The Story Of Peter & Cornelius

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The Story ofPeter & CorneliusAn Anti-RacismBible Study on Unity

The Story ofPeter & CorneliusAn Anti-RacismBible Study on UnityContentsTo the Leaderpage 3Introductionpage 4Sessions 1–5page 5Closingpage 11Summary Statementspage 12A Litany of Hopepage 13?wonkuoyDidWomen of the ELCA resources, suchas this one, are available free to individuals,small groups, and congregations. Coveringa variety of topics, we are bringing Lutheranperspectives and new voices to issues thatmatter. By making a donation to Women of theELCA, you will help us continue and expandthis important educational ministry. Give onlineat womenoftheelca.org or mail to Women of theELCA, ELCA Gift Processing Center, P.O. Box1809, Merrifield, VA 22116-8009.Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible,copyright 1989 Division of Education of the National Council ofChurches of Christ in the United States of America.Writer: Inez Torres Davis, director for anti-racism and cross-culturalministries, Women of the ELCA.Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible(NRSV), copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education ofthe National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA, and are usedby permission. All rights reserved.Copyright 2016/2002 Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Churchin America. All rights reserved. May be reproduced for use by Womenof the ELCA in congregations and synodical women’s organizations,provided each copy carries the notice “Copyright 2016/2002Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, reprintedwith permission.”2

The Story of Peter & CorneliusAn Anti-Racism Bible Study on Unity from Women of the ELCATo the LeaderTime requiredThis Bible study on Acts 10, the story of Peter andCornelius, has accompanied many Women of theELCA Today’s Dream: Tomorrow’s Reality anti-racismpresentations. It can also be used alone to introducepeople to Scripture that affirms diversity as beingboth of God and part of the glory of the gospel ofJesus Christ.45 – 60 minutesMaterials neededBibles (one for each participant)Optional:The study consists of an introduction (to be readaloud by the leader at the beginning of the study),five brief sessions with questions for reflectionon a passage of Scripture, and a closing prayeror litany. Each session consists of a Scripturereading, a summary statement, and some questionsfor reflection. You may ask volunteers to read theselected Bible passages (you may wish to securethe readers in advance). After the reading of eachScripture passage, read aloud the summary and thenthe questions.A copy of the summary statements (pp. 12–13) foreach participantA copy of the litany for each participantRecordings of soft music to accompany themeditationsThe supplies needed for the aromatherapy you havechosen—a diffuser, essential oil, a scented candleNewsprint and markers (if optional closing is used)It is suggested that the participants be asked toclose their eyes as they hear the questions. Allowtime between the questions so that participants canenter into and continue in a calm state of meditation.Playing soft music in the background during eachmeditation period may assist participants to centeron the activity.3

The Story of Peter & CorneliusAn Anti-Racism Bible Study on Unity from Women of the ELCAIntroductionTo be read aloud by the leaderIn this study we hear the story of Cornelius and Peter as eachwas prepared by God to be a part of proclaiming God’s peace ina changing world. The story expounds the glory of the gospel inits inclusiveness. It tells how God removed a significant barrierso that the two men could come together within God’s love to theworld through the saving work of Jesus Christ and the sacramentof baptism. The story is based on two visions, both given by God.It takes two visions, two halves of a whole, to eliminatehistorically significant barriers. This story can be a model for theelimination of all “isms” in our world today. The fact that therewas misunderstanding on both sides concerning what each visionmeant did not prevent God’s will from happening and people’slives from being changed.4

The Story of Peter & CorneliusAn Anti-Racism Bible Study on Unity from Women of the ELCASession 1Scripture reading Acts 10:1–8SummaryCornelius, a centurion, was a working officer, experienced and well informed. One hundred foot soldiers werein his command. Described as a “devout man,” he likely attended the synagogue and accepted the ethicalmonotheism of Jews but did not keep the entire Mosaic law. After his initial terror at seeing the angel in hisvision, he had no problem carrying out the assignment given him.MeditationIntroduce the period of meditation with words like these:Please close your eyes as you consider some questions. In response to the questions, let the Holy Spirit bringto your memory images and illustrations from your own experience. Take a deep breath now. (Pause.) Relax.(Pause.) There is no rush. Continue to breathe deeply and slowly. Listen for the Spirit as you silently respondto these questions: Who gets to decide who is devout? Are we tempted to decide that peoplemight not be devout—might lack arelationship with God—because they do notworship as we do, do not talk as we do, donot pray as we do?5

