Lyndale Nerd Squad Collective!

Calling all Harry Potter lovers and those who seek a spiritual path! Join us as we explore the Harry Potter series and other texts.

This group was inspired by the podcast “Harry Potter and the Sacred Text” which treats novels as sacred through intentional reading in community. A group of Lyndalians and other friends started meeting monthly to read, discuss, and practice. In the UCC, we say that “God is Still Speaking.” God continues to speak words of love and justice into the world — and this group is examining where these lessons come up in the fantastical stories of Harry Potter.

Some of us feel like we grew up with Harry and others came to these stories later in life. Whenever we got here, Hogwarts feels like a special place to us and we know that Hogwarts is for EVERYONE – trans, queer, BIPOC, immigrant, poor, lonely…. That being said, J.K. Rowling is currently doing active harm to the trans community. We view these stories as separate pieces that proclaim a message of friendship and love triumphing, antithetical to the author’s current rhetoric. However, We understand if the her words feel like betrayal and hurtful, and we hold you in that truth, too.

When we meet, we come with a few chapters of the book read then engage in discussion around a predetermined theme. We then apply various historic Christian and Jewish sacred reading practices to the text including Lectio Divina, Ignatian Sacred Imagination, Havruta, Floralegium, and PARDeS.

Try out these steps to do a Lectio Divina reading practice with one of your favorite texts:

~ Randomly select a small piece of text, see what “sparkles” at you. Read it several times and sit in silence with the words. Repeat the text and ask yourself the following questions:

~ Narrative – What is literally happening in the story?

~ Allegory – What metaphors or symbols are hidden in the words?

~ Reflection – How does this text speak to you in your life today?

~ Invitation – What action will you take now after this time reflecting?

We will continue to meet monthly. Email admin@lyndaleucc.org for details.