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Home/Education/Base
Community Bible Study
Contacts:
Sunday group, Michael Arnold, 966-0869;
Monday group, Jeannette Shackell, 682-2810.
Two groups meet weekly to look at Sunday's gospel: Mondays at 7:00
p.m. and Sundays at 9:00 a.m.
Base Community Bible Study is a self-let group that looks at the Gospel
appointed for the upcoming Sunday and reflects on what Jesus is saying
to us today.
Base communities began in Lain America as grass-roots communities
of poor people gathered weekly to discuss the Bible without the leadership
of priests or other educated people. They prayed, sang, studied together,
and then tried to live out what they had found.
While American Christians may not qualify as "the poor",
they can read the gospels from the standpoint of the poor (if they
consider their possessions as gifts to share, not hold; and if they
can find pleasure in things just because they are, not as potential
possessions.)
At Trinity Church, the pattern observed in the base community is the
following:
1. A brief check-in time for members to relate their previous week's
spiritual experience in applying the gospel or in prayer life.
2. Two readings of the gospel passage (based upon the Lectionary for
the following Sunday) with some time for silent reflection between
readings.
3. Reflection on the gospel, with opportunity for each group member
to contribute.
4. Reading of an order of Compline.
Base community members are acting on the following assumptions:
The people of God, relying on the Holy Spirit, are able to reflect
on the Scripture and arrive at valid understandings.
As we pay attention to the insights of others, we can learn from each
other what we never would have recognized by ourselves.
The meaning of a passage or idea in Scripture may be clearer after
we have tried to act upon it. The practice and understanding often
grow together in mutual dependence.
Scripture can be read not only through our eyes and within our cultural
context, but also with the eyes of those in other cultures and circumstance.
These varied readings together add depth to our understandings.
Next
Sunday's Readings
Lectionary
for next four months
BaseCommunity.org
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