Elaine Pagels book, "Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas" has been one of the most important books in my library. Its reading marks a major turning point in the way I view Christianity. This coming Sunday, we'll listen to Professor Pagels talk about this book via the internet. She's a charming speaker. (Good news! We figured out how to make the speaker system work very well).
In 2004, Elaine Pagels was selected as a feature lecturer in the Comtemporary Civilization Series at Columbia University. A recording of her lecture is available on-line and you can preview it here (The video requires RealPlayer software): http://www.college.columbia.edu/core/lectures/fall2004
The introductory text at the website reads:
Professor Elaine Pagels delivered the Fall 2004 Contemporary Civilization Lecture, entitled "Which Jesus? The Newly Discovered Gospel of Thomas Challenges the Cannon." The lecture was delivered on Friday, October 15, at 11:00 am, in Roone Arledge Auditorium.
Elaine Pagels, the Harrington Spear Paine Professor of Religion at Princeton University, is the author of many works-- most recently, Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas, published in 2003, which was a New York Times bestseller for 19 weeks and nominated for the Pulitzer Prize.
Pagels as also authored The Origin of Satan (1995), and Adam, Eve and the Serpent (1987), as well as the critically acclaimed Gnostic Gospels (1980), which was selected as the recipient of the National Book Critics Circle Award and the National Book Award.
Professor Pagels was a recipient of a MacArthur Prize from 1980-1985, and has also received awards from the Rockefeller Foundation, the Guggenheim Foundation, and the Institute for Advanced Studies at Princeton.
Please join us for this fascinating presentation. We' be glad to see you. superior childcare is provided.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
“The Gray Fossil Site and Museum: Why is it important anyway?”
This coming Sunday we'll host Jeanne and Mike Zavada. These guys are a powerful duo. Jeanne is the director of the Gray Fossil Site Museum. As most know, the museum has been a huge success, surpassing even the most optimistic predictions prior to opening. The first thing I heard about the museum after it opened was that the parking lot might have to be expanded. Few new establishments get to say that in the first year. Rather than go on about what a neat place it is, I'll just post the link, here. Have a look.
Here's their bio:
“Jeanne and Mike Zavada have been married for 20 years and have 6 children and 4 grandchildren between them. They moved to Gray from Providence, RI almost 4 years ago. Jeanne is the Director of the ETSU & General Shale Brick Natural History Museum/Gray Fossil Site and holds a Master’s degree in Geography/Urban Planning from University of Louisiana, Lafayette. She serves as a member of the Gray Business Association and on the council of the Johnson City Convention & Visitors Bureau. Mike is Professor and Chair of Biological Sciences at ETSU and received a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from University of Connecticut, Storrs. His research interests include the time and place of origin of the angiosperms, ethnobotany, paleo- and plant ecology, lichenology, and the application of paleobotany and palynology to archaeology, and aerobiology.”
Please join us Sunday, March 28 at 9:45. We'll warmly welcome you, and as usual, superb childcare is provided.
Here's their bio:
“Jeanne and Mike Zavada have been married for 20 years and have 6 children and 4 grandchildren between them. They moved to Gray from Providence, RI almost 4 years ago. Jeanne is the Director of the ETSU & General Shale Brick Natural History Museum/Gray Fossil Site and holds a Master’s degree in Geography/Urban Planning from University of Louisiana, Lafayette. She serves as a member of the Gray Business Association and on the council of the Johnson City Convention & Visitors Bureau. Mike is Professor and Chair of Biological Sciences at ETSU and received a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from University of Connecticut, Storrs. His research interests include the time and place of origin of the angiosperms, ethnobotany, paleo- and plant ecology, lichenology, and the application of paleobotany and palynology to archaeology, and aerobiology.”
Please join us Sunday, March 28 at 9:45. We'll warmly welcome you, and as usual, superb childcare is provided.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
More on Charity and Justice
Many thanks to Zellie Earnest for his presentation. Here's the recap.
