Some thoughts on my experience at Chautauqua

The first building we stepped inside at the Chautauquainstitute in New York was The Mayflower, one of the UCC houses with a communal kitchen and eating area. The house is historical, beautiful, and humble-- maintained and organized by the power of volunteers and residents with a long history of summers in the home. My husband and I were first-time Chautauquans, fairly uncertain of what to expect. What we found was a well-organized system of preparing, storing, and eating meals, washing dishes and making coffee, while strangers and long-time friends shared stories around tables and participated in intellectual conversations about politics, arts, philosophy, and theology. Each resident is in charge of their own kitchen duties, preparing meals separately and eating when the time is right for them as individuals and families, but ultimately the kitchen and dining area are constantly filled with the spirit of breaking bread together in communal fellowship. 

Meanwhile, just a few yards away is the Amphitheater, filled with well-known speakers and preachers, musicians who rumble the soul, and the world’s largest outdoor organ. While we were there we heard Sister Joan Chittister and Gordon Wood, but other speakers this summer include Jack Spong, one of my favorite theologians, and Ken Burns, who began my love of documentaries. 

Chautauqua was founded as a community where respectful public discourse could take place, with an ecumenical worship service in the Amphitheater every morning, and denominational worship services on Sunday mornings and some weekdays or evenings. 

“Chautauqua is dedicated to the exploration of the best in human values and the enrichment of life through a program that explores the important religious, social and political issues of our times; stimulates provocative, thoughtful involvement of individuals and families in creative response to such issues; and promotes excellence and creativity in the appreciation, performance and teaching of the arts.”

My job at Chautauqua was as the “Chaplain of the Week” in the three United Church of Christ houses. It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience which I would highly recommend to any UCC pastor or chaplain. I led a worship service on Sunday morning, a discussion session on Tuesday afternoon, and a Vespers service on Thursday evening. I took the opportunity as a chance to speak about Judith, the title character of the Apocryphal book of Judith* on which I did extensive writing and research in Seminary and continue to study now when I find the time.

For me, it was renewing to speak about Judith. She has contributed a lot to my faith journey and often finds herself buried underneath the day-to-day tasks of ministry. When I spoke about her, I remembered my passion, and many of the people who were there empowered me to bring her to First Congo of Ripon in ways I haven’t done in the two years I’ve been here. Originally, I was asked to record the sermon so that I could post it on the website, but as I prepared for it I realized that it was a sermon, or at least a version of a sermon, that I’d like to bring to First Congo in person. So I didn’t record it, and I wait with anticipation for the day I’m ready to introduce them to this person, or character, who has inspired me so deeply to serve God in the way I do. 

So why am I so nervous about it? Judith comes with a lot of side-notes—two in particular. First, there’s the big glaring question of how and why the book of Judith is not a part of the Protestant Bible, and what kind of authority we should give her story in comparison to, for example, the book of Ruth, Jonah, or the prophets. Second, there’s the gruesome climax of the story-- the decapitation of Holofernes and the question of how, as people who don’t condone violence as a path to reconciliation, we can interpret that part of the story. With those questions in the way, it’s hard to see the beauty in her leadership skills, integrity, empowerment, and faith, and the way in which she stands out as a woman in early Judeo-Christian history. 

Chautauqua felt like the right place to bring a sermon on Judith, because I knew that I’d have a week to answer questions, to discuss, to explain—and that Chautauquans come to hear new ideas and open themselves up to dialogue. Being there helped me to realize that so many of the people at First Congo are about those exact same ideals, and that Judith will create engaging conversation when I invite her to the church. 

I want everyone at First Congo to highly consider spending a week at Chautauqua sometime in their lives. It’s a week guaranteed to stretch your mind, to make you consider something new, and at the same time to astound you with the beauty God has given us through art, music, and nature. These are some of my initial thoughts on my time as Chaplain of the Week in Chautauqua. Interested in knowing more? Ask away. 

*I linked to this article because I find it pretty well in line with some of the things I'm trying to say about Judith, but you can also find a very basic summary of the Book of Judith on Wikipedia.