First Baptist Church of West Hartford
| Dedicated to bringing Christian Faith and Life together through Worship, Outreach, Education and a Caring Community |
| First Baptist Church of West Hartford 90 North Main Street West Hartford CT 06107 |
The Serenity Prayer written by Reinhold Niebuhr one of the most important
theologians of the twentieth century. And most do not know that his prayer was
longer than what is generally used and displayed. It is, I believe a deep and
powerful prayer and call to a way of life that is surrender and action for the
purposes of God and the sake of the world. I share the entire prayer with you and
wish you the serenity and peace of Christ it is meant to offer.
God, grant me the serenity to
accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can
and the wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time,
enjoying one moment at a time.
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace.
Taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is,
not as I would have it.
Trusting that You will make all things right
if I surrender to Your will.
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with You
forever in the next.
Amen.
Peace be with you,
Tom
theologians of the twentieth century. And most do not know that his prayer was
longer than what is generally used and displayed. It is, I believe a deep and
powerful prayer and call to a way of life that is surrender and action for the
purposes of God and the sake of the world. I share the entire prayer with you and
wish you the serenity and peace of Christ it is meant to offer.
God, grant me the serenity to
accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can
and the wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time,
enjoying one moment at a time.
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace.
Taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is,
not as I would have it.
Trusting that You will make all things right
if I surrender to Your will.
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with You
forever in the next.
Amen.
Peace be with you,
Tom
A Brief Preface to the Essays
They come from my twenty-plus year involvement in issues related to religion and the
environment as well as my interest in studying the interaction between spirituality and
modern science. These essays emerge from five basic points of reference:
1) my concern for the state of the planet, the devastation of Earth’s life systems;
2) my conviction that the Christian faith and other spiritualities are indispensable in
understanding and shaping our human place and purpose on Earth, as well as guiding our
living in a mutually enhancing way;
3) my belief that modern science can and should be in partnership with religion and that
the discoveries of scientific cosmologists and quantum physicists are essential to our
understanding of the origins of the universe, how life really is and how it is evolving;
4) the recent understanding of and acknowledgement that there is a story the universe
has been telling for 14 billion years that is primary with all other stories, including the
human story, being derivative; and,
5) my conviction that God is the Ground of all existence and is the One actively engaged
with all life.
These are works in progress. I invite your input in this ongoing, and what I believe to be,
critical work of understanding who we are and what is our purpose in God’s amazing
creation.
These essays are not intended to represent my final thoughts on the universe story, the
interaction between science and religion, or the needed paradigm shift in the way we see
and live life. They are designed to be read, discussed and questioned. Some of the
essays may seem to veer from this primary focus. However, I believe they raise essential
questions in helping us think about how we should, ought, or may begin to start living with
one another and Earth in a mutually enhancing way.
I hope that as you read these, you will be moved to undertake your own study of the
issues I raise; better yet, I hope you will meet with others to discuss these and any other
thoughts you might consider essential to the health and well-being of our life together.
They come from my twenty-plus year involvement in issues related to religion and the
environment as well as my interest in studying the interaction between spirituality and
modern science. These essays emerge from five basic points of reference:
1) my concern for the state of the planet, the devastation of Earth’s life systems;
2) my conviction that the Christian faith and other spiritualities are indispensable in
understanding and shaping our human place and purpose on Earth, as well as guiding our
living in a mutually enhancing way;
3) my belief that modern science can and should be in partnership with religion and that
the discoveries of scientific cosmologists and quantum physicists are essential to our
understanding of the origins of the universe, how life really is and how it is evolving;
4) the recent understanding of and acknowledgement that there is a story the universe
has been telling for 14 billion years that is primary with all other stories, including the
human story, being derivative; and,
5) my conviction that God is the Ground of all existence and is the One actively engaged
with all life.
These are works in progress. I invite your input in this ongoing, and what I believe to be,
critical work of understanding who we are and what is our purpose in God’s amazing
creation.
These essays are not intended to represent my final thoughts on the universe story, the
interaction between science and religion, or the needed paradigm shift in the way we see
and live life. They are designed to be read, discussed and questioned. Some of the
essays may seem to veer from this primary focus. However, I believe they raise essential
questions in helping us think about how we should, ought, or may begin to start living with
one another and Earth in a mutually enhancing way.
I hope that as you read these, you will be moved to undertake your own study of the
issues I raise; better yet, I hope you will meet with others to discuss these and any other
thoughts you might consider essential to the health and well-being of our life together.
Essay Two - Contexts
Essay Three - Oneness
Essay Four - The Universe Loves
Diversity
Essay Five - Cataclysm
Essay Six - Creation EX Nihilio
Essay Three - Oneness
Essay Four - The Universe Loves
Diversity
Essay Five - Cataclysm
Essay Six - Creation EX Nihilio
Essay Seven - What Happens
When We Die
Essay Eight - A Question of Rights
Essay Nine - Judgement Day
Essay Ten - Hope
Essay Eleven - What is Most
Needed
Essay Twelve - The Meaning of
the Messengers
When We Die
Essay Eight - A Question of Rights
Essay Nine - Judgement Day
Essay Ten - Hope
Essay Eleven - What is Most
Needed
Essay Twelve - The Meaning of
the Messengers
CARR'S COMMENTS
Reflections for Prayer - Book III Great Gift Giving Idea!!! Purchase a Copy of Book III ($5.00 ea.) Contact the church office or Rev. Carr at 860-521-9460. |
SABBATICAL ESSAYS
Though I read al lot year round, summer is an especially good season to catch up on
books I've set aside when I have more time. Here is a partial list of my summer reading; I
hope you set aside time for reading that is educational, challenging, inspirational and fun.
