It just came to me; maybe it’s half-baked.
Lots of clergyfolk, seminary students, and all around insightful people read one another’s blogs. How about a scripture circle? One person suggests a biblical text of his/her own choosing (not necessarily from the lectionary; in fact it would be cool if it were off the beaten path). Anyone who wants to participate would read the text and respond on their own blog, including a link in the comments of the original blog (so we all know where to look)!
We all come from different perspectives and with different lenses. Some of us do exegesis, some write poems, some may write a sermon or drama, some may be reminded of a story, some may do a stream-of-consciousness. The posts could be as short or as long as each person wanted to make them–well thought out and carefully crafted, or an unedited spill of ideas.
One of the “responders” would then be tapped to pick the next scripture text. (Not sure how that person might be chosen; we could work out the details if there is interest in this idea.) Maybe a weekly rotation would work.
It could also be a neat way to get to know some additional blogs and bloggers.
Finally, everyone would be welcome to participate. Skeptics welcome.
Thoughts?
28 Responses to “i have an idea”
Leave a Reply
Search
Asides
» I have been remiss in posting SBJ’s latest stats: 23 pounds and 27 inches at six months. Yes, I’ve got the big mama biceps.
» Aaaaaand little she-who-is lost another tooth this week!
» SBJ is four months old, 19 pounds 5 ounces, and 26 inches tall. GIGANTOR!
Links
Join | List | Prev | Next Random | Prev5 | Next5
Skip Prev | Skip Next
Join | List | Prev | Next |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
I’m in, with the Unitarian pov.
Oh, cool!
Count me in!
I’m tempted to blog. Alas, I don’t. Yet.
It sounds like a great idea. Perhaps the best way to do it would be through a group blog. That way the ones of us who do blog can link to it and help it grow and those that don’t blog can have a place where they can be a bit freer in working up submissions without the pressure of “I have to do this today!”
I’ve seen some group blogs out there. Some are really good. I think this could be one of the best.
XT
Revmom! Welcome back! E-mail me sometime about your trip.
Xpat, could you link to what you’re talking about? I can’t quite picture it.
Cool beans! Count me in.
I’m kind of wedded to the lectionary and not sure I have tons of time to do much beyond that, but I’m willing to participate and see how it goes. xtex is talking, i think about a blog where all participants would be able to sign in and post (and of course comment, I guess). Wasn’t St. Casserole doing a Lenten blog with a group?
There is a group of pastors in my presbytery who meet together to do this with the lectionary. I’ve always wondered how they managed to find a time that actually worked for so many people. This would be the answer!
I’m not married to the lectionary, but we do go steady most of the time! I would still be open to other options as well. Count me in, too!
What is the lectionary?
check out No More Apples (http://nomoreapples.blogspot.com/). They have four contributors who post as they see fit (I believe). It would be rather simple to start one and add several contributors to the list for this purpose. I believe further contributors can be added at later times.
A contributor does not have the same status as a comment-or. A contributor has a password and can make an original post. Any one can then view the post and make comments. It’s just like our “normal” blogs, but with more than one person able to make original posts.
XT
The idea of a group blog is a new concept for me; maybe I need time to let it sink in. My thought was that people’s ideas would remain at their own blogs. I am stimulated and challenged by skeptics and non-theists who visit here sometimes–they probably wouldn’t hop over to the other spot. I also like the potential for cross-pollination–each of us has a set of readers, and the sets intersect, but are not exactly the same.
But I’m open.
I can appreciate that you weekly (lectionary) preachers might find this harder than us associates/non weeklies. We certainly can use the lectionary; that might make it easier in some ways. Either way, the thought is to set up the parameters to be broad enough that this could be part of one’s devotional practice, and as such, fun and life-giving rather than “one more thing to do.” (Although literally speaking I guess it is that too.) No more than one a week, and maybe even less frequent than that. (We all have so much to say as it is!)
Katie, the lectionary is a schedule of texts for each Sunday in the church year. Each Sunday includes four texts: old testament, gospel, psalm, and epistle. They usually relate to one another at least somewhat, and were chosen to correspond to the seasons of the church year–for example, texts during Advent (the season of preparation for Christ’s birth) include some of the OT prophecies, John the Baptist, and the angel visiting Mary. There is a three-year cycle–one year the gospel is Matthew, another year Mark, another year Luke. (John is sprinkled throughout, I think.)
The benefit is that over a three-year period, a worshiping community would have the opporunity to hear and reflect upon a wide cross-section of the Bible. It also helps guard against proof-texting… e.g. “I really want to preach about this Schiavo thing–let me go hunting for scriptures that support my position.” It’s also neat to visit another church and hear the same scriptures that you might be hearing at home.
