We began our discussion series for "Faith & Leadership" last night over the story of Cain and Abel that can be found in the fourth chapter of Genesis. We'll be continuing our discussion of what we can learn from this story next Sunday evening, and we've posted the NRSV version (from devotions.net) below for each of you to read at your convenience before next weekend. Read through a few times, and bring any questions, thoughts, or wonderings next week for our discussion together.
(Genesis 4) Now the man knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, "I have produced a man with the help of the LORD." 2 Next she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a tiller of the ground. 3 In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel for his part brought of the firstlings of his flock, their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. 6 The LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it." 8 Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let us go out to the field." And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel, and killed him. 9 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" He said, "I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?" 10 And the LORD said, "What have you done? Listen; your brother's blood is crying out to me from the ground! 11 And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. 12 When you till the ground, it will no longer yield to you its strength; you will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth." 13 Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is greater than I can bear! 14 Today you have driven me away from the soil, and I shall be hidden from your face; I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and anyone who meets me may kill me." 15 Then the LORD said to him, "Not so! Whoever kills Cain will suffer a sevenfold vengeance." And the LORD put a mark on Cain, so that no one who came upon him would kill him. 16 Then Cain went away from the presence of the LORD, and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden. 17 Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch; and he built a city, and named it Enoch after his son Enoch. 18 To Enoch was born Irad; and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael the father of Methushael, and Methushael the father of Lamech. 19 Lamech took two wives; the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. 20 Adah bore Jabal; he was the ancestor of those who live in tents and have livestock. 21 His brother's name was Jubal; he was the ancestor of all those who play the lyre and pipe. 22 Zillah bore Tubal-cain, who made all kinds of bronze and iron tools. The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah. 23 Lamech said to his wives: "Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say: I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for striking me. 24 If Cain is avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy-sevenfold." 25 Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, for she said, "God has appointed for me another child instead of Abel, because Cain killed him." 26 To Seth also a son was born, and he named him Enosh. At that time people began to invoke the name of the LORD.
Just a few reminders of what's going on at Second this weekend for Holy Week. I would encourage any of you to attend any of these services (regardless of whether you're a member or not, or even if you've never been to Second for anything) as they are amazing reminders of what Easter is really all about. I heard it said earlier this week that we "shouldn't be so quick to celebrate Palm Sunday and immediately jump to celebrating Easter" without realizing that one of the darkest and most introspective moments in the world's history happened during that week. I hope to see you at Second at one of these services.
Thursday evening [8 p.m.] -- Maundy Thursday Service of Tenebrae and Communion.
Friday afternoon [12 p.m. - 3 p.m.] -- An open service (come and go as you please) that rotates every 20 minutes and focuses on "The Seven Last Words of Christ", including a string quartet with Haydn's Seven Last Words.
Sunday morning [8 a.m./9:30 a.m./11:15 a.m./5 p.m./6 p.m.] -- Join us for our Easter Sunday services.
Just in case there are any of you left out there that haven't already been forced by me to watch this video (sorry to my fiance and roommate), it's an amazing piece of work from a TED conference in Houston a while back. A little background info:
The video is poignant and thoughtful; great reflection material for anyone. But more specifically, we'll be watching it together on Sunday evening for our Faith and Leadership curriculum and using it as a basis for some discussion on the topic of vulnerability in our own lives.
If you're a high school student, join us on Sunday evening in the youth suite at Second Church from 5:45-7:15 p.m. for the beginning of what's sure to be a deepening and enlightening time spent together. And keep your eyes open as the rest of this process unfolds on this blog as well.
Moving forward with Trek this semester, we'll be looking at student-offered topics as our subjects for each weekly meeting.
If you have any specific ideas, questions, or subjects that you as a Trek student would be interested in having as a lesson in the next 8-12 weeks, post a comment on this blog or text/email/facebook me! All ideas are welcome, and we'll pick some to use as the basis for our future lessons for the remainder of the semester (with some surprises thrown in, of course!).
