will be meeting, not at the Johnsons' but at Vienna Baptist church,  on first and third MONDAY nights. More on this soon, but please mark your calendars and spread the word! 

KATHY

November 19 Meeting features Rabbi Ita Paskind on "The Song of Songs"

Hi everyone! We've talked a little about Rabbi Akiba who used the phrase "Song of Songs" for the book of the Bible we've been studying -- with the same kind of implication we would have if we said "this is the book of all books,  or the "Lord of Lords".  To my delight, Rabbi Ita Paskind of Congregation Olam Tikvah in Vienna has agreed to come to our next meeting to talk about the text of the Song of Songs and its importance in Judaism.   Rabbi Paskind was with us several years ago and we had a great time learning from her and talking with her.  I am really looking forward to this and hope you'll make a point of coming if you can.  It should be a real treat. 

Next meeting this Tuesday, October 15

Hi everyone -- we'll be meeting again this Tuesday, and pressing on to chapter 4 and possibly chapter 5 of the Song of Songs.  Chapter 4 uses a traditional form of love poetry that in the Arabic tradition is called the wasf -- in the western tradition it's called a "blason", and was popular in the medieval and Renaissance period.  If you want to get a look at examples of this tradition in English, you can find a couple at http://www.units.muohio.edu/visualrhetoric/blason.html  .  Reading this might help give us a feel for how this poetry might have sounded to the original audience of the Song of Songs and we can talk about how it might relate to the deeper themes of the Scriptural story we've been telling about, as well as our own experiences of love and relationship.   As usual, we'll be seeing how many places this poetry can take us.  I hope to see many of you on Tuesday!

Meeting Tuesday October 1: Chapter 3 of Song of Songs/Song of Solomon

Hi everyone - Great to see new faces and to be together last time.  I look forward to seeing everyone, and to welcoming some more newcomers, this Tuesday night at 7 at the Johnsons'.  As always if you are new and need directions feel free to email me at kathleen.staudt@gmail.com.  

This week in our study time we'll be looking at Chapter 3 of the Song of Songs, and especially on that theme of the absence of the Beloved -- and how readers of this text have interpreted this to help us understand those times when we are seeking God and God seems "absent."  It is fascinating to see how this text works on many different levels, and we'll be looking at that as well as our own experience of what this seems to be saying.  Bring a Bible if you have one (we have some too) and join the conversation. 

Lindsey is cooking -- I'll have the signup sheet to make sure we're covered on cooking for the rest of our meetings this fall. 

See you all Tuesday!

Next meeting this Tuesday September 17 - the Song of Songs

"Let him kiss me with the kiss of his mouth" -- so begins this love poem from the Bible! Bring your Bible, whichever translation you like - we'll look at various translations of the first few poems in chapter 1-2 and reflect on how we react to finding this  fairly explicit romantic love poem in the Bible.  How were you taught to think about sex, God and marriage in the Bible?  How do you respond to the images in this poem?   We'll talk about the various ways these chapters have been read in Jewish and Christian tradition and explore how we feel about those readings.  There is much to talk about, and much to hear, in this text and I look forward to beginning our discussion - great to see everyone and begin the conversation last week. This week we'll really get into the text during our study time.

We're having chicken and I'm bringing a hearty and vegetarian rice side dish and some dessert (probably cookies).  Kendra is bringing a salad.  We'll get a signup list going for cooking the rest of this semester when we gather on Tuesday. If you're new please feel free to email me at kathleen.staudt@gmail.com for directions to the Johnsons'. We meet from 7-9 for dinner and fellowship, study and prayers.  Looking forward to seeing everyone!

Song of Songs/ Song of Solomon - Our Fall Bible Study

Hi again everyone (2 posts in one day after months of silence: do scroll down to see my other post)

Just to say that I am looking forward to seeing everyone again on Tuesday September 3 to begin our year together.  By popular demand we'll be reading the Song of Solomon - also known as the "Song of Songs" .  This is a book of poetry, and belongs to the "Wisdom" tradition of books of the Bible - more about that when we gather.  We'll be reflecting in many ways about the importance of Love, both human love and divine love in the Biblical tradition. 

I am hoping we'll be welcoming some newcomers to this first meeting -- do come and get acquainted. We gather at 7 for dinner and fellowship, followed by Bible study and a time of prayer.  If you're new, please get in touch with me at the email address provided in the header, so I can send you directions or arrange to get you picked up at the Vienna metro.  See you all soon! 

Catching Up - and Looking Ahead to Fall

Hi Everyone -- as we move into August I am realizing that by this time next month we'll have already started meeting again. I am looking forward to it -- missing you all.  It was great to see those who could make it for the party at my place the week after Jamila's baptism, and I am looking forward to a report on the game night at Heidi and Kunal's.  I never posted any photos from the retreat in May at Lost River but am putting up here a few that Heidi took. 
 You can find more on the shutterfly site she has set up at https://youngadults.shutterfly.com/18  Enjoy!