Tag Archives: Faith

Sunday Nov. 27 at 11:15 a.m. – Advent Through the Eyes Session 1 The Prophets introduce us to waiting and to preparing for the Messiah, our work for these four weeks of Advent. This is not a simple task as our culture (both the church and the community) pushes us to prepare in bigger ways each year, even though the preparation often takes us away from the waiting and preparing for the Messiah. So look at your calendar now and set aside time to experience Advent differently this year by meeting figures prominent in the lectionary readings. During these weeks, the people of the Advent texts will guide us on our way to the coming of the Messiah. Pastor Cheryl will lead this class discussion in the Lange Room.

Gluttony – can be a deadly sin in the most literal way. Although most often referred to in the Bible as excessive eating and drinking, the sin of gluttony is not restricted to food. Gluttony is similar to greed, but whereas greed is a proactive act of accumulating possessions, gluttony is the failure to exercise self-control over impulses. Being excessively overweight can be, but is not necessarily, a symptom of gluttony. Alcoholism is also a symptom of gluttony, as are the many examples we read about where people have not exercised self-control over their impulses. Paul compares the discipline of an athlete to the discipline we should have as Christians. Yet, in today’s world, simply being temperate in one’s eating and drinking is not enough. Our choice of foods can have significant ethical implications, and even the way in which we distribute food to hungry people is laden with moral dilemmas. Several movies and books have been made recently that call into question the ethics of our current food system. Many consider the Farm Bill to be immoral. The United States is in a brutal battle with Canada and Europe over the proper way of distributing world food aid. Come learn about some of the ethical implications of what you will eat for lunch today. Learn why the US claim that it is the most generous country in the world is hotly disputed by many of our closest allies. All of these issues relate in one way or another to the sin of gluttony, either individually or collectively. This class could forever change the way you look at food – so come if you dare!