St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church
8700 Bradshaw Road, Elk Grove, CA 95624
(916) 647-4538
REFLECTIONS ON THE GOSPEL OF ST. LUKE
GLAD TIDING TO THE POOR
Our four-part study of the Gospel of St. Luke will continue to explore the wisdom of the Jesus of St. Luke’s Gospel Proclamation. We will focus on the Journey to Jerusalem (Luke 9: 51 – 19: 27). As Jesus journeys to Jerusalem, he reveals to his disciples what it means to be a disciple and “filled with Spirit.”
FOUR TUESDAYS – January 8, 15, 22, and 29, 2019
11:00 am and 7:00 pm
TUESDAY
JANUARY 8, 2019
11:00 am and 7:00 pm
GOING UP TO JERUSALEM
The Infancy Account of the Gospel of Luke concludes with the teenage Jesus going up to Jerusalem before going down to Nazareth to dwell in the house of Joseph and Mary in quiet and obscurity. We will study this first journey to Jerusalem which serves not only as a window on his youth but opens the door on the passions of his heart. Disciples follow the one who was restless until he found himself in the dwelling place of God.
TUESDAY
JANUARY 15, 2019
11:00 am and 7:00 pm
THE “EXODUS” TO JERUSALEM
Luke 9: 18-50 concludes the Galilean Ministry of Jesus as he “reveals” his Passion, Death, and Resurrection. The journey to Jerusalem is not simply a transition from one location to another. Our reflection is divided into two parts. First, we explore the conclusion of the Galilean Ministry savoring the unique contribution Luke makes to the Transfiguration Account (Luke 9: 28-36). Second, we will survey the opening verses of the actual journey to Jerusalem (Luke 9: 51-56 and 10: 29-37).
TUESDAY
JANUARY 22, 2019
11:00 am and 7:00 pm
PRAYER, PROVIDENCE, AND HOSPITALITY
Our journey to Jerusalem continues as we consider three key aspects of the teachings of Jesus: Prayer, Providence, and Hospitality. As Jesus continues to teach his disciples what it means to be a disciple, he challenges them (and us) with powerful insights into prayer (Luke 11: 1-13), beautiful and challenging insights into Providence (Luke 13-32), and the uncompromising ethic of hospitality (Luke 14: 7-11 and 12-24). These themes reoccur throughout the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of Apostles. This would be a good time to review the summary verses found in the Acts of Apostles (2: 42-47, 4: 32-45, and 5: 12-16). These verses reveal the practical ethics that inspired and motivated the first generation of the Disciples of Jesus. These verses open a window on what motivated the Early Church communities to be the Church of Jesus.
TUESDAY
JANUARY 29, 2019
11:00 am and 7:00 pm
WE HAD TO CELEBRATE
Our final reflection for this part of our series consider Chapter 15 of Luke’s Gospel. These famous and powerful verses provide us with transformative insights into the nature of reconciliation and forgiveness. As the Season of Lent quickly dawns on us, we ponder the nature of sin and the power of forgiveness. The Parable of Jesus in Luke 16: 19-31 explores the essence of sin in the Gospel of Luke. We conclude our reflections with the Zacchaeus story in Luke 19: 1-10 which boldly portrays what it means to repent in the Kingdom of God where reconciliation, Providence, and Compassion abound.
Presenter
Fr. Thomas P. Bonacci, C.P.
Christ the King Passionist Retreat Center
6520 Van Maren Lane
Citrus Heights, CA 95621
______________
January Religion Chat
Lynnewood United Methodist Church
4444 Black Avenue
Pleasanton, CA
January 9, 2019
5:00 PM to 6:15 PM
Doors will be open from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM
to give attendees a chance to mingle and chat.
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN YOUR FAITH?
HOW HAS IT EVOLVED OVER TIME?
Rev. Diana Bohn, Lynnewood United Methodist Church
Hosai Mojaddidi, Muslim Community Center
All are welcome to attend. There is no charge.
There is a small church parking lot, and parking across the street at the Aquatic Center.
