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Christ in Creation

How does Christ relate to creation?

Lead by Joshua King

2020 Fall Formation

Many modern Western Christians have imagined him (after resurrection) above creation, reaching down into our hearts to work a drama of salvation for which "nature" provides a stage (one day to be left for heaven). Yet the biblical witness and much of Christian tradition envision Christ in creation, holding it together, entering its suffering bodily, reconciling all of it—not only humans—to God. Could such a vision inform how we see ourselves as the body of Christ now? What would it mean for our worship? How could the arts help us reawaken to Christ's presence in creation? How might we join Christ's work of reconciliation in a world in which ecological, racial, and economic injustice are inseparably linked? These are some of the issues we'll consider together.

CLASS SCHEDULE:

09/06/2020

In this introductory video, Josh will welcome us to the class, invite us to consider why we need to consider the subject of "Christ in Creation" at this time, explain how our conversations will be structured.

9/13/2020

Our Place in Creation

Reading Richard Bauckham, “The Human Place in Creation—A Biblical Overview” (from Living with Other Creatures: Green Exegesis and Theology, 2011)9

9/20/2020

Christ’s Reconciling Work in Creation

Reading from Norman Wirzba, “Reconciliation through Christ” (from Making Peace with the Land, 2012)

9/27/2020

Creation and Communion

Reading : "Foreword" by Bill McKibben and George Theokritoff, “The Cosmology of the Eucharist” (from Toward an Ecology of Transfiguration: Orthodox Christian Perspectives on Environment, Nature, and Creation, 2013)

10/04/2020

Our Priesthood and Creation Care

Reading: Metropolitan John (Zizioulas) of Pergammon, “Proprietors or Priests of Creation?” (from Toward an Ecology of Transfiguration)

10/11/2020

Praising with other Creatures

Reading: Richard Bauckham, “Praising our Maker Together” thru “The Community of Creation” (from The Bible and Ecology, 2010)

10/18/2020

Human Sin, Creation’s Lament, Sabbath Redemption

Reading: Richard Bauckham,”The Whole Creation Mourns” and “Praise and Lament” (from The Bible and Ecology, 2010). Wirzba, "Sabbath Creation" pp. 31-34 and "From Sabbath to Sunday" (from Living the Sabbath 2006).

10/25/2020

Joining the Praise of Creatures

Reading: The Benedicite; Rossetti, “All Thy Works Praise Thee, O Lord”: A Processional of Creation; Gerard Manley Hopkins, “Pied Beauty” (we might add verses of our own to Rossetti’s processional and listen to Carlos Colon’s musical adaptation)

11/01/2020

Contemplating Creation with Love in the Risen Christ

Reading: from Pope Francis, Laudato Si' (2015) (seeing creation as an act of love: par. 76-77; creatures diversely, uniquely express God: 84-88; the gaze and presence of Jesus: 96-100; the good of seeing beauty: 214-215; summary: 221; sacramental, Trinitarian vision: 233-240); Gerard Manley Hopkins, “God’s Grandeur,” “The Windhover,” “Binsey Poplars”

*Optional extra for those interested: Norman Wirzba, “Perceiving Creation” (From
Nature to Creation, 2015)

11/08/2020

Drawing as Contemplation in Practice

Discussion and workshop with artist Joel Edwards on drawing as a way of attending carefully and affectionately to the intricate diversity of creation, whose every facet is indwelt and held together by Christ. Drawing can be an aid to such contemplative attention even if we never call ourselves artists. Joel and Josh King open with a conversation, and Joel then leads an exercise in sketching a wildflower that blooms from July through October in Texas and much of the central United States—the false purple thistle (eryngium leavenworthii).

11/15/2020

Agricultural Resistance in the Civil Rights Movement

Discussion with Jenny Howell, Director of the Theology, Ecology, and Food Justice Program at Baylor's Truett Seminary

Reading: Chapter on Fannie Lou Hamer from Freedom Farmers: Agricultural Resistance in the Black Freedom Movement (2018)

11/22/2020

Eating and Growing Lovingly, Practicing Local Sustainability

Discussion with Dayspring Representatives of World Hunger Relief Farm

Reading: Wirzba, "Reconciliation through Eating," Making Peace with the Land, and pp. 126-129 of From Nature to Creation

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