Summertime at West Groton!

(Apologies for not updating the blog in a few weeks!)

Hope you are enjoying your summer, wherever / whoever you may be! Here at Christian Union Church, we've been enjoying a wonderful summer, with great weather and time together with friends, old and new!

At nearby Squannacook River (original photo from Kayak the Merrimack)

On Sunday mornings we have also begun to talk about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus-- in other words, what does it look like to consider your teacher, and Lord, a carpenter from Galilee who lived two thousand years ago!??

One thing we've talked some about is, to refer to the great work of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the tremendous "cost of discipleship." That is, following Jesus isn't always easy, and often gets you into trouble. Someone who knew this all too well was a man who actually immediately preceded Jesus' ministry --- John the Baptist. Check out this BIZARRE passage from Mark 6:14-29 (NRSV), and if you have a thought or question, feel free to put it in the comment box.

Traditional Greek Icon of John the Baptist

Mark 6:14-29

¹⁴...Jesus’ name had become known. Some were saying, “John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him.” ¹⁵But others said, “It is Elijah.” And others said, “It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” ¹⁶But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” 

¹⁷For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her. ¹⁸For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”  

¹⁹And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, ²⁰for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him.  

²¹But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. ²²When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.” ²³And he solemnly swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.” ²⁴She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” She replied, “The head of John the baptizer.”

²⁵Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” ²⁶The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. ²⁷Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, ²⁸brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. ²⁹When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.