On 5 Feb 2021, at 16:07, Ray via groups.io <ray.sarlin@...> wrote:

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Hi Merlene and everyone,

Thanks very much for your two heart-felt comments.? They are much appreciated and provide much fruit for my consideration.? While you're speaking for yourself, I'm sure that others share all or part of your feelings; I know that I do.? Let me address my initial thoughts on both, taking on next term first.

1.? I have continually expressed a HOPE that we'll be able to return to face-to-face next term.? As we get further into Term 1 I'll request participant feedback as to people's preferences for Term 2.? Any decision that I make will be based upon the survey findings.? My personal preference is to take things a term at a time.? Like you, Merlene, nothing in the various governmental approaches to this crisis from Day 1 has given me any sense of comfort or confidence that any government has effective answers for this CCP released contagion. The latest advice to wear multiple (is three better than two?) masks is simply ludicrous. It's as if this virus was deliberately engineered (by gain-of-function experiments) in a biological weapons laboratory in Wuhan to eliminate people in our age cohort.? So in-person classes next term remain a hope, not a fact.

2.? Regarding the Lamentations study, I will cut the six sessions to five?by doubling up on Chapters 4 and 5. Also please remember that our sessions are now 15 minutes shorter than in 2020.

The book of Lamentations is an important part of our Bible in that it is a history and a memorial that is a deeply theological reminder that sin causes suffering and grief, both part of the pain of living.? Much of the modern church tends to skip over the hard "sin" parts to focus on congregational singing, communal prayer, and in many cases feel-good or one-verse/passage theology sermons; yet many people in each congregation are dealing with the pain of life.? One purpose of a lament in the Bible (and Lamentations is the longest of these) is to model how to process personal pain, suffering, and grief through choosing to turn to God in faith, trusting in Him, and laying out our innermost feelings while asking for help.? While this may not seem relevant to everyone all the time, it is probably significant for each of us at some time.

Despite what may appear from Chapter 1 which documents the suffering and destruction and Chapter 2, which explains why the suffering occurred, or even from the book overall, Lamentations is not unrelievedly dark.? Even in the darkest times, Lamentations clearly states in Chapter 3 that there is hope. "Because of the steadfast love of the?Lord, His mercies never cease;" (Lam. 3:22).? Even when Jeremiah looked upon the very real suffering of His people and the complete destruction of the city and country that he held dear, his lament elevates YHVH as a God of love and redemption and calls for the people to return to the righteous LORD.? And from the literary menorah structure, we know that this message of hope from Chapter 3 is Jeremiah's central message in this five-song symphony.

When reading Lamentations, it's also worth keeping in mind that Jeremiah 25:11 reads, "This whole land shall become a ruin and a waste, and?these nations shall serve the king of Babylon?seventy years."? The author of Lamentations, Jeremiah, had spent 40 years of his working life warning Judah that the destruction would happen if they didn't turn back to God.? They didn't and his prophecy in Jeremiah 25:11 came true.? But both Jeremiah and Daniel (Dan. 9) both knew that God's punishment would ONLY last 70 years from the destruction of the First Temple until the completion of the Second Temple.? I repeat, "Because of the steadfast love of the?Lord, His mercies never cease."

Thanks again for your input, Merlene.

BTW, the notes for Session 2 are posted on??

Blessings,

Ray

On Friday, 5 February 2021, 12:32:46 pm AEST, Merlene <merlene@...> wrote:

Hi Ray,

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Thank you for your detailed explanations of the poetry and structure of Lamentations.?

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I know history is extremely important and should never be ignored, but for me personally I’m finding studying Lamentations very depressing.? In fact, after the first week it changed my mood for the rest of the day, and the same yesterday, only more depressed.? There is enough trouble, hardship and bad things happening around us all now, especially with the Covid-19 situation, which will be with us for some considerable time yet in spite of the promised vaccines.

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Is there any chance you may consider shortening the time spent dwelling on the hardships and God’s punishment in Lamentations without detracting from its essential meaning then, in the future, and the present, to us.?

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I appreciate I am only one voice in a class of up to 20 people, but as you always invite us to have our say, this is mine.? God is good, I’d rather dwell on His goodness, giving thanks continually, rather than be depressed by what had to happen to the ungodly.? Again, in all time frames.

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Also, on another matter, although you are considering face-to-face classes next term, I definitely will not attend.? The threat of the Virus hasn’t changed since last year – in fact it has become worse with the new variant and the complacency of no visible cases in Queensland, notwithstanding there is evidence of it in our sewerage systems.? Although I would love to meet with everyone personally, the risk is far too great FOR ME.? I still avoid all public transport and venture out of my safe environment only when necessary – once again, that’s my decision, and may not apply to others, for which I respect.? I hope you understand.

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Blessings,

Merlene

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From: Ray via groups.io

Sent: Tuesday, February 2, 2021 2:35 PM

To: [email protected]

Subject: [b4uc] New "official" time for Term 1, 2021, U3A Course R09 (Bible) #Lamentations

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G'day all,

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Many thanks to all who participated in the time-setting survey of the past week.? Although the results were fairly close, the clear winner that emerged is the standard U3A time of 10:45-12:00.? So I hope to see you all online at 10:45 this coming Thursday for Session 2.

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Course notes are posted on our unofficial website at after each session.

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Please advise either through this group or direct to me at ray.sarlin@... if you have any questions or comments.? Ta.

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This week will look at Chapter 1 of the book of Lamentations, the first "song" or "dirge" of Jeremiah over the ruins of Jerusalem and Judah.? We'll also discuss some more aspects of Hebrew poetry for you to look for in Scripture.

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Blessings,

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Ray

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Ray Sarlin is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

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Topic: U3A R09 What the Bible is About

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