The downside is that if you follow the lectionary exclusively, there are certain texts you will never hear. Ideally I think a lectionary-based approach with an occasional sermon series that deviates from the lectionary is a good approach.
RM, as you know, what you describe is what I do–follow the lectionary and break it up in Ordinary time with one or two series…Last year it was six weeks of sermons on elements of worship (prayer, music, baptism, eucharist, the Word, and the offering). This year I’m thinking of doing 4 to 6 weeks on unheralded women…at least those that are unhearalded by the lectionary.
I’m in a lectionary group already that is usually more a support group than a lectionary group, but I would be interested in however this takes shape.
Don’t miss the Daughters of Zelophehad! Righteous babes.
Sounds like a neat idea, one that might force some of us (i.e. me!) who are way too lax with scripture study to do more of it.
Loved the Daughters of Whatsisname!
i’d be interested in participating, or at least more conversation about the idea… i can’t promise anything profound or brilliant, however.
You can set up a group blog on blogger for free. Those of us that are already on blogger would be linked by our profile one to another.
I think it sounds like a good idea. I would read it and comment, but I can’t say that I’d be a big contributor. My favorite group blog is postcards from holland, which, if I knew how to html it, I would link you to, but since I don’t, you can find the link on my page.
The group blog is just a suggestion, and I’m not married to it in the least. We can, of course, simply post on our own blogs and everyone link to whoever is leading for the week. A group blog, I think, gives you extra exposure as it provides yet another venue to communicate. It doesn’t need to be exclusionary in terms of being hostile to non-believers. At least, it would be no more exclusionary than our current blogs.
A group blog also gives us more of a venue for building other areas of related interest. Check out “In The Agora” which is run by a group from NYU (http://www.intheagora.com/). As each of us develop our interests, we can create linked pages that lead to opportunities to create our own ministries. In a general sort of way, we can create a virtual church that can be much more open and receptive than a brick and mortar building can be.
XT
Well, let me ask this–would those who are interested (both contributors and cheerleaders/commenters like PPB) prefer a group or individual blog? I’m OK either way, although I’ll have to find room in my brain for another URL/password! LOL
Or, I suggest we start on our own blogs, and when/if things get going or we hit critical mass, we could formalize it with a group blog. I know I’m good at the idea part and the follow through is sometimes spotty. (Why yes I’m an N on the Myers-Briggs; why do you ask?)
Why don’t I get us going next week, with Friday Mom waiting in the wings. (I was going to use a baseball analogy, “with FM warming up,” but theater is much more me).
so what are your other m-b letters? i’m enfp. strong n and f. middle of the road e and p
enfj
moderate e, strong n, weak f, off the chart j
I have to post, just to see my reply on the grey.
I’ll be away next week (yay!) and won’t be preaching (if we’re going lectionary), but I will have the computer along and look forward to discussions, wherever they occur.
And I’m an ENFP: moderately E, very much N and F, just a teeny bit P (and when my kids were small, i used to score teeny bit J, interestingly).
martha, when my kids were young i scored a bit j too. i think i needed to be j to keep the ship afloat at that time. now that they’re on their own, i’m free to be p.
I like the idea of posting at our own blogs until we see if this takes off. I have no preference either way regarding the lectionary. I don’t preach regularly, so I’m not spending a lot of time with the lectionary as it is.
I’ll be happy to “wait in the wings” or “warming up” or whatever other metaphor you want to use.
E/INTP here. Off the charts on N and P. I’m on the border with E and I, probably a great deal more I since I started the PhD though.
This all sounds good to me, though either someone will have to help me with html or we will need code words in the entry titles so that people know what is what…as you can see…
I’m strong E, moderate N and F, and strong J (though the first time I took this test 15+ years ago, I was an ENTJ…I call the T to F shift, my Coming Out move.)
Yes! Count me in! Yes Yes Yes.
Lectionary would be good. very good.
XNFJ, here. My I/E are almost perfectly balanced.
Group Blogging is OK, as well as linking on individual pages.
Whatever the group consensus (did i spell that right?) is would be fine with me. although, since i am a lectionary preacher, i would prefer that.
as far as the myers-briggs goes, i’m an E, although I hang out close to the middle, and then I am a raging NFP. STJ really didn’t stand a chance when it came to me.
I’ll definitely contribute. I think the idea of starting on individual blogs is a good one. As far as the lectionary goes, I say let those use it who will and those like myself who work best by pulling things out of the air can do that, too.
My only question with this is how we will make sure everyone knows whose turn is next and where/when the next one will be posted.
An alternative suggestion is to have a web ring, but I’ve no idea how to set one up.
Yeah, I know all about the mouse screaming how we need a bell on the cat.
XT