Field of Compassion: How the New Cosmology is Transforming Spiritual Life,
Judy Cannato. I've read two of Ms. Cannato's books which are meditative-like reflections
on the deep spiritual and physical connections alive throughout the universe. She is a
Roman Catholic, retreat leader and author/poet. This book is a synthesis of scientists and
spiritual teachers whose purpose is to help us see the world in a different way and though
rooted in the Christian faith, she writes "with the awareness that the pressure of the Spirit
is from within [and] is a universal phenomenon...[with] each and every one of us invited to
be an essential component of one Earth community --a Field of Compassion that
embraces all."
Hope Against Darkness: The Transforming Vision of Saint Francis in an Age of
Anxiety: Richard Rohr. Rohr is a Franciscan priest and the founder of the Center for
Action and Contemplation in New Mexico. Using the images of Jesus and Saint Francis of
Assisi, Rhor points to both their times and ours as times of crises and shows how they
found a way to make a difference in the world. Their visions can help enlarge our vision
about how to live faithfully, compassionately, peacefully and justly.
I Heard God Laughing: poems of Hope and Joy; Hafts, translated by Daniel Ladinsky.
New and Selected Poems of Mary Oliver. These books of poetry shared in our West
Hartford Cooperative Ministries group. Mary Oliver is one of my favorite poets; the church
gave me a book of her poems for my 25th anniversary of my ordination, and Hafiz was a
Sufi mystic of the 14th century. Here's a sample of one of his poems:
Hafiz,
Why carry a whole load of books
Upon your back
Climbing this mountain,
When tonight,
Just a few thoughts of God
Will light the holy fire.
And I reserve the right to read a book for pure enjoyment --it may even be one about
the Detroit Tigers!
May you read books that will stir your soul or make you laugh or cry.
And don't forget to read the "Book of Nature" while you're at it.
Love,
Tom
books I've set aside when I have more time. Here is a partial list of my summer reading; I
hope you set aside time for reading that is educational, challenging, inspirational and fun.
Field of Compassion: How the New Cosmology is Transforming Spiritual Life,
Judy Cannato. I've read two of Ms. Cannato's books which are meditative-like reflections
on the deep spiritual and physical connections alive throughout the universe. She is a
Roman Catholic, retreat leader and author/poet. This book is a synthesis of scientists and
spiritual teachers whose purpose is to help us see the world in a different way and though
rooted in the Christian faith, she writes "with the awareness that the pressure of the Spirit
is from within [and] is a universal phenomenon...[with] each and every one of us invited to
be an essential component of one Earth community --a Field of Compassion that
embraces all."
Hope Against Darkness: The Transforming Vision of Saint Francis in an Age of
Anxiety: Richard Rohr. Rohr is a Franciscan priest and the founder of the Center for
Action and Contemplation in New Mexico. Using the images of Jesus and Saint Francis of
Assisi, Rhor points to both their times and ours as times of crises and shows how they
found a way to make a difference in the world. Their visions can help enlarge our vision
about how to live faithfully, compassionately, peacefully and justly.
I Heard God Laughing: poems of Hope and Joy; Hafts, translated by Daniel Ladinsky.
New and Selected Poems of Mary Oliver. These books of poetry shared in our West
Hartford Cooperative Ministries group. Mary Oliver is one of my favorite poets; the church
gave me a book of her poems for my 25th anniversary of my ordination, and Hafiz was a
Sufi mystic of the 14th century. Here's a sample of one of his poems:
Hafiz,
Why carry a whole load of books
Upon your back
Climbing this mountain,
When tonight,
Just a few thoughts of God
Will light the holy fire.
And I reserve the right to read a book for pure enjoyment --it may even be one about
the Detroit Tigers!
May you read books that will stir your soul or make you laugh or cry.
And don't forget to read the "Book of Nature" while you're at it.
Love,
Tom
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AMY'S CORNER
Students are entering a fallow time to rest, recharge and renew. Some will sleep in,
some will head to camp, others spend extra time with friends, while others will sit in front of
the TV or computer. One thing many students have in common is they have a summer task
which involves continuing to engage their minds in the written word. My kids have to read
two books, which seems like nothing to avid readers, but for me as a high schooler would
have been put off. I would have procrastinated to the very end.
There is something fundamentally necessary about engaging our minds in literature. It
helps us stay engaged, question, ponder, and wonder. What will you read this summer?
I will be reading the New Testament, taking time to see the stories unfold. Would you
like to join me for part of the story? Then maybe add one of the Gospels to your summer
reading list. You might start with Mark, the shortest and earliest gospel, or maybe you
would prefer to read Matthew which is tied more closely to Jewish traditions.
May the summer be a time for rest and renewal, as well as being full of time to pon der,
wonder, explore and read.
Rainbow Blessings,
Amy
some will head to camp, others spend extra time with friends, while others will sit in front of
the TV or computer. One thing many students have in common is they have a summer task
which involves continuing to engage their minds in the written word. My kids have to read
two books, which seems like nothing to avid readers, but for me as a high schooler would
have been put off. I would have procrastinated to the very end.
There is something fundamentally necessary about engaging our minds in literature. It
helps us stay engaged, question, ponder, and wonder. What will you read this summer?
I will be reading the New Testament, taking time to see the stories unfold. Would you
like to join me for part of the story? Then maybe add one of the Gospels to your summer
reading list. You might start with Mark, the shortest and earliest gospel, or maybe you
would prefer to read Matthew which is tied more closely to Jewish traditions.
May the summer be a time for rest and renewal, as well as being full of time to pon der,
wonder, explore and read.
Rainbow Blessings,
Amy