ADULT
FORUM
Sunday
Mornings, 9:15 -10:30 am - in the Church Lounge
March
2009 Topic: THE
MYTH OF REDEMPTIVE VIOLENCE
What
is the origin of violence? How does religion and ritual sacrifice participate
in violence? Is there such a thing as a "Christian Anthropology"? How
do we understand the biblical stories filled with violence?
Presenters will focus upon the work of René
Girard, Robert Hammerton-Kelly, and Karl Barth. Books and articles are available
on the table in the hallway near the parish hall.
+Sunday, March
1: Introduction and Biblical Metaphor
Rev. Dr. Randall K. Wilburn.
Click here for biographical information
+Sunday,
March 8: Relationships and Community
Jeanette Miller
| Dr.
Jeanette Miller, a leading authority on and performer of American Spirituals,
is a writer, performance artist, singer, and retired pediatric physical therapist.
Currently, she is in the process of authoring two books. Turning To Grace The
Blows Of Fate is a book of short stories telling of the courage, dignity and
triumphs of persons and situations that Miller has experienced. The Women Of
Clark House chronicles the amazing lives of women living in the Clark House,
an Amherst residence for senior citizens, and dispels the myths of aging with
new realities. Miller received her degrees from Simmons College and N.Y. U. She
has five children, five grandchildren, and one great grandson. |
+Sunday,
March 15: Scapegoating the Powerless: Jacob’s
Well
Leah Gregg
| Leah
Gregg has worked with her husband Scott Jackson for the past five years building
Christian Community with young adults, the homeless and others in the Pioneer
Valley. However, her journey towards discovering the always surprising presence
of God is lifelong and includes community organizing in inner city Detroit, studying
at Marlboro College and Yale Divinity School and almost six years of marriage
and around 3 months of motherhood. She is a member at Grace Episcopal Church where
she helps coordinate the 6pm Contemplative Service and works with student outreach. |
+Sunday,
March 22: Violence and Orthodoxy in Karl
Barth
Dr. Scott Jackson
| Dr.
Scott Jackson has worked for five years with his wife, Leah Gregg, as a volunteer
with young adults, the homeless, and others in the Pioneer Valley. Both are members
of Grace Episcopal Church in Amherst and serve as volunteers with the Ark Five
College Episcopal Chaplaincy. Scott earned degrees in theology from the University
of Chicago (Ph.D.) and from Emory University (M.T.S.). He has a passion for helping
believers read and appropriate the classics of Christian thought in life-transforming
ways. |
+Sunday,
March 29: Implications for the church and
our future in a pluralistic culture
Rev. Dr. Randall K. Wilburn. Click
here for biographical information
We
live in a violent world and we need a positive alternative embodied in the Gospel
and the Person and Work of Jesus Christ. Come join us.
In
our post-Easter forums in April and May, we will gather around the word, specifically
the lessons for the day. Each forum session will be led by a member of the congregation.
We will ask who the texts were written to and what was their intended message.
We will then try to discern what the texts mean for us and for our future together
as a Christian Community in Amherst. The schedule (Sundays
at 9:15 am) is:
+
April 19 - Lisa Martin
+
April 26 - Randall Bausor
+ May 3 - Deborah
Smith
+ May 10 - Rudy Nelson
+
May 17 - Cathy Butterfield
+ May 21 - Dale
Hirsch
This Forum Series
provides an excellent opportunity to invite others who may not have a church or
religious community. All are invited!