Reflecting on Scripture

A number of Fresh Start facilitators have been very creative in their use of Scripture to introduce the topic for discussion. Here are two. One, offered by the Rev. Elizabeth Fellicetti and her colleagues in the Diocese of Southern Virginia, was used with “Exits and Entrances,” and the second from the Rev. Canon Mary Sulerud (Diocese of Washington) was used with “Entering a New System.”

Numbers 14:1-24: The topic for the opening retreat of the Fresh Start year in the Diocese of Southern Virginia was “Exits and Entrances.” As an ice-breaker the Rev. Elizabeth Fellicetti and her colleagues staged a dramatic reading from this passage from Numbers. Different participants read the parts of the narrator, Moses, Joshua, Caleb and the Lord, with the entire group acting as the Israelites and reading their part in unison. Upon completion of the reading, participants checked in by describing where they felt they were in their transition: Egypt, the wilderness, or the Promised Land. According to Elizabeth, this led to a great discussion and got everyone on board and engaged.

Ruth 1:6-22: At the beginning of “Entering a New System,” the Rev. Canon Mary Sulerud read this suggested passage from Ruth. She then asked participants to reflect upon what the various characters in the story – Naomi, Orpah, and Ruth – each felt about the advantages and challenges offered by “going” and “staying,” listing the responses in two columns on an easel. The ensuing discussion about the longing for “home” and the challenges of entering a new place was incredibly rich and a great lead-in to showing “The Vicar of Dibley.”