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When religious words are exhausted, yet we’re anxious for real hope, how do we share the wonder of our world reborn when centred on Christ? Join us virtually at Christ's Pieces OPEN BOOK for four gatherings (May 14 - June 25, fortnightly on Thursdays) as we dialogue with Charles Ringma's book, "Finding Naasicaa." It's a no-holds barred exploration facing doubt head on, and discerning what good news of God's reign remains for a post-Christian generation prone to deconstruct dogmatic jargon, the transcendent, and empty optimism. See https://christspieces.org/open-book/ for more.

Want to join us virtually?
Join URL: https://zoom.us/j/333262992?pwd=dmpxV0VnVCs2L05vN09TQWVON1BmZz09 (Meeting ID: 333262992; Password = openbook)

For 2020, here's our schedule:
2ND CYCLE, 2020: Finding Naasicaa (FN)
May 14 | FN I, pp. 1–59 (Preface + Letters 1–5)
May 28 | FN II, pp. 60–110 (Letters 6–8)
June 11 | FN III, pp. 111–161 (Letters 9–12)
June 25 | FN IV, pp. 162–202 (Letters 13–17)

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In our second cycle for 2020, we dialogue with Charles Ringma's book "Finding Naasicaa" (2007) and ask:

When religious words are exhausted, yet we're anxious for real hope,
how do we share the wonder of our world reborn when centred on Christ?

It's a no-holds barred exploration facing doubt head on, and discerning what good news of God's reign remains for a post-Christian generation prone to deconstruct dogmatic jargon, the transcendent, and empty optimism. Think Kesha's Hymn for the Hymnless below, with lyrics here. (Share page: https://padlet.com/david_benson/OpenBook.)

In a post-Christendom world, young people continue to be vitally interested in matters of spirituality and justice, despite their lack of engagement with the Christian faith and church. This situation calls for new forms of communication and a reconsideration of the claims of the Christian faith. This book for searching minds does just this. A series of letters written by theologian Charles Ringma to his 19-year-old granddaughter, Finding Naasicaa addresses ultimate issues of life, faith, spirituality and social transformation accessibly, unpretentiously and winsomely.

As Charles writes, this book is dedicated to "a new generation: bearers of hope for a newer tomorrow; a past generation of parents: whose spiritual faith fractured with the collapse of Christendom; and an older generation of grandparents: whose life is marked by anxious prayer."

So, join us virtually at 6:55pm for a 7:00pm start, as we fuse liturgy that satisfies all five senses, rich book discussion, and transformative practices to live what you read.
(Shut out with Corona? Join us virtually direct zoom link here (or via https://zoom.us/join with Meeting ID 333262992 and Password = openbook.) +++Delving Deeper+++ If you'd like to research more deeply the themes this book brings up, check out the following:

For broad generational analysis, tilted towards emerging adults (Gen Z), see White (2017), Twenge (), Barna () and McCrindle (2014: ABC of XYZ).

On the exodus of young people from the church, both in the west more broadly, and Australia more specifically, see the Malyon College Alumni forum on "Where have all the young people gone," drawing in key reports from

For a taste of the mental health/anxiety epidemic facing the emerging generations, check out the Mission Australia Youth Survey, especially the Report and Infographic for their 2012-2018 Mental Health Report.

On why art is such a potent force to speak to emerging generations, with image going where words can't, see Noble and Cosper (2017), Noble (2018: Disruptive Witness), and on Christian persuasion more broadly, see Paterson (2019)

For a range of ways to share the the old story of the gospel with fresh words and ways, see Benson ("Sign Course," "Epic Story" resources + web + Suburban Seed Sowers April 9, 2020 podcast for sharing faith amidst Covid lockdown + video below), Chan (2018: Evangelism in a Skeptical World + "How to tell my story"), McLaughlin (2019: Confronting Christianity), Keller (2016: Making Sense of God), "Following the Ways" (Steve Gray 2020: Solution to Human Brokenness + Gratitude & Grace), #FallingPlates, Cross-Over Easter Resources (e.g., 2019: "The Other Story"), or for a more Reformed approach, see Matthias Media's "Two Ways to Live" (demo video)

+++Key Details+++
Check out the calendar below for key dates, and pick up your paperback or kindle version. Until then, pdfs of each reading are linked.

