CCC Gainesville | Blog
Film-Speak: Life of Pi
Fri., Feb. 21, 6:30 pm, rm 124, Christ Community Church
The Opus Project on Faith, Work, and Culture, out of love for God and neighbor, nurtures reflection and conversation about the church’s shared contribution to the flourishing of society and the renewal of all things. In other words, we create space for considering and discussing things that matter. The outcome we hope to see is that as we consider embracing and participating in the cultural realms of our society, we would embody a “faithful presence” as followers of Jesus, offering the goodness God wherever we find ourselves. (more info here)
In this light, the Opus Project introduces a new series for cultural conversation: Film-Speak. Film-Speak will direct our attention to a cultural territory where we are prompted to think more deeply about human experience – film. As individuals, many of us watch lots of films; yet very rarely do we get together to discuss the ideas and stories of the films we see. Film-Speak is an on-going series sponsored by the Opus Project that has a simple, straightforward agenda: gather to watch a film together, then talk about it, and where it makes sense, consider it’s relationship to the Christian story.
But why film? Like other realms of cultural life, film is a place where creativity mixes with human experience to tell stories in which we see the good, the bad, and the ugly. So often, good films, like good literature, capture important facets about what it means to be human. They don’t so much give us answers to life, as much as they put us in touch with our questions and struggles. And they can even give us visions of truth, goodness, and beauty, even if they don’t come from an essentially Christian point of view (this is what we call common grace).
The apostle Paul encourages the Philippian church to carefully consider (“think about”) whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praise-worthy (Philippians 4:8). Contrary to the way some Christians use this verse to insulate themselves from anything that isn’t obviously and tightly synched up with Christian principles, Paul’s guidance seems, instead, to open us up to all these things wherever they be found. Furthermore, it would seem that “whatever is true”, for instance, could point us to lots of things that are actually very much out of synch with the Christian story. And about such things — yes, we should carefully think.
It is in this light that we embark on Film-Speak, not only to give us an opportunity to speak about films, but also to recognize that films themselves have the capacity to speak to us.
Please join us as we launch this series with the Oscar-winning Life of Pi on Feb. 21. Length: 2 hours, followed by 30 minute discussion. Note: we are particularly interested in having an adult conversation about this film, but certainly if there are parents who think their older children might be interested, they are certainly welcome. This film is rated PG – please consult a film review site of your choice to assess age appropriateness – e.g. commonsensemedia.org. No childcare will be provided this time.
What to Make of Children…and Their Parents
The Opus Project is offering a reading group this spring on “What to Make of Children…and Their Parents”. We will be discussing a series of essays and poems on the wonder and puzzlement of children as well as the role of parents (and others) in the process of raising them. The title – “What to Make of Children…” – invokes a double meaning on the verb make. In one sense we are asking how we are to make sense out of children: just what are we talking about when we talk about children? In another sense, we are asking how we are to think about and approach the process of making children into something – their formation into adulthood, citizenship, and whatever else we are supposed to do. And then, there’s the afterthought “…and Their Parents”, which has in view the reality and mystery that somehow as we embark on the pathway of child-raising, we the parents are also being made into something. What a puzzling and amazing thing.
The series will certainly be about parenting, but it will also be broader and deeper than that as we seek to build a framework to help us see children more clearly and understand our role better as we seek to honor God and his ways through our families. This series was inspired in part by the latest edition of The Hedgehog Review on “Parenting in America”. We will draw from this issue for two of our essays and from other sources for the rest. Also, we will try to team up some poems with the essays from time to time.
We will be meeting monthly on Sunday mornings during the 2nd hour (10:30am) on the church campus.
Reading Schedule (dates are subject to change)
January 26
“A More Vibrant Theology of Children”, Marcia Bunge
(published in Christian Reflection by The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor)
February 23 (short letter + essay)
“Letter to Young Parents”, James K.A. Smith
(on the occasion of a baptism – Smith ponders the future project of shaping a life)
and
“Raising the Awesome Child”, Diane M. Hoffman
(examines the agenda of parenting in which the goal is to raise amazing kids)
March 23
“Beyond Noah’s Ark”, Susan R. Garrett
(reconsidering how we might best impart a depth of the scriptures to children)
April 27
“Teach Your Children Well”, John Zucchi
(the role of the church and the contents of spiritual formation)
May 18
“Holding Them Closer”, Carl Desportes Bowman
(considers parental connections to children as they mature toward independence)
For other/future information on the Opus Project on Faith, Work, and Culture, click here.
Norman Wirzba, author of Food and Faith: A Theology of Eating, will be speaking at the University of Florida this week as a guest of the Christian Study Center. Wirzba’s book is the focus of one of Christ Community’s current adult education classes – Eating as Prayer. Details:
“Theological Reflection on Justice and the Land”
Norman Wirzba, Professor of Theology and Ecology, Duke Divinity School
This week – Thursday, September 19
UF – Little Hall, Room 101 @ 5:15 pm
This event is free and open to the public and is part of the series co-sponsored by the the Christian Study Center of Gainesvillle and the UF Department of Religion entitled, “Seeing Justice, Seeking Justice.” In preparation for his visit, please enjoy an interview with Dr. Wirzba regarding food and faith, courtesy of Mars Hill Audio.
For more, see http://christianstudycenter.org/
Surely this is a joke; a class at church on eating? A recent sermon series at Christ Community on “the mundane” included the daily practices of eating, sleeping and working. In this class, we return to the routine to find deeper meaning in the mundane.
In the richness of the Christian story, not only has God created all things, but also he has inaugurated the restoration of all things in Christ. This “all things” includes our rhythmic, daily activities. In light of this, we do well to reflect upon the mundane in light of God’s redemptive work in the world. Eating, like other things we do multiple times a day, can become almost mindless. Our bodies are designed for nutritional and caloric input, so we insert and process foods to satisfy this need. But as we will discover, what seems like a very simple act is a very personal one (and interpersonal) – and one that carries with it lots of implications and consequences. More importantly, Scripture is full of references to eating, both literal and metaphorical. And let’s not forget, eating can be extremely pleasurable. How do we make sense of such an activity? How can theological reflection help us understand eating as an act unto God and for the benefit of ourselves and others?
In this seven week class, Todd Best will facilitate a discussion of the book Food and Faith: A Theology of Eating by Norman Wirzba, Professor of Theology and Ecology at Duke Divinity School. Wirzba has offered us at least one framework for considering the theological significance of eating in his book (more details here). Please join this Opus Project reading class on Wirzba’s book at the 10:30 adult education class at Christ Community. The class starts on Sept. 15 and runs through Oct. 27.
Please order your book now through the book-seller of your choice. And for of Wirzba’s perspective, see this excerpt from an interview about the book.
Finally, please note that Norman Wirzba will be a guest at the Christian Study Center on Sept. 19. See the Study Center website for details and to hear an interview with Wirzba.
What is the meaning of the lamppost, why Journey to the Lamppost?
“When she was about seven, her best friend got lost one day. The little girl ran up and down the streets of the big town where they lived, but she couldn’t find a single landmark. She was very frightened. Finally a policemen stopped to help her. He put her in the passenger seat of his car, and they drove around until she finally saw her church. She pointed it out to the policeman, and then she told him firmly, “You could let me out now. This is my church, and I can always find my way home from here.”
And that is why I have always stayed so close to mine–because no matter how bad I am feeling, how lost or lonely or frightened, when I see the faces of the people at my church, and hear their tawny voices, I can always find my way home.”
Anne Lamott, Traveling Mercies, Some Thoughts on Faith (pg 55)
