What's Your Story? (2)

This summer, at First Congregational UCC, we will take a break from the Revised Common Lectionary and create our own list of biblical narratives for worship, study and prayer. You are cordially invited to participate in the formation of our "uncommon lectionary."

During worship on May 23rd, the congregation spent some time meditating on these questions: What is your biblical story? What inspires you? What troubles you? What are the core stories of our scripture? This exercise prompted some thoughtful responses. A sample of the responses I've received so far suggests we are on a similar plane of thought, regarding what puzzles us:

I have been thinking about the story of Elijah's contest with the priests of Baal. What does this say to us about relationships with Muslims, Jews, Hindus, etc-- Do we have to "win"? How about our relationships with "the evangelicals" Are we right and they wrong, or visa versa? Or does that miss the point of the story?

Another wrote,

"No one comes to the father but by me." Fundamentalists often throw this up when someone suggests Gandhi might be in heaven (or nirvana?). There are a few other verses like this that people use to justify mission work that resembles more the crusades than the work of Jesus.

There are also some similarities in what inspires us: the sermon on the mount, the beatitudes, "the one that says, God is Love." As the youngest of three children, I particularly appreciated this submission:

(Significant in learning to deal with two older brothers) "A harsh word stirs up wrath, but soft words turn away anger."

What is your story? What biblical story most informs your life? What scripture got you through a crisis? What scripture did you select for your wedding? What comforts you in grief, what burbles up from the depths of memory when you are struck by beauty and grace?

To help us form this uncommon lectionary, comment on this post. Then check back, as the weeks progress, to see what comes of our efforts to make our own, homemade and locally grown lectionary.