Daily Journal

Daily Journal

Day 9 - Life in the Spirit: The Church as Witness

published on Wednesday, June 29, 2011 by jlp34@duke.edu

Theme

The Church as Witness

Faculty Speaker

Dr. Stanley Hauerwas, Professor of Christian Ethics

Lectionary Texts

Deuteronomy 6; Isaiah 49:1-7; Psalm 84; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Acts 1:1-8

Quotes from the Last 24 Hours

“The church is God’s thought for the world.” - Dr. Hauerwas in plenary 

“Salvation is being given new life, to be a part of a story that is unintelligible if God isn’t present in Jesus.” - Dr. Hauerwas in plenary 

“Dr. Hauerwas was really challenging. He made me think about things in a whole new way.” - Student after the morning plenary 

“It’s so amazing to see these students take ownership of the worship they’re planning.” - A mentor, after worship workshop

Reflections on the Lecture

In the morning plenary today, Dr. Hauerwas presented a passionate case for the church as a bearer of the message and embodiment of God’s kingdom here on earth. In fact, argued Dr. Hauerwas, the church (in America, at least) has lost its way regarding the centrality of Jesus to the story of God’s salvation, and thus it has largely failed to be the witness it was created to be in the first place. Often today the church wants to be an agent of justice and morality, but if the story of God-with-us in Jesus (his life, death, and resurrection) is left out, then the church is just another human endeavor. The truth is that we didn’t and don’t create the church; the Spirit creates the church as the extension of the incarnation. That is, said Dr. Hauerwas, “We only know Jesus through the church, and that is a miracle.” Therefore, it’s the distinctive role of the church to show Jesus to the world through the sacraments, through the word, and through being the sent-out ones to a broken world.

Other activities

After lunch and a time of rest, students went off to their prayer practice workshops this afternoon. Workshops included Praying in Color, Lectio Divina, Prayer Journaling, Praying the Rosary, and Praying the Hours. Then students had free time, and many of them were hard at work practicing and planning for their own worship services, the first of which was held tonight. Before worship, we enjoyed a delicious hospitality meal provided by Mt. Level Missionary Baptist Church. After worship, it was off to mentor groups to process the day, hang-out time in the dorm, and then lights out. Tomorrow we are looking forward to embarking on a Pilgrimage of Pain and Hope - a pilgrimage in Durham to help think through the challenges, promises, and calling of reconciliation.  Picture at right:  from arts village, displayed during worship.
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Day 8 - New Bodies (Resurrection)

published on Tuesday, June 28, 2011 by arp31@duke.edu

Theme

Resurrection

Faculty Speaker

Dr. Susan Eastman, Associate Professor of the Practice of Bible and Christian Formation

Lectionary Texts

Exodus 14:10-14, 21-25, 15:20-21; Psalm 118:1-2, 12-24; 1 Corinthians 15:3-23, Luke 24:1-35

Quotes from the Last 24 Hours

“Alleluia, Christ is risen!” “The Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia!” - Opening acclamation for morning prayer from the steps of Duke Chapel

“The resurrection is about a totally unrealistic hope that there is a new reality, not just after death, but also invading the world today.” – Dr. Susan Eastman during morning plenary session

“This is a paradigm shift for me… and I think she’s right.” – Student, in response to Dr. Susan Eastman’s morning plenary session.

Reflections on the Lecture

Priest and scholar Susan Eastman spoke with us about what it means live in the reality of Christ’s resurrection in a world in which Christ’s crucifixion speaks more deeply to the way things seem. Broken relationships, staggering socio-economic disparities, gender and racial inequalities, sexual immorality, and death itself: this is the world in which Christ’s cruciform suffering seems right at home. Little wonder that it’s not an uncommon view among Christians to think of death was a gateway out a decaying world into a spiritual heavenly reality; as if our bodies and the physical creation matter very little. But, Dr. Eastman argued, Christ’s resurrection and the resurrection of our bodies are not separate: if Christ forever took on human nature in the incarnation, then what Christ does is always done in union with us; if Christ is raised bodily (as doubting Thomas’ finger verified), we also will be raised bodily. And what’s more, as Christ will pull us up from the grave to himself, Christ will also pull us towards one another – forever fixing broken relationships, socio-economic disparities, gender and racial inequalities, and sexual immorality. This is the unrealistic hope of the resurrection! And so, we both wait with hopeful expectation for Christ’s coming reign and the resurrection of the dead, and we work hard here and now to be part of Christ healing of a cruciform world, confident that a new reality has already begun in Christ’s resurrection.

Other activities

Last Friday our theme focused on Christ’s crucifixion, and thematically we left Christ crucified and buried over the weekend. So today was bit like Easter: Christ burst forth from the tomb, defeating the powers of sin and death. We sang “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” during Morning Prayer, and were challenged during our evening worship by preacher and current Dean of Duke Divinity School Dr. Richard Hays to remember our churchly vocation to live as a sign pointing to the new reality ushered into our world by Christ’s resurrection. During the afternoon, we had our fourth visit to the Arts Village and will have one more opportunity later this week to spend some more time working with an artist of our choice. In the evening, whiffle ball commenced on the lawn in front of our dorms. All and all, a sweet day here at DYA!

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Day 5 - A Good Friday (Passion)

published on Sunday, June 26, 2011 by arp31@duke.edu

Theme

Passion

Faculty Speaker

Rev. Dr. Edgardo Colon-Emeric, Associate Professor of Theology

Lectionary Texts

Isaiah 52: 13 – 53:12, Psalm 22, Hebrews 10: 16 – 25, John 18 – 19

Quotes from the Last 24 Hours

“The cross is the true tree of life.” - Dr. Edgardo Colon-Emeric in plenary

“Please laugh, it makes things easier.” - Andrew Phillips, DYA staff member, on the use of humor in his prayer practice workshop

“I am really looking forward to some Sabbath rest.” – “I am really looking forward to some Sabbath rest.”

Reflections on the Lecture

In our morning plenary, Dr. Colon-Emeric discussed the Passion (suffering) of Christ. He integrated examples of visual Christian Art to assist with understanding the various thoughts throughout history about the meaning of the cross. He referenced several corresponding scripture verses from the Old and New Testament illustrating that Jesus died to fulfill the scriptures. He noted that it is stimulating to consider how people, other than the Israelites, come to identify with the cross and challenged us by asking - How would we read our own personal stories in light of the cross? As Christians, it is important to remember that Christ died for the sins of the world, therefore; we are all responsible for the death of Jesus. Finally, we were encouraged to think about the message of the cross in three distinct ways: 1 – our understanding of the crucifix, symbolic of Christ’s suffering, is meant to encourage contemplation, 2 – our daily imitation of Christ’s suffering through self denial and following Him (even to the point of death), and 3 – our participation in Christ’s suffering through Baptism, Holy Communion, and our own unique sufferings. Dr. Colon-Emeric reminds us that there is truly “a cross for each one of us” and it is meant to define our vocation in this life.

Other activities

As with each day, we begin and end with evening worship. Many students continue to express their reverence and astonishment regarding the Duke Chapel worship experience. What a blessing from God! This morning’s worship was attentive to the events of Good Friday. Today, we also welcome several past Duke Youth Academy participants as part of the 10th year anniversary celebration. We are delighted to fellowship with the past participants. We have also begun Prayer Practice sessions which provide three opportunities to experience the richness and variety of Christian prayer. The Preacher for this evenings worship service is Rev. Brian Jones and the Celebrant is Rev. Katherine Hande Smith.

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