_______________
THE BOOK OF REVELATION
The Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist
1055 S. Lower Sacramento Road
Lodi, CA 95242
(209) 369-3381
Our four reflections on The Book of Revelation will strive to convey the passion and hope the Book offers a troubled World. As a Book of Vision, we see the Lamb, symbolizing Jesus, strong with compassion and comfort in the midst of trouble. As a Book of Hope, Revelation urges us not to despair in perplexity times. As a Book of Revelations, The Book of Revelation invites us to envision and see beyond the obvious. Finally, as a Book of Prophecy, the Last Book of the Christian Bible invites us to a moral integrity reminiscent of Jesus.
FOUR THURSDAY MORNINGS
10:30 am – 12 Noon
JANUARY 10, 2019
VISION – WHAT IT MEANS TO SEE, PERCEIVE, AND APPRECIATE
JANUARY 17, 2019
HOPE – COURAGE IN THE MIDST OF CONFLICT, STRIFE, AND DIVISION
JANUARY 24, 2019
REVELATIONS – THE EXPERIENCE OF THE DIVINE IN THE PLIGHT
JANUARY 31, 2019
PROPHECY – THE CALL TO ETHICAL AND MORAL INTEGRITY
Thomas P. Bonacci, C.P.
The Interfaith Peace Project
640 Bailey Road #301
Pittsburg, CA 94565
(925) 787-9279
[email protected]
interfaithpeaceproject.org
_______________
St. John of God
San Francisco, CA
THE BIRTH OF JESUS IN OUR TIME
Our four-part series on the Birth of Jesus will be more than simply an exploration of the celebrated texts related to the Christmas Season. These core texts will provide the framework for probing the meaning of Jesus and the Christ-event in our everyday lives as human beings and disciples of Jesus. The birth stories of great persons are legendary inspiring us to great transformation of thought, heart, and life. The Story of Old is forever new and we are responsible, as disciples of Jesus, to discover the call to justice inherent in that story. What day is not Christmas Day?
Four Thursday Evenings
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
November 29, December 13, December 27, 2018, and January 10, 2019
November 29, 2018
WHAT IS THE TRUE DATE OF CHRISTMAS?
WHEN CAESAR AUGUSTUS WAS EMPEROR …
December 13, 2018
IS CHRISTMAS PAGAN?
BEHOLD THE STAR AT ITS RISING
December 27, 2018
IS CHRISTMAS A HOLY DAY OR A HOLIDAY?
I BRING YOU GLAD TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY
JANUARY 10, 2019
WHERE WAS JESUS BORN?
AND YOU, O BETHLEHEM AND BY NO MEANS LEAST
Each session is independent of one another. All are welcome as the emphasis explores the universal significant of the Birth of Jesus for the World. Various religious, theological, and secular interpretations only serve to enhance the significant of the birth as an event in human history.
Thomas P. Bonacci, C.P.
The Interfaith Peace Project
interfaithpeaceproject.org
_______________
GATHERING THE FLOCK
St. Mary’s Episcopal Church
Sacramento, CA
January 11, February 1, March, 1, and April 12, 2019
GATHERED FROM THE ENDS OF THE EARTH
FORMED BY THE LOVE OF GOD
TRANSFORMED BY THE HEART OF THE UNIVERSE
Our four reflections will explore the biblical understanding of the God who gathers together the diverse and separated community of humankind. We are deeply inspired by the insights found in the modern church which lovingly teaches, “humanity forms but one community.” The gathering of that one community is the desire of God for the expanse of the entire Universe. We will conclude our reflections by considering what might constitute the future of spirituality in our World if not our Cosmos.
Thomas P. Bonacci, C.P.
The Interfaith Peace Project
Pittsburg, CA
interfaithpeaceproject.org
[email protected]
(925) 787-9279
Session One
Friday – January 11, 2019
SCATTERED IN ANGUISH, GATHERED IN KINDNESS,
TRANSFORMED IN LOVE
We will provide an in-depth exploration of one of the most powerful images in the Hebrew Scripture – the “Gathering” of the community of God from among the Nations. Deep inside this imagery is the longing to go home, the desire to have a land of our own, and a deep desire to belong. God dwells in the longing and the desiring of this people whose hope reveals the heart of God. We shall find our inspiration by pondering Isaiah 27: 12 and related texts in the Hebrew Scripture.
