Pastor Wongee will lead us in a discussion of the book, The Cross and the Lynching Tree, by James Cone. Expect an important and challenging time! We will meet March 16, 23, 30 and April 6 after worship in Fellowship Hall. Lunch will be served. You may attend in person or virtually. Please register. Our discussion will be richer if you have read the
book. It is available at Seattle and King County libraries and the usual online sources.
The Cross and the Lynching Tree by Dr. James Cone
“Where is the gospel of Jesus’ cross revealed today?”
The Cross and the Lynching Tree provides a provocative and relevant Lenten study for small groups. This contemporary theological work provides deep insights into what our primary Christian symbol really means and how the paradox of the cross informs our faith and contemporary experience. This “powerful and painful song for hope” is a perfect fit for our Lenten study.
We will share discussion questions, reflections, hymns, and prayers at the 4 sessions. This is an intense study to cover in 4 weeks, please come prepared already having read the chapters for each session. You are invited to read the whole book and then review the chapters we will discuss each week.
Week One: Introduction and Chapter One (“Nobody Knows de Trouble I See”)
Week Two: Chapter Two (“The Terrible Beauty of the Cross”)
Week Three: Chapter Three (Bearing the Cross and Staring Down the Lynching Tree”) AND Chapter Four (The Recrucified Christ in Black Literary Imagination)
Week Four: Chapter Five (“Oh Mary, Don’t You Weep”) AND Conclusion: Legacies of the Cross and the Lynching Tree
Please watch this video of Dr. Cone speaking on this subject at General Conference 2012 https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=mcafee&p=james+cone+video+general+conference+2012+umc&type=E210US105G0#id=1&vid=7fec9957a4ef2880c1b9f5f016090064&action=click as a “prequel” to the Study. The video is 38 minutes, and adds depth to hear Dr. Cone speaking about his own book.
Each week at the end of each session, I will bring copies of our questions for reflection for the following week. You can use it as a guide as you read so that we can deepen and enrich our time together.
Below are the questions and an outline for this coming Sunday. I prayerfully look forward to our deep dive in the presence of the Spirit, witnesses who have gone before us and invite us into the hopeful work in our times and with one another.
All page references refer to the paperback edition 2013, published by Orbis Books, Box 302, Maryknoll, NY 10545.