…he went into a cave and spent the night… The Lord said, “Go out and stand at the
mountain before the Lord. The Lord is passing by.” A very strong wind tore through the
mountains and broke apart the stones before the Lord. But the Lord wasn’t in the wind. After
the wind, there was an earthquake. But the Lord wasn’t in the earthquake. After the
earthquake, there was a fire. But the Lord wasn’t in the fire. After the fire, there was a sound.
Thin. Quiet… – 1 Kings 19: 11-12

Sometimes we just need to get away in order to hear from that “still small voice” within.
This quiet voice is an attribute of the Holy Living God, as Elijah found out in a cave where
he expected to experience God in big wind and earthquake and fire. What is your “cave”
equivalent? What place (a park, a path, a rocking chair, a shoreline) and practice (walking,
journaling, reading, making art) helps you get quiet enough for long enough so you can
hear past the chaos and into the depths of your life?

httpss://youtu.be/8FFvSDxCmJs

“Look, I’ll pour out my spirit on you. I’ll reveal my words to you.” –
Wisdom (from Proverbs)

Have you ever misplaced your phone–which is on vibrate of course–and
then asked someone to call it? We get really still and really quiet. Our
ears perk up in all directions in order to be ready to hear that little buzz. It
is a quieting down and high alert all at the same time. This Lent we will
quiet things down and heighten our attention to the “still, small voice” of
God and our own True Self. Listening through prayer as well as
meditation on holy texts is an ancient Lenten practice. Come and rest,
come and listen.

With Rev. Dr. Ken Macklin

Wednesday Evenings, February 28, March 7, 14 & 21

7:00 PM

Throughout Lent, Community UMC will be welcoming Rev. Ken Macklin to lead a study based on the new Christian book by Dennis J. Billy, “Meeting Jesus on the Road to Emmaus”. This study will explore connections between spirituality and social justice in the context of how we can become better disciples of Jesus Christ, as demonstrated by those on the walk to Emmaus.

Rev. Ken Macklin has spent years exploring this topic, particularly the collisions between spiritual actions, the human spirit, and social justice, including a doctoral thesis on “Transformative Spirituality and Ethics”.  

Whether you choose to read the book in its entirety, skim for highlights, or simply join in without reading the book, we encourage you to make this study group part of your part of your Lenten season.

For those who want to read for the class there are copies of “Meeting Jesus on the Road to Emmaus” by Dennis J. Billy in the church office available for $15.