Classics of Christian Spirituality: “The Desert Fathers and Mothers”
This Sunday, November 3rd, at 10:00 am, our Classics of Christian Spirituality series will continue with “The Desert Fathers and Mothers,” a class on the early Christian hermits, ascetics, and monks who lived in the Egyptian desert during the third century C.E.
The class will examine the writings of the desert fathers and mothers, exploring themes such as contemplation, simplicity of life, silence, and much more. We will seek to bridge their teachings and way of life with our own lives of faith today. This class will be taught by Fr. Ryan Bennett and Fr. Mark Brown.
Please join us for what promises to be a fascinating class about an important period of church history as well as how to enrich our lives through the spiritual teachings of our ancestors in faith.
Blessings,
Fr. Cheng
Theologian in Residence
Fall Theology Lecture: “Church Growth: A Scriptural, Theological, and Practical Imperative”
The 2019 Fall Theology Lecture, “Church Growth: A Scriptural, Theological, and Practical Imperative,” will be delivered by The Very Rev. Kurt H. Dunkle, the Dean and President of the General Theological Seminary.
The lecture will take place on Tuesday, November 5th, from 6:30 to 7:30 pm in Andrew Hall. It will be followed by a reception from 7:30 to 8:00 pm. Dean Dunkle will explore the importance of church growth to God and to communities of faith, as well as strategies for making it happen.
Prior to arriving at GTS, Dean Dunkle served as the Rector of Grace Episcopal Church in Orange Park, Florida, a parish that experienced significant growth under his leadership. He also served as the Canon to the Ordinary in the Episcopal Diocese of Florida. Before being ordained a priest, Dean Dunkle was a partner at Rogers Towers, the largest law firm in Jacksonville, Florida.
Please mark your calendars for this special event!
“Richard Hooker’s Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity“
On Sunday, November 10th, at 10:00 am, we will begin a five-part series on Richard Hooker’s theological masterpiece, The Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity. The course will be taught by Fr. Patrick Cheng, our Theologian in Residence.
Richard Hooker, a sixteenth century priest in the Church of England, is widely acknowledged as the founder of the Anglican theological tradition and one of the great Anglican theologians. In this series, we will explore Hooker’s life as well as the preface and eight books of The Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity.
A modern English translation of the preface and first four books of The Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity will be available for purchase in the parish bookstore. The bookstore will also carry an introduction to the life and thought of Richard Hooker.
Friday Bible Study
All are welcome to join the parish’s ongoing Friday Bible Study. The class runs for an hour in the parish house living room following the 12:10 pm Mass.
Under Fr. Ryan Bennett’s guidance, the class is studying the Gospel According to John, including an in-depth exploration of the text as a group. For more information about the Friday Bible Study, please contact Fr. Bennett at rbennett@SaintThomasChurch.org.
