Unitarian & Free Christian Bible Discussion

 Lizzie Kingston-Harrison will lead our Bible discussion on Monday 2nd of October at 6.30pm: I am the bread of life, I am the good shepherd, I am the light of the world, I am the true vine... The Kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, like yeast, like treasure hidden in a field...   What did our Unitarian forebear Joseph Priestley have to say about the metaphors and analogies of scripture? Why did he believe that understanding metaphor is the key to understanding the human mind and our relationship with God? And how can you use metaphor to explore your own spirituality?  Come along to our weekly bible discussion to find out! You're invited to bring along YOUR favourite biblical metaphor, comparison or analogy although you're still very welcome if you don't yet have one... The Zoom details remain as follows: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82378042367... Meeting ID: 823 7804 2367 Passcode: 460019

 Hello Everyone, Our next discussion will be on Monday 25 September at 6.30 and will be led by Alex Bradley. We will discuss the ‘parable of the unmerciful servant’ in Matthew’s Gospel. “To err is human: to forgive divine” wrote Alexander Pope. What does it mean to forgive someone who has done us a wrong? There are so many ways in which human beings do wrong to each other. Parents can often damage their children. People can be robbed of their life savings. A marriage can be rocked by infidelity. There are so many more, of course, some more terrible. Should we forgive people who have done us wrong or caused us an injury? And if so, how can we forgive them? We will read from Matthew 18.21-35 (‘the parable of the unmerciful servant’ passages is from verse 23 onwards) 21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.  2...

Donald Jacobs will lead the Bible discussion on Monday 18th September at 6.30pm where we will read Ecclesiastes chapter 3 and consider: Is the passing of life’s milestones a cause for joy, nostalgia, regret, or something else?  Do we long for a longer lifespan or is the brevity of life what gives it meaning? Do we find the book of Ecclesiastes to be an uplifting book? Feel free to bring your own verses from the book of Ecclesiastes and share your thoughts.  Ecclesiastes chapter 3 from the New Revised Standard Version (Updated Edition)  Everything Has Its Time  3 For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven: 2 a time to be born and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to pluck up what is planted; 3 a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to break down and a time to build up; 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance; 5 a time to throw away stones and a time to gather stones togeth...

 Ruth Hennell writes:  For Monday's Bible Discussion Group we will be using the Barbie movie to help us discuss the story of Adam and Eve, conceptions of paradise and gender and whether ignorance is bliss or knowledge and free will are an essential part of what makes us human. Hopefully we will be able to combine fun with depth, just like the film does. Feel free to wear pink or not!  Bible passages:  A gender flipped and Barbified version of Genesis 2:18‭-‬22 (GNBUK) Then the LADY God said, “It is not good for Barbie to live alone. I will make a suitable companion to help her.” So she took some soil from the ground and formed all the animals and all the birds. Then she brought them to Barbie to see what she would name them; and that is how they all got their names. So Barbie named all the birds and all the animals; but not one of them was a suitable companion to help her. Then the LADY God made Barbie fall into a deep sleep, and while she was sleeping, she took out ...

Peter writes  For the session on Monday 4th September I would like to try something a little different. Rather than study a particular passage or book I intend to arrange that we each bring to the meeting our own special part of the Bible that means the most to us; it could be a book or a story or even a phrase that to us resembles a jewel of meaning for our thinking and beliefs. The format that we will follow will be a division into small outbreak groups where we can explain to others why we brought our selection and this will be kept in the confidence of the smaller group.  I expect that good listening will be required and that the exercise will provide a good opportunity for each of us to hear and learn from each others  contributions. Feedback to the united group will simply be a listing of all our chosen items with no personal accounts unless an individual considers that to be intrinsically necessary. PB Join Zoom Meeting Monday 18.30 (London time)  https://us06...