The Story of Peter & CorneliusAn Anti-Racism Bible Study on Unity from Women of the ELCASession 2Scripture reading Acts 10:9–20SummaryGod’s vision for hungry Peter appears as a temptation: Peter was offered a smorgasbord of unlawful foods.Peter resisted three times, puzzled that God was telling him to do something completely inappropriate.MeditationIntroduce the period of meditation with words like these:Please close your eyes as you consider some questions. In response to the questions, let the Holy Spirit bringto your memory images and illustrations from your own experience. Take a deep breath now. (Pause.) Relax.(Pause.) There is no rush. Continue to breathe deeply and slowly. Listen for the Spirit as you silently respondto these questions: What are we convinced is inappropriate? Peter missed lunch. What are wemissing when we deem certain thingsinappropriate?6

The Story of Peter & CorneliusAn Anti-Racism Bible Study on Unity from Women of the ELCASession 3Scripture reading Acts 10:21–33SummaryThe person whom God told Cornelius to send for arrives at his house. Clearly, Cornelius is expectant. He hasgathered all his relatives and friends to hear Peter speak.MeditationIntroduce the period of meditation with words like these:Please close your eyes as you consider some questions. In response to the questions, let the Holy Spirit bringto your memory images and illustrations from your own experience. Take a deep breath now. (Pause.) Relax.(Pause.) There is no rush. Continue to breathe deeply and slowly. Listen for the Spirit as you silently respondto these questions: Why did Cornelius fall at Peter’s feet? How did Peter respond? Are we sure we would have responded as Peter did?7

The Story of Peter & CorneliusAn Anti-Racism Bible Study on Unity from Women of the ELCASession 4Scripture reading Acts 10:34–43SummaryThe statement of God’s impartiality is the only thing that Peter adds to the story. It is the kernel of the wholestory of Peter and Cornelius. Such impartiality goes beyond who we may choose to make our closest friends;it has to do with who we declare can or cannot be recipients of the fullness of God’s grace and call. BecauseGod shows no partiality, those systems that show partiality are not of God.MeditationIntroduce the period of meditation with words like these:Please close your eyes as you consider some questions. In response to the questions, let the Holy Spirit bringto your memory images and illustrations from your own experience. Take a deep breath now. (Pause.) Relax.(Pause.) There is no rush. Continue to breathe deeply and slowly. Listen for the Spirit as you silently respondto these questions: What would the world look like if there wasno partiality? What would Women of the ELCA look like?8

The Story of Peter & CorneliusAn Anti-Racism Bible Study on Unity from Women of the ELCASession 5Scripture reading Acts 10:44–48SummaryThe receiving of the Holy Spirit occurs without tongues of fire and rushing wind. Yet it was audibly evident,with speaking in tongues as proof to the circumcised believers. It has commonly been noted that in crossgender groupings men usually talk more than women, and that within multicultural groupings EuropeanAmericans are quick to speak and often speak a great deal.* In cross-cultural communication, therefore, it isimportant for those who would tend to remain silent (usually persons of color) to be invited to speak in oneway or another.*See, for example, Deborah Tannen, You Just Don’t Understand: Women and Men in Conversation (New York: Ballantine, 1991),and Eric H. F. Law, The Wolf Shall Dwell with the Lamb: A Spirituality for Leadership in a Multicultural Community (St. Louis,Mo.: Chalice Press, 1993).MeditationIntroduce the period of meditation with words like these:Please close your eyes as you consider some questions. In response to the questions, let the Holy Spirit bringto your memory images and illustrations from your own experience. Take a deep breath now. (Pause.) Relax.(Pause.) There is no rush. Continue to breathe deeply and slowly. Listen for the Spirit as you silently respondto these questions: When have we, as individuals or as a group,been inclined to withhold acceptance fromthose whom we have regarded as differentfrom ourselves? When have we, as individuals or as a group,been denied acceptance because of aperceived difference between ourselves andothers?9

The Story of Peter & CorneliusAn Anti-Racism Bible Study on Unity from Women of the ELCASession 5 (continued) When have we, as individuals or as agroup, been awakened to the truth of God’sinclusivity, as Peter was? Hear again the words of Acts 10:48: “So[Peter] ordered them to be baptized in thename of Jesus Christ. Then they invitedhim to stay for several days.” Take abreath and imagine this new communityof hospitality born of the visions given toCornelius and Peter. Now imagine this community within Women of the ELCA. What does it look like? What does it feellike? What is your role within it?10

The Story of Peter & CorneliusAn Anti-Racism Bible Study on Unity from Women of the ELCAClosingEnd the study with a simple prayer like the one below. Or you maywish to use the litany on page 13.Dearest God, we thank you for your nurturing love and yourendless mercy. We are challenged by the fact that you have madeus one. Your call for us to love each other compels us to learnwhat that can mean in our lives, our families, our churches, ourcommunities, and the world. Grant us both the strength and thevision to be faithful to your word, which you speak in love to allpeople. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen11

