Rosa Veritas Learning | The John Group

The John Group 2024

Eucharist

Starting June 2024 — 'Early' and 'Later' group

In 2024, the focus of the John Group will be on a Johannine perspective of Eucharist as we journey together through John’s Gospel, chapter 6.

Mary Coloe, in her Wisdom Commentary, has this to say of John 6:

A trap for Christians is to move too quickly into reading the long discourse on the ‘Bread of Life’ as a reflection on the Eucharist, instead of following the development of the argument across the verses – from manna, to nourishment through Wisdom / Torah, to nourishment through Jesus’ teaching, to nourishment by Eucharist. It is like a symphony gradually unfolding across a number of movements.

We will seek to allow this symphony to unfold to us as we take our time contemplating chapter 6, beginning with its setting of the Jewish spring festival of Passover, through the ‘Bread of Life’ discourse, to considering our own answer to Christ’s question to his disciples: “Do you also want to leave?” What is revealed places before us a choice; it requires us to answer.

JUNE • John 6:1-4
“The time was near Passover”
An introduction: where? when? who? why?

JULY • John 6:5-15
“He took the loaves, gave thanks, and divided them among the people”
The feeding of a multitude leading to the crowd’s recognition that Jesus is the one who is to come.

AUGUST • John 6:16-21
“It’s me, don’t be afraid!”
The sea crossing and the revelation of Jesus as I AM.

SEPTEMBER • John 6:22-25; 25-59
“The bread of God is the one who came down from heaven and gives life to the world”
A second transition: where? when? who? why?
Discourse on the bread from heaven (Part 1).

OCTOBER • John 6:25-59
“My flesh is real food and my blood is real drink”
Discourse on the bread from heaven (Part 2).

NOVEMBER • John 6:60-71
“This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?”
A crisis is created by the word of Jesus.

Presenter	Robert John
Dates	MONDAYS (via Zoom) Most likely the second Monday of each month. Dates to be confirmed. June, July, August, September, October and November.
Time	EARLY GROUP 9.00am Western Australia 10.30am South Australia 11.00am Eastern Australia 1.00pm Aotearoa New Zealand Each session will run for about 1.5 hours or ... LATER GROUP 11.00am CEST Netherlands 5.00pm Western Australia 6.30pm South Australia 7.00m Eastern Australia 9.00pm Aotearoa New Zealand Each session will run for about 1.5 hours
Fee	Full Fee AUD$210 or ... 6 x AUD$35 monthly instalments With monthly payments, your credit card will automatically be debited each month on the date of your first payment for a total of six payments.
Enrolment	Enrolments are now open Enrol by paying either the full fee or the first of the monthly instalments. Provide your details with the payment and you will be emailed instructions and the link to join the online Zoom sessions.

Each of the monthly gatherings will focus on a brief portion of John’s Gospel, with all participants sharing something of their experience and insight working with that month’s text in preparation for the gathering. Robert John, who leads the John Group, will complement this with his reflections.

Two groups are offered. Both online small-groups will meet via Zoom video conferencing on the second Monday of each group, June to November. There will be an ‘early’ group and a ‘later’ group. The fee is $210 payable at the commencement the group, or six monthly instalments of $35 each.

Both new and continuing participants are welcome.

Enrolments open 1 May 2024

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