On the odd chance Corona restrictions lift, here's how it works for face-to-face gatherings ... We have a soft-start from 6:45pm-feel free to rock up early and eat your dinner or share a cup of tea. At 7:10pm sharp we get into the night, finishing each night by 9pm with supper together and an unrushed chat over coffee. OPEN BOOK includes some basic spiritual practices and prayer, before unpacking the pre-reading scheduled for that night.
For each week, it helps to think through how the reading provokes you in 4 ways:
1) Question: what didn't make sense?

2) Challenge: what did you think was wrong?

3) Implication: what wisdom does this offer for being a holistic witness to a post-Christian generation?

4) Application: how might this help us share the good news of God's reign?
OPEN BOOK, THURSDAYS 7PM | Ringma's, May 14 | FN I, pp. 1-59 (Preface + Letters 1-5) Finding Naasicaa (FN) | Join us virtually direct zoom link here (or via https://zoom.us/join with Meeting ID 333262992 and Password = openbook) + Share page: https://padlet.com/david_benson/OpenBook
L1 An opening word for Naasicaa
L2 The world without and within
L3 Life's meaning and uncertainty
L4 The doing of good and the persistence of evil
L5 The story of God and the human predicament

L6 Faith and doubt in a perilous world
L7 The sign and contradiction of the community of faith
L8 Symbols and countersigns of spirituality

June 11 | FN III, pp. 111-161 (Letters 9-12)
L9 Themes of life and threads of decay
L10 Passion, commitment and disillusionment
L11 Gratitude, wonder, creativity and the dulling power of conformity
L12 Mending and bending
Hope to see you there!
June 25 | FN IV, pp. 162-202 (Letters 13-17)
L13 Work and play in a world of inequality
L14 The reign of God and the human enterprise
L15 The Galilean prophet and the timeless Christ
L16 Time, finitude, death and the power of hope and transcendence
L17 Afterword

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When religious words are exhausted, yet we're anxious for real hope, how do we share the wonder of our world reborn when centred on Christ? Join us virtually at Christ's Pieces OPEN BOOK for four gatherings (May 14 - June 25, fortnightly on Thursdays) as we dialogue with Charles Ringma's book, "Finding Naasicaa."

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[Verse 1]
Even the stars and the moon don't shine quite like we do
Dreamers searchin' for the truth
Go on, read about us in the news
Pretty reckless, pretty wild
Talking shit, and we'll just smile
Don't you see these fuckin' crowns?
If you know what I mean, you on the team

[Chorus 1]
This is a hymn for the hymnless, kids with no religion
Yeah, we keep on sinning, yeah, we keep on singing
Flying down the highway, backseat of the Hyundai
Pull it to the front, let it run, we don't valet
Sorry if you're starstruck, blame it on the stardust
I know that I'm perfect, even though I'm fucked up
Hymn for the hymnless, don't need no forgiveness
'Cause if there's a heaven, don't care if we get in
This is a hymn, hymn, hymn for how we live, live, live
This is a hymn, hymn, hymn for how we live, for how we live

[Verse 2]
After all we've been through
No, we won't stand and salute
So we just ride, we just cruise
Livin' like there's nothing left to lose
If we die before we wake
Who we are is no mistake
This is just the way we're made
You know what I mean, you on the team

[Chorus 1]
This is a hymn for the hymnless, kids with no religion
Yeah, we keep on sinning, yeah, we keep on singing
Flying down the highway, backseat of the Hyundai
Pull it to the front, let it run, we don't valet
Sorry if you're starstruck, blame it on the stardust
I know that I'm perfect, even though I'm fucked up
Hymn for the hymnless, don't need no forgiveness
'Cause if there's a heaven, don't care if we get in
This is a hymn, hymn, hymn for how we live, live, live
This is a hymn, hymn, hymn for how we live, for how we live

[Chorus 2]
This is a hymn for the hymnless, kids with no religion
Yeah, we keep on sinning, yeah, we keep on singing
Flying down the highway, yeah, we do it our way
High as outer space, we don't hear what the rest say
Sorry if you're starstruck, blame it on the stardust
I know that I'm perfect, even though I'm fucked up
Hymn for the hymnless, don't need no forgiveness
'Cause if there's a heaven, don't care if we get in
This is a hymn, hymn, hymn for how we live, live, live
This is a hymn, hymn, hymn for how we live, for how we live

(cf. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-Dur3uXXCQ Praying introduction)

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How God is Both One and Three at the Same Time [Animated Explainer]

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The LIFE changing habit of GRATITUDE and GRACE | Following the Way of Jesus

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Claire Madden | Hello Gen Z | The Project | October  2017