Entering the Passion of Jesus Together

I just concluded a three-week study group on the Psalms at Trenton United Church, our home congregation. It was half the size of our last group on Medical Assistance in Dying (I won't ruminate about that for too long) but there were eight engaged souls who were will willing to explore different aspects of the psalms which have faded into the background of many Christian communities. 

Again this time participants shared openly and meaningfully, including a newcomer who was quite courageous, to my mind. People also asked questions and made observations which enriched the conversation. That's what can happen with study groups. I'm grateful that we have been able to return to in-person gatherings but we continue to include others by Zoom and we've had participants from a number of congregations and denominations. 

We've agreed to spend three weeks together in Lent as well, this time pondering the last week of Jesus' life. The period between Palm Sunday and Easter which includes Maundy Thursday and Good Friday is essential to our understanding of what it means to be Christian.

In a shameless plug for you to join us, here is the notice which goes in the church mailout this week.  I really appreciate Amy-Jill Levine's Jewish perspective on Christian themes but we'll bring in other resources as well. I like the subtitle "a beginner's guide to Holy Week" because we really are beginners for a lifetime, aren't we? 

Entering the Passion of Jesus: A Beginner's Guide to Holy Week

Wednesdays at 10:30 AM, March 15, 22, 29

Christians recognize Jesus as the Christ, God-with-us. He was also Yeshua, raised as a Jew, and during the last week of his life he was in Jerusalem for the celebration of Jewish Passover. 

Join us for a three-week Lenten Study of what we call the "passion" of Jesus, those final days leading to his crucifixion and resurrection. We will explore the book Entering the Passion of Jesus by Jewish New Testament scholar, Amy-Jill Levine.