NEW Book Study Group: The Tears of Things by Richard Rohr

NEW Book Study Group: The Tears of Things by Richard Rohr

We hope you will join us for a four-week book group exploring The Tears of Things, a new book by Franciscan friar and ecumenical teacher Richard Rohr. The study will be led by Rev. Jessica Jones and Rev. Mark Montgomery, and will meet on Thursday evenings from 5:30–7:00 pm on September 25, October 2, October 9, and October 16 in the WPC Alcove. Dinner will be provided for the first three gatherings, and the final session will be a potluck. Complimentary childcare is included each week, with Rev. Chris offering homework help or supervised playtime for young people.

$40 per adult covers all materials, The Tears of Things book, and food. Childcare and food for young folks is complimentary. Mark your calendars, registration link coming soon!

Below is a synopsis from the Center for Action and Contemplation website:

How do we live compassionately in a time of violence and despair? What can we do with our private disappointments and the anger we feel in such an unjust world? In his most personal book yet, Richard Rohr turns to the writings of the Jewish prophets, revealing how some of the lesser-read books of the Bible offer us a crucial path forward today.

The prophets’ writings reflect the full spectrum of human maturity. In almost every case, their initial rage and their accusatory words evolve into a profound pathos and lamentation about our shared human condition and the world’s suffering. Through astute critiques of culture and institutions, and their journey from anger to sadness, and ultimately compassion, the prophets exemplify what Rohr calls “sacred criticism”—a distinct approach to confronting evil and injustice that acknowledges the wholeness of history, the interconnectedness of every living being, and the reality of a divine and universal love. In this, they set the stage for Jesus, who follows this identical pattern.

Drawing on a century of biblical scholarship and written in the warm, pastoral voice that has endeared Rohr to millions, The Tears of Things breathes new life into ancient wisdom. It paves a path of enlightenment for anyone seeking a compassionate way of living in a hurting world.