We Learn: Past programs

Lent 2010

Greg Mobley, Professor of Christian Bible at Andover Newton Theological School, presented our Lenten adult education series on the Hebrew prophet Elijah. Elijah, Jezebel, “the still small voice,” “a band of angels coming after me,” “passing the mantle,” all of these cultural artifacts and more, stem from the stories about
the prophet Elijah in the Old Testament books of 1-2 Kings. In conjunction with the adult choir as it presents selections of the cantata “Elijah” by Felix Mendelssohn,

Professor Mobley spoke onn:
February 21   Elijah and the Biblical Prophetic Tradition
February 28   Elijah and Social Justice
March 7            Elijah and the Soul’s Journey
March 14          Interpreting the Text of Mendelssohn “Elijah”

An ordained American Baptist minister, Mobley has a Ph.D. in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations from Harvard University. He has participated in archaeological excavations in Israel, worked on the Dead Sea Scrolls, and taught at Harvard Divinity School and Union Theological Seminary before coming to Andover Newton in 1997. Mobley is active in Jewish-Christian dialogue and is the author of three books,
including The Birth of Satan (with T. J. Wray) (2005) and The Empty Men: the Heroic Tradition of Ancient Israel (2005).

2010 Epiphany mini-courses

January 10, 17, 24, 31 and February 7

• Faith of our Fathers: facilitated by Michael Chesson
• Global Warming in January: Eco Teams: facilitated by David Damassa
• Food and Faith in Today’s Context: facilitated by Susan Youmans
• Healing in the Landscape of Prayer: facilitated by the Rev. Thomas Brown

 

Highlights of our 2008-2009 Adult Education Programs.

Faith and Science Series

For many faith and science are mutually exclusive when considering God or the Divine. For others, religion and science are simply two different ways of knowing. Many theologians and scientists alike profess both have a place. Perhaps science even confirms spirituality. As Christians, how do we think about this ancient conundrum? Adult Education’s Faith and Science Series beginning April 26 for three Sundays will explore the mysteries of human knowing and believing through thought provoking presentations.

April 26: Faith Reason and the Environment

May 3:     Free Will Through the Lens of Modern Neuroscience

May 10:   Fusion Research, Christian Calling?

The Epiphany Mini-Courses in 2008 began on January 13, and ran for four consecutive weeks. The small group setting of these adult education courses allows for sustained discussion, reflection and personal interaction among participants. We offered the following courses:

Labyrinth Journeys, facilitated by Dottie Guiffre and Eliza R. Ragsdale
“Was Abe Lincoln a Christian?", facilitated by Michael Chesson
The Holy Land Today, facilitated by Connie McGrane and Jack Roll

During the beginning of 2008, the parish also continued the Disciples of Christ in Community (DOCC) series, which began its 15-week session in October of 2007. DOCC is an adult education program providing an experience in building Christian community while encouraging individual spiritual development.

We also participated in the third year of the Interfaith Dialogue between Temple Shir Tikva, St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church and The Parish of the Epiphany. The year’s program was entitled “From Yom Kippur to Easter: A Dialogue on Sin, Repentance and Forgiveness”.

Our Lenten offerings included:

“A Study of Job”, by Gregory Mobley, Professor of Christian Bible at Andover Newton Theological School
“A New look at Paul’s Letter to the Romans”, facilitated by The Reverend Roger Nelson
“The Women at the Foot of the Cross”, by The Very Reverend Robert Trache
Centering Prayer, facilitated by Liz Kinchen and Susan Bailey

Our fall series began with an ambitious program on Politics and Religion featuring the following:
Dr. Richard Parker Senior Fellow, Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy, and Lecturer at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School
The Rt. Reverend Barbara Harris, retired bishop in the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts
Professor Ed Rodman, Professor of Pastoral Theology and Urban Ministry at the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Mr. Amory Houghton, Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives, New York, from 1986 to 2004 of New York
The Rt. Reverend Bud Cederholm, Bishop Suffragan of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts

The Advent series this year was Religious Imagination and featured three classes facilitated by Dr. Carol Watson and The Rev. Christian Brocato.  The series invited participants to use experiential activities involving music, imagery and intelligence to reflect on the concept of the Divine.