“To stand at the edge of the sea, to sense the ebb and flow of the tides, to feel the breath of a
mist moving over a great salt marsh, to watch the flight of shore birds that have swept up and
down the surf lines of the continents for untold thousands of years, to see the running of the
old eels and the young shad to the sea, is to have knowledge of things that are as nearly
eternal as any earthly life can be.”
– Rachel Carson
As a church community of sorts I often feel that we are stretched across the country and don’t often have the opportunity to build our community. This summer I invite you to read together as a way to build community and deepen our faith. Together we will read and discuss out way through Ask the Beasts by Elizabeth Johnson. With Johnson’s latest book as our guide we will explore and deepen our understanding of God’s love by looking to the beasts, birds, plants, and fish. In Ask The Beasts, Johnson draws connections and dialogue between faith traditions and scientific discovery, stating;
“both science and theology are bearers of important truth about the world… Science is concerned with the world as a structured system operating according to natural causes. Theology is concerned with the same world as related to God. Both open different windows onto the order and beauty of the universe…”
You can use these written reflection and discussion guide on your own or with a book group. As you read, ponder the questions posed, share your thoughts and experiences in a gathering that works for you, dinner table conversation at home or Facebook chats that transcend time zones.
So, buy a copy from your local bookstore or download it to your eReader and together we can deepen our relationship with Creation, our Creator and each other.
Chapter 1 Beasts and Entangled Bank: A Dialogue
Chapter 3 “Endless Forms Most Beauty”
Chapter 4 Evolution of the Theory
Chapter 5 The Dwelling Place of God
Chapter 6 Free, Empowering Creation
Chapter 7 All Creation Groaning
Chapter 8 Bearer of Great Promise
Chapter 10 The Community of Creation
Anxiously awaiting the first week’s discussion plans.
Hey Becky,
Here is the link, from here on out they should be available in the links on the right side. An error on my part prevented it from showing up this morning. Looking forward to reading with you! http://www.opentablecoop.org/ask-the-beasts-chapter-1/