I have created bio pages and posted them here in Word format. The little pictures will be in black and white, so you have to use your imagination. Please, please, please send me additions or corrections.
As for Guidelines -- I'm open for any and all suggestions.
Here's my first thoughts:
How about this (following Reverendmother's form)
Similar to Guidposts or Upper Room
Start with your text or a snippet of your text.
Then a reflection -- not just exegesis, but if you want some exegesis that's ok, but more of a personal type story or practice would be easier for most people to relate to -- or what do you all think?
And then finish with short little prayer.
the one complaint I got last year with the booklet that I gave out was that the reflections were too short -- most ran 300 to 500 words and people wanted a little more. And personally, I think that some of them were a little short. Can we shoot for 600 to 1200 words? That's not terribly long. About 2 pages tops -- including the scripture and prayer.
I'm with Reverend Mother on the inclusive language thing -- yet I know some people don't know what inclusive language really is, so I wouldn't stress too much if you don't know what that is.
Editing -- I was going to very gently edit, but would appreciate some help with this -- I know we have at least 2 ex-English teachers or professors among us. Perhaps we could us their skills?
And a suggestion for a graphic element for each devotional would be nice....
I'm excited!
Perhaps we could post something here about inclusive language, Reverend Mommy? Does your seminary require/prefer inclusive language in academic work? If so, there may be some guidelines available there.
ReplyDeleteThis is what my tradition (Presbyterian Church, USA) says about inclusive language: (Book or Order, W-1.2006b)
ReplyDelete"...The church is committd to using language in such a way that all members of the community of faith may recongize themselves to be included, addressed, and equally cherished before God. Seeking to bear witness to the whole world, the church struggles to use language which is faithful to biblcal truth and which neither purposely nor inadvertently excludes people because of gender, color, or other circumstance in life."
Yup, I'm a polity geek.
Gender-neutral language (gender-generic, gender-inclusive, non-sexist, or sex-neutral language) is language that attempts to refer neither to males nor females when discussing an abstract or hypothetical person whose sex cannot otherwise be determined, as opposed to more traditional language forms, which may use male or female pronouns in such a context.
ReplyDeleteGender inclusive can include both humankind and God.
Okay, I'm not a proofreading geek. That's Book OF Order, and biblIcal truth.
ReplyDeleteGang-
ReplyDeleteI'd love the opportunity to be involved, but as a non "rev-person" I don't feel able to contribute by writing one of the meditations. However, I AM a proofreading geek, so if you can use me that way, I'm in!
Mary Beth
Reverendmommy, when I click on the link to the schedule of readings and our assignments all I am getting now is what looks like some HTML gobbldygook, although the first time I looked at it I had no problem. Wish I had saved it. Can you help?
ReplyDeleteI may have missed this in all the comment threads, but which translation of the verses are we using or are we free to choose? I can imagine some wanting to use The Message version, others the NIV, others the NRSV, etc.