Dear friends in Christ,
This Sunday I will begin my final Sunday class, Genesis: Who Are We? Over eight sessions (running through June 19), I intend to return to the beginning of the Bible to draw out some fundamental insights concerning being human. Questions that I’ll be exploring include the origin of “rule,” the place of animals, and the point of the call to Abraham. The class meets on the fifth floor at 10 o’clock.
On Mondays at 12:40 p.m. I will repeat the Sunday class. These Monday classes will run weekly through May 23. Please note a change of venue: this coming Monday, May 2, the class will meet on the fifth floor.
Tuesday, May 3, the Rector’s Christian doctrine class will be on “Death, Judgment, Hell, and Heaven – Mary and the Communion of Saints.” This class is in Andrew Hall at 6:30 pm; I will be leading the class this week. The “four last things” (as they are often called – death, judgment, heaven, and hell) are a traditional locus for Christian spiritual reflection as well as that branch of theology that’s called “eschatology.” Visitors are welcome.
Looking ahead to the next Good Books & Good Talk seminar: On Monday, May 16, I will lead a discussion of Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The seminar runs from 6:15 to 7:45 pm, and anyone who reads the book is welcome to the conversation. Back in my day at St. John’s College, Huckleberry Finn was the concluding seminar of the four-year course of study in the Great Books.
Last week I announced the date; now I have a title for the upcoming theology lecture: Thinking Theologically about Love and Disease. It will be on May 25 at 6:30 pm in the church. I’ll reflect on the process of writing a theological memoir, Losing Susan, read some excerpts, entertain questions, and then retire for a reception and book signing. Like all our lectures, this one is free and open to the public.
On the web (still)
At the last doctrine class, Father Daniels mentioned an article I wrote a couple of years ago, “How to Be a Sick Christian.” If you are interested in reading it, you can find it here.
Peace,
Father Austin
