Dear friends in Christ,
The Sunday morning Bible study, “Abraham: Return to Genesis,” will continue with Genesis chapter 13 (and a bit of chapter 14) today at 10 o’clock. Abraham’s education as the founder and leader of God’s New Way requires that he live through, in advance, the future history of his people. Only after he knows where it is going will he be able to father a son. We welcome visitors every week: on the 5th floor, with coffee and tea in the room. Starting this coming week, the Sunday class will be repeated on Mondays at 12:40pm, on the 2nd floor (also with coffee and tea). You are welcome to come to either class; each lasts about 40 minutes.
I have just finished my second reading of Christopher Beha’s What Happened to Sophie Wilder, and it strikes me as even better than I remembered. There is much to talk about, and I look forward to our seminar on Monday evening. If you’ve read the novel, please join us in Andrew Hall on January 26 from 6:15 to 7:45 pm. (The dialogue with Sophie’s hateful, terminally ill father in law, and her own internal dialogue of faith and self-doubt, takes us, I think, right back into Dante territory.)
The Rector’s Christian Doctrine Class this week moves from the glorification of Jesus into God the Holy Spirit: Being “Fully Alive” with the Gifts of the Spirit. This class is particularly for people who are interested in confirmation or reception into the Episcopal Church, but it is open also to anyone interested in the topic. It will meet on Tuesday, January 27, from 6:30 to 7:30pm. in Andrew Hall.
Coming in February
- A special talk and conversation on Wednesday, February 4, beginning at 6:30pm. (following the short Eucharist that follows the 5:30 Evensong), Faith and Fiction, a talk by Christopher Beha (author of What Happened to Sophie Wilder and other books), with responses by Heather Cross and Andrea Lippke, and with reception and book-signing to follow. No registration; free and open to the public: feel free to pass on this news to your friends and colleague.
- The Good Books & Good Talk seminar will discuss Josephine Tey’s Miss Pym Disposes on Monday, February 23, at 6:15pm.
- Professor Jeremy Waldron will be giving us a three-week precis of his Gifford Lectures, One Another’s Equals: The Basis of Human Equality. These will be on Wednesday evenings in Andrew Hall, starting February 25 at 6:30 p.m.
Peace,
Father Austin
