Spring 2022 Wisdom Series: Encountering the Wisdom Jesus

"If you put aside what you think you know about Jesus and approach the Gospels as though for the first time, something remarkable happens: Jesus emerges as a teacher of the transformation of consciousness." — Rev. Dr. Cynthia Bourgeault

"Who do you say that I am?" — Jesus of Nazareth

Who is Jesus to you? Son of God? Savior? Master teacher? Misunderstood prophet? Failed revolutionary? Dangerous nobody?

Maybe you're not so sure of what to make of the whole "Jesus" thing. Maybe part of you wants to have a connection with this person, but the behavior of so many of his contemporary disciples turns you off. Maybe you too wonder and grieve at how his radically inclusive message has been forgotten while pundits and politicians have turned him into a piece of slick political branding or a weapon of oppression.

It was never supposed to be this way. Is it possible to fix it?

In our spring 2022 Wisdom Series at FCCBC, I'll lead y'all in an encounter with this newly rediscovered perspective on Jesus's revolutionary teaching that has emerged from recent discoveries in archaeology, history, textual studies, and contemplative renewal. In a word, the "wisdom" perspective has changed my own life and given me my faith back—even my "relationship with Jesus" back—in a new, life-giving way.

And the same might be true for you.

Cynthia Bourgeault's 2008 book, "The Wisdom Jesus" will be our shared text. Bourgeault serves as a masterful guide to Jesus's radical vision of human transformation and to the traditional contemplative practices we can use to experience the heart of his teaching ourselves.

Each week of this series, we'll encounter and discuss the core concepts of each of the chapters in this book. As we journey, we'll experience and engage Christian wisdom practices, including centering prayer, lectio divina, sacred chanting and psalmody, and the welcoming prayer, to encounter and experience the heart of Jesus's teaching for ourselves.

Bring your curiosity, your questions, your doubts, and your wonder, and let's walk this path together.

Our first gathering will be Wednesday, February 9th, at 6:00PM-8:00PM. We will order a book for everyone who registers; the suggested donation for each book is $18. Sessions will be every Wednesday night through April 12th (Wednesday of Holy Week), with no session on March 2nd (Ash Wednesday).

Sessions will be in person and on Zoom simultaneously, so that folks can self-select their COVID risk level. We’ll send the Zoom link to everyone who registers.

To register, please click here and complete this Google form.