Brewed Theology

When: Thursday, October 26 at 6:00 p.m.

Where: BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse (map)

What is this? Brewed Theology is a time of guided conversation on topics where faith and culture intersect, typically set in the more informal context of a pub, bar, restaurant, coffee shop, etc. We’ll be using a curriculum developed by a group of progressive, ELCA pastors, with a different topic each month.

Questions? Contact Pastor Josh Evans.

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THIS MONTH’S TOPIC
Listening 101: Can You Hear Me Now? Listening as the First Act of Love
From the authors: Civil public discourse is rarer than it used to be. Polite and respectful listening has given way to increasingly combustible conversations and incendiary rhetoric in all manner of public and private spaces. Social media echo chambers reinforce viewpoints (right or wrong), and denial simply works. We’ve also observed a kind of sadness among our people, no matter on what side of the political divide they happen to land. We wonder if it is grief over the loss of something so important to our social fabric: the art and ability to listen.

What we hoped to accomplish in this Brewed Theology was to restore a little hope in our collective capacity to meaningfully listen to each other, remind ourselves that we can still listen without having to agree, and to consider – despite bombastic politics and talk shows – how listening is an important, life-giving skill we must practice.

Click here to download a link to the “homework.” This is optional but will greatly help to prime our conversation with some questions to consider in advance. There are links to relevant Bible passages, articles, videos, and other resources. Peruse as you can, but don’t let completing the homework (or not) be a barrier to your participation. Please kindly RSVP to Pastor Josh Evans by Tuesday, October 24, so we can be sure to reserve a table (if needed).