Dear friends in Christ, The Suffering Servant in Isaiah and the gospels. The Sunday class on April 30, at 10 a.m. continues the series “Testaments, Old and New,” looking at how the Gospel writers interpreted the Hebrew scriptures within the texts of the gospels themselves. In this session, we look especially at the image of the Suffering Servant. Found particularly in the book of the prophet Isaiah, the Suffering Servant becomes one of the ways that Jesus’ life, ministry, and death was understood by the early Church. The class meets on the fifth floor of the parish house. Looking ahead, the topic for May 7 is the use of the title Son of God.
Two Testaments in Two Classes. On Tuesday, May 23, and Thursday, May 25, at 6:30 p.m. in Andrew Hall, Father Spurlock offers a two-session class on the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, including the Apocrypha. This class is designed to give readers of the Bible a quick survey of the overarching narrative sweep of scripture, and an understanding of each book’s place in it. The Old Testament will be covered on Tuesday, May 23rd; the Apocrypha and New Testament on Thursday, May 25th. Because of the amount of material to cover, these classes will last more than one hour, but not more than two.
The Rector’s Christian Doctrine Class: Mission and Ministry: Holy Orders, Vocation, gifts and talents. This class continues on Tuesday, April 30, at 6:30 p.m. in Andrew Hall. Primarily intended for those who wish to be confirmed or received into the Episcopal Church, the class is also open to any who are interested in the topic of the day.
Audio of Rowan Williams Q&A. An audio recording of the conversation with Rowan Williams from April 9 is now available on the Saint Thomas website. Topics discussed include the ways we speak about God, the state of Anglican theology, and the past, present, and future of Muslim-Christian dialogue.
Pamela Lewis reviews Rutledge’s Crucifixion. In a recent review in the Episcopal Journal, Saint Thomas parishioner (and Adult Education Committee member) Pamela Lewis reviewed Crucifixion: Understanding the Death of Jesus Christ by Fleming Rutledge, our Spring Theology Lecturer. It is a thoughtful review and reflects the sense many of us had from the lecture itself: Rutledge’s advocacy of putting the crucified Lord at the center of our worship is a call to a deeper and more profound faith. (The audio and text of Rutledge’s lecture is available on the Saint Thomas website.) These great 50 days of Easter take their significance from the crucifixion, so it is timely that Ms. Lewis has reminded us of this.
Happy Easter – the Lord is risen!
Yours in Christ,
Joel
