This is our seventh year of Third Sunday Sacred Scripture Study (formerly known as Bible Study) at Tahoma UU Congregation this fall. In the previous six years, we have followed the Revised Common Lectionary, looking at the Bible readings according to the schedule followed by most Protestant churches. This year we are changing it up a bit. We will still follow the Revised Common Lectionary, but we will also integrate 3 additional sources. This year we have the option of looking at the Torah and Haftorah (some books from what you may know as the Jewish Bible) readings from an annual schedule used in the Jewish tradition. We will have readings from Hindu, Buddhist, and Taoist traditions, which have been selected to correspond nicely with the lectionary readings. And finally, as we enter into our second year of using the Soul Matters themes, each month’s theme is listed here so that we might consider incorporating it as we read through the selections.

September 18 – A Community of Covenant
Jeremiah 8:18-9:1, Psalm 79:1-9, 1 Timothy 2:1-7. Luke 16:1-13
Torah & Haftorah Reading: Deuteronomy 21:10 – 25:19, Isaiah 54:1 – 55:5
A reading from the Hindu tradition:
O my wealth-coveting and foolish soul,
When will you succeed in emancipating yourself from the desire for wealth? Shame on my foolishness!
I have been your toy!
It is thus that one becomes a slave of others. No one born on earth did ever attain to the end of desire . . . . Without doubt, O Desire, your heart is as hard as adamant, since though affected by a hundred distresses, you do not break into pieces!
I know you, O Desire, and all those things that are dear to you! The desire for wealth can never bring happiness. (Mahabharata, Shanti Parva 177)

October 16 – A Community of Healing
Jeremiah 31:27-34, Psalm 119:97-104, 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5, Luke 18:1-8
Torah & Haftorah Reading: Deuteronomy 32:1-52, II Samuel 22:1-51
A reading from the Jewish tradition:
Rabbi Akiba, illiterate at forty, saw one day a stone’s perforation where water fell from a spring, and having heard people say, “Waters wear stones,” he thought, “If soft water can bore through a rock, surely iron-clad Torah should, by sheer persistence, penetrate a tender mind,” and he turned to study. (Talmud, Abot de Rabbi Nathan 6)

November 20 – A Community of Story
Jeremiah 23:1-6, Luke 1:68-79, Colossians 1:11-20, Luke 23:33-43
Torah & Haftorah Reading: Genesis 18:1 – 22:24, II Kings 4:1-37
A reading from the Hindu scriptures:
Arjuna said, “I bow before you, supreme God; be gracious. You, who are so awesome to see, tell me, who are you? I want to know you, the very first Lord, for I do not understand what you are doing.” Krishna said, “I am Time who destroys the world of humans. I am the time that is now ripe to gather in the people here; that is what I am doing. Even without you, all these warriors drawn up for battle in opposing ranks will cease to exist. Therefore rise up! Win Glory! When you conquer your enemies, your kingship will be fulfilled. Enjoy it. Be just an instrument, you who can draw the bow with the left as well as the right hand! I myself have slain your enemies long ago. Do not waver. Conquer the enemies whom I have already slain . . . . Fight! You are about to defeat your rivals in war.” (Bhagavad Gita 11:26-34)

December 18 – A Community of Presence
Isaiah 7:10-16, Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19, Romans 1:1-7. Matthew 1:18-25
Torah & Haftorah Reading: Genesis 32:4 – 36:43, Obadiah 1:1-21
A reading from the Hindu scriptures:
When Devaki, who was like a great divinity, was impregnated, she received seven embryos. Kamsa killed six embryos as soon as they were born, smashing them upon the ground. But Sleep brought to Rohini the seventh embryo that Devaki had received. As if in a dream, she saw the embryo slip out of her. Then Sleep spoke in the dark night to the terrified Rohini, “Since this embryo was drawn out and placed in your womb, fair lady, he will be your son, and his name shall be Krishna.” Rohini rejoiced to receive that son, and she lowered her face and entered the house, shining like a constellation of stars. (Adapted from the Harivamsa)

January 15 – A Community of Prophecy
Isaiah 49:1-7, Psalm 40:1-11, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9, John 1:29-42
Torah & Haftorah Reading: Genesis 47:28 – 50:26, I Kings 2:1-12
A reading from the Buddhist scriptures:
The glow worm shines so long as the light-bringer has not arisen. But when the shining one has come up, its light is quenched, it glows no longer. Such is the shining of the sectarians. So long as the rightly awakened ones arise not in the world, the sophists get no light, nor do their followers, and those of wrong views cannot be released from ill. (Udana 73)

February 19 – A Community of Identity
Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18, Psalm 119:33-40,1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23, Matthew 5:38-48
Torah & Haftorah Reading: Exodus 18:1 – 20:23, Isaiah 6:1-13
A reading from the Taoist scriptures:
Recognize the Great in the small, and the many in the few. Repay hatred with kindness. Deal with the difficult while it is still easy. Begin great works while they are small. Certainly the earth does difficult work with ease, and accomplishes great affairs from small beginnings. So, the Sage, by not striving for greatness, achieves greatness. They Way of Heaven does not compete, but is good at winning; does not speak, yet always responds; does not demand, but is usually obeyed; seems chaotic, but unfolds a most excellent plan. Heaven’s net is cast wide, and though its meshes are loose, nothing is ever lost. (The Tao Te Ching, 63, 73)

March 19 – A Community of Risk
Exodus 17:1-7, Psalm 95, Romans 5:1-11, John 4:5-42
Torah & Haftorah Reading: Exodus 30:11 – 34:35, Numbers 19:1-22, Ezekiel 36:16-36
A reading from the Taoist scriptures:
The Tao is like an empty pitcher, poured from, but never drained. Infinitely deep, it is the source of all things. It blunts the sharp, unties the knotted, shades the bright, unites with all Dust. Dimly seen, yet eternally present, I do not know who gave birth to it. It is older than any conception of God. (Tao Te Ching, 4)

April 16 – A Community of Transformation
Acts 10:34-43 or Jeremiah 31:1-6, Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24, Colossians 3:1-4, John 20:1-18 or Matthew 28:1-10
Torah & Haftorah Reading: Exodus 33:12 – 34:26, Numbers 28:19-25, Ezekiel 37:1-14
A reading from the Hindu scriptures:
The wise one is not born, nor does he die, this one has not come from anywhere, has not become anyone. Unborn, constant, eternal, primeval, this one is not slain when the body is slain. If the slayer thinks that he slays, if the slain think themselves slain, neither of them understand. No one is slain, and no one slays. (Adapted from Katha Upanishad 2:18-19; Bhagavad Gita, 2:19-20)

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Sumi-e Painting is a special type of Oriental Art. It is a branch of part of a general classification of Sumi-e. The main emphasis in Sumi-e is the shading of black to gray ink contained in one brush stroke. Sumi-e painting has been enjoyed as a hobby for the amateur throughout the centuries in the Orient, and the ink monochrome was recognized as an art form as far back as 1,066 years ago.

The show features students who study at the Salvation Army Senior Activity Center. Classes are held each Friday from 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. at the Salvation Army Senior Activity Center, 4009 9th St SW, Puyallup, WA 98373. Classes are free, and lunch is provided. Teachers Charlie Nicholas and Bill Havens concentrate on Sumi-e, but explore other media and materials.

Welcome back families and teachers! Kick off the start of the new RE year by joining together for our annual RE Luncheon in the social hall after service. This is a great opportunity to meet the teachers, learn about the Labyrinth Learning, and connect with the community, as well as register children, sign-up for volunteer work, and learn about some upcoming activities. Lunch is provided, although contributions are welcome.

Join us!