The Story of Peter & CorneliusAn Anti-Racism Bible Study on Unity from Women of the ELCAOptional ClosingHave participants gather into small, diverse groups of three or four women and ask them to share their visionfor the future of your congregational unit (or your synodical organization or the churchwide organization ofWomen of the ELCA). Allow 15 minutes for this discussion and ask each group to offer two or three phrasesfrom their discussion.Record the phrases on newsprint. The list may be incorporated into existing strategies, or it may be developedfurther into two or three goals that will encourage and implement greater inclusivity in your organization.Note: If you plan to use the resulting list in any way, share this information with the participants. If possible,provide a timeline for when they can expect to hear a report on how the list is being used.Close with a prayer (a sample prayer is given above), or you may wish to use the litany on pages 13.Summary Statements1. Scripture reading: Acts 10:1–8Cornelius, a centurion, was a working officer,experienced and well informed. One hundred footsoldiers were in his command. Described as a“devout man,” he likely attended the synagogue andaccepted the ethical monotheism of Jews but didnot keep the entire Mosaic law. After his initial terrorat seeing the angel in his vision, he had no problemcarrying out the assignment given him.4. Scripture reading: Acts 10:34–43The statement of God’s impartiality is the only thingthat Peter adds to the story. It is the kernel of thewhole story of Peter and Cornelius. Such impartialitygoes beyond who we may choose to make our closestfriends; it has to do with who we declare can orcannot be recipients of the fullness of God’s graceand call. Because God shows no partiality, thosesystems that show partiality are not of God.2. Scripture reading: Acts 10:9–20God’s vision for hungry Peter appears as atemptation: Peter was offered a smorgasbord ofunlawful foods. Peter resisted three times, puzzledthat God was telling him to do something completelyinappropriate.5. Scripture reading: Acts 10:44–48The receiving of the Holy Spirit occurs withouttongues of fire and rushing wind. Yet it was audiblyevident, with speaking in tongues as proof to thecircumcised believers. It has commonly been notedthat in cross-gender groupings men usually talk morethan women, and that within multicultural groupingsEuropean Americans are quick to speak and oftenspeak a great deal.* In cross-cultural communication,therefore, it is important for those who would tend toremain silent (usually persons of color) to be invitedto speak in one way or another.3. Scripture reading: Acts 10:21–33The person whom God told Cornelius to send forarrives at his house. Clearly, Cornelius is expectant.He has gathered all his relatives and friends to hearPeter speak.*See, for example, Deborah Tannen, You Just Don’t Understand: Women and Men in Conversation (New York: Ballantine, 1991),and Eric H. F. Law, The Wolf Shall Dwell with the Lamb: A Spirituality for Leadership in a Multicultural Community (St. Louis,Mo.: Chalice Press, 1993).12

The Story of Peter & CorneliusAn Anti-Racism Bible Study on Unity from Women of the ELCAA Litany of HopeLet us pray:Merciful God, you have called us from all nations,tongues, and tribes to be your holy priesthood. Youhave given to us in abundance; we know it is notright that some of us should have only crumbs. Forour failure to build as you would have us build,Fill our hearts with the love that looks past ourdifferences and the peace that destroys distrust, OGod. Let no hatred or bitterness divide us from eachother or from the world in which we live. Turn ourdarkness into the light of day and bless us.Grant us forgiveness, O God.Give us loving spirits, O God.For the miraculous and the untold, for the seen andthe unseen, and for all things that keep us going inthis time,Above all things, make us confident in the hope thatis in you, O God. For you are the power, and the glory,and the wisdom, and the strength of all who turn toyou. Build us up and give us hope.We give you thanks, O God.And let the people say Amen!Build us up and help us grow into your likeness,O God. Heal our hearts; comfort us in our sorrows;rebuild our cities, our farms, our towns, our houses ofworship, and our church in your righteousness; andguide us in the faith that makes us one.Amen!Make us strong, O God.Give us courage as we seek justice and peace. Giveus eyes with which to see possibilities for justice. Letus not grow discouraged by our past failures, but giveus the strength to act boldly upon our faith.Make us bold, O God.13

The Story of Peter & CorneliusAn Anti-Racism Bible Study on Unity from Women of the ELCAWomen of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America8765 W. Higgins Rd.Chicago, IL 60631-4189773-380-2730 800-638-3522, ext. 2730Fax: -0001-6757-114

5 The Story of peter Cornelius An Anti-Racism Bible Study on Unity from Women of the ELCA Session 1 Scripture reading Acts 10:1–8 Summary Cornelius, a centurion, was a working officer, experienced and well informed. One hundred foot soldiers were

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