Session Two
Friday – February 1, 2019
THE LONGING OF THE HEART OF JESUS
The Incarnation of the Word of God in the human heart of Jesus reveals the motherhood of God who longs to gather her children and nurture them with her compassionate love. We will study and celebrate John 16: 19-24 as we rediscover the imagery of God as Mother revealed in the Wisdom Traditions and manifested in the life and self-giving of Jesus. Our texts for consideration are Matthew 23: 37-39, Luke 13: 34-35, and Luke 19: 41-44.
Session Three
Friday – March 1, 2019
UNIVERSAL RECONCILIATION – THE PROMISE AND THE DREAM
The idea of being “gathered from among the Nations” sets the stage for the ultimate reconciliation of the Universe (Ephesians 1: 10). The classic hymns of the New Testament (Ephesians 1: 3-14, Colossians 1: 15-20, Philippians 2: 5-11) come into play as we explore the significant of the 144,000 and the “number no one can count” in Revelation 7: 4-8 and 7: 9-17. The entire Universe is gathered into the arms of God as something special to behold.
Session Four
Friday – April 12, 2019
THE EMERGING UNIVERSAL FUTURE CHURCH
We conclude our four-part series by pondering what elements might constitute the future of faith, religion, and the church in the years to come. We will not attempt to predict the future but seek the possible consequences of what is now happening in the world of contemporary spirituality and practice. The universal tendency of the Scripture and the teachings of Jesus challenge us to move beyond the traditionalistic understandings of religion to a more life-giving and dynamic understanding. The future of spirituality is already embedded in the universalistic and inclusive aspects of the World’s religions.
_____________
St Joan of Arc Parish – GIFT Program Presentation
Monday, January 14, 2019, 7:00 p.m.
NON-VIOLENCE RESISTANCE
PEACEFUL LOVING-KINDNESS
We will explore the “non-violence” philosophy and practice of life from the positive perspective the term implies. We cease to be violent in thought, word, and deed when we realize our inner dignity as human beings. Humaneness, empathy, and loving-kindness are essential to our being human. We confront violence by not engaging in it. This is a moral, spiritual, mental, and physical practice in which we recognize in others what they may not recognize in themselves. By “disarming our hearts,” we invite those we encounter to realize their own instinctive humaneness.
Thomas P. Bonacci, C.P.
Executive Director
The Interfaith Peace Project
interfaithpeaceproject.org
(925) 787-9279
[email protected]
_______________
Chaplaincy Institute
Berkeley, CA
January 16, 2019
10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Introduction to Christianity, Catholicism and Spiritual Care with Roman Catholics
2:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Teachings and Practices of the Women Christian Mystics
_______________
Interfaith Peace Project Tri-Valley
Livermore, CA
Private Quaker Clearness Committee
January 19, 2019
9:00 am to 12 Noon
Clearness Committees
A clearness committee meets with a person who is unclear on how to proceed in a keenly felt concern or dilemma, hoping that it can help this person reach clarity. It assumes that each of us has an Inner Teacher who can guide us and therefore that the answers sought are within the person seeking clearness. It also assumes that a group of caring friends can serve as channels of divine guidance in drawing out that Inner Teacher. The purpose of committee members is not to give advice or to “fix” the situation; they are there to listen without prejudice or judgment, to help clarify alternatives, to help communication if necessary, and to provide emotional support as an individual seeks to find “truth and the right course of action.” The committee must remember that people are capable of growth and change. They must not become absorbed with historical excuses or reasons for present problems, but rather focus on what is happening now and explore what could be done to resolve it.
_______________
1155 Santa Rita Road
Pleasanton, CA
St. Peter & Paul Catholic Church
4450 Granite Drive
Rocklin, CA
O GOD, YOU KNOW ME
12 STEPS OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
Four Wednesday Mornings
January 23, 30, 2019
February 6, 13, 2019
The 12 Steps Tradition of Alcoholics Anonymous has become the standard for recovery programs of every types. The !2 Steps were born out o real life experience by people who were amazed at their recovery. After a significant time of discernment, those who were experiencing their recovery had the generosity of heart to record and share their experiences with other suffering and recovering people. It is more than understandable why these Steps have formed the backbone of diverse practices of spirituality. Our four reflections will explore the spiritual implications of each step for everyday life. We find our essential inspiration in the Bible realizing and appreciating the spiritual richness of the diverse Traditions of humankind.
