Sacred Text Reading Group (Saturday)

A twice-weekly online sacred text reading group. We meet on Saturdays, 4-5, and on Wednesdays, 12-1. All are wide open and you are welcome!
Using a spiritual-practice approach, in each session we will explore a different brief scriptural text in depth. The aims of the sessions are educational (learning something about the texts and traditions), spiritual/moral (discovering what the texts ask of us), and community-building (getting to know each other better). Our practice usually follows this version of Lectio Divina.
The facilitator will have a version of the text available to share; “bring” your own if you like. All are welcome, as are your suggestions of future texts. Group members also take turns facilitating, if they want to try that role.
To have check-in time, or if you are new and would like a brief orientation, arrive ten minutes early. And all are welcome to stay ten minutes after as well, for more getting-acquainted time.
How to join:
- Join this class from your Web browser: https://zoom.us/j/578882781
- Join this class using the Zoom app: Meeting ID: 578 882 781
- Join this class by phone: 669 900 9128 US (San Jose), Meeting ID: 578 882 781
- Join this class by on-tap on mobile phones: +16699009128,,578882781# US (San Jose)
- Phoning in, but not in the bay area? Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/abL8clvIYT
Sacred Text Reading Group

A weekly online sacred text reading group with Amy
Using a spiritual-practice approach, in each session we will explore a different brief scriptural text in depth. The aims of the sessions are educational (learning something about the texts and traditions), spiritual/moral (discovering what the texts ask of us), and community-building (getting to know each other better). Amy will have a version of the text available to share; “bring” your own if you like. All are welcome, as are your suggestions of future texts. About half our readings so far have been those suggested by group members.
Our text for Saturday, August 21, 2021, is an extract from the movie script for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011, by Bridget O’Connor & Peter Straugha), based on the novel by John Le Carre. Le Carre served in MI6 and was raised on the road by a father who was a con man. He has great insights into deception, loneliness, and faith.
Background
It’s 1973. George Smiley is a senior British spy in MI6. He’s telling his protege Peter Guillam about the time he met the current head of the KGB (who goes by the alias “Karla”). They were both young spies in the 1950’s and Smiley tried to persuade Karla to defect rather than returning to Moscow, where he faced a purge/political trial. You can watch Gary Oldman giving most of this speech at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfU7M3RU63I
SMILEY
I gave him the usual pitch…
“Come to the West and we can give
you a comfortable life. After
questioning. Or you can catch
your plane and fly home and be
shot…
Think of your wife. You have a
wife, don’t you? I brought you
some cigarettes, by the way…
We could arrange for her to join
you, we have a lot of stock to
trade. If you go back, she’ll be
ostracised. Think of her. Think
about how much she…”
Kept harping on about the damn
wife!
His expression encouraged me.
I could have sworn I was getting through to him,
that I had found the chink in his armour;
when of course all I was doing—all I was doing
was showing him the chink in mine.
“Look, we’ve both spent our lives
looking for the weaknesses in one
another’s systems. Don’t you
think it’s time to recognise
there is as little worth on your
side as there is on mine?”
PETER GUILLAM
That was Karla? And he flew back
to die rather than give in?
SMILEY
Yes. (Beat) And that’s how I know
he can be beaten. Because he’s a
fanatic. And the fanatic is
always concealing a secret doubt.
If you’re new (either to UUCPA or to the group) and would like to get acquainted, Amy and whichever group members can manage it will be there ten minutes early and will also stay afterwards–we’d love to have a little getting-to-know-you time.
How to join:
- Join this class from your Web browser: https://zoom.us/j/578882781
- Join this class using the Zoom app: Meeting ID: 578 882 781
- Join this class by phone: 669 900 9128 US (San Jose), Meeting ID: 578 882 781, passcode: 171919
- Join this class by one-tap on mobile phones: +16699009128,,578882781# US (San Jose)
- Phoning in, but not in the bay area? Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/abL8clvIYT