Charity is giving to those in need.
Justice is changing the conditions that creat the need.
"When I fed the poor, they called me a saint. When I asked why there were so many poor, they called me a communist". Dorothy Day, founder of the Catholic Worker movement.
Recommended reading: T.R. Ried's "The Healing of America"
http://www.amazon.com/Healing-America-Global-Better-Cheaper/dp/1594202346
Biblical citations on Justice
Deu 16:18-20
18 “Appoint judges and officials for yourselves from each of your tribes in all the towns the Lord your God is giving you. They must judge the people fairly. 19 You must never twist justice or show partiality. Never accept a bribe, for bribes blind the eyes of the wise and corrupt the decisions of the godly. 20 Let true justice prevail, so you may live and occupy the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
Prov 14:31
31He who oppresses the poor taunts his Maker, but he who is gracious to the needy honors Him.
Prov 21:13
13 He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and not be answered.
Isaiah 58:6
6"Is this not the fast which I choose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free and break every yoke?
Jeremiah 22:13-16
13 "Woe to him who builds his house without righteousness and his upper rooms without justice, who uses his neighbor's services without pay and does not give him his wages,
14 Who says, 'I will build myself a roomy house with spacious upper rooms, and cut out its windows, paneling it with cedar and painting it bright red.'
15 "Do you become a king because you are competing in cedar? Did not your father eat and drink and do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him.
16 "He pled the cause of the afflicted and needy; then it was well. Is not that what it means to know Me?" declares the LORD
Amos 5:21-24
21 "I hate, I reject your festivals, nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies.
22 "Even though you offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them; And I will not even look at the peace offerings of your fatlings.
23 "Take away from Me the noise of your songs; I will not even listen to the sound of your harps.
24 "But let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream
Micah 6:8
8 He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?
Matt 25:35-40
35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
Luke 4:18-19
18"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
Luke 10:25-37
25On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
26"What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"
27He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
28"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."
29But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
30In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'
36"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"
37The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him."
Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."
1 John 3:17-18
17If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth
Charity is giving to those in need.
Justice is changing the conditions that creat the need.
"When I fed the poor, they called me a saint. When I asked why there were so many poor, they called me a communist". Dorothy Day, founder of the Catholic Worker movement.
Recommended reading: T.R. Ried's "The Healing of America"
http://www.amazon.com/Healing-America-Global-Better-Cheaper/dp/1594202346
Biblical citations on Justice
Deu 16:18-20
18 “Appoint judges and officials for yourselves from each of your tribes in all the towns the Lord your God is giving you. They must judge the people fairly. 19 You must never twist justice or show partiality. Never accept a bribe, for bribes blind the eyes of the wise and corrupt the decisions of the godly. 20 Let true justice prevail, so you may live and occupy the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
Prov 14:31
31He who oppresses the poor taunts his Maker, but he who is gracious to the needy honors Him.
Prov 21:13
13 He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and not be answered.
Isaiah 58:6
6"Is this not the fast which I choose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free and break every yoke?
Jeremiah 22:13-16
13 "Woe to him who builds his house without righteousness and his upper rooms without justice, who uses his neighbor's services without pay and does not give him his wages,
14 Who says, 'I will build myself a roomy house with spacious upper rooms, and cut out its windows, paneling it with cedar and painting it bright red.'
15 "Do you become a king because you are competing in cedar? Did not your father eat and drink and do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him.
16 "He pled the cause of the afflicted and needy; then it was well. Is not that what it means to know Me?" declares the LORD
Amos 5:21-24
21 "I hate, I reject your festivals, nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies.
22 "Even though you offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them; And I will not even look at the peace offerings of your fatlings.
23 "Take away from Me the noise of your songs; I will not even listen to the sound of your harps.
24 "But let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream
Micah 6:8
8 He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?
Matt 25:35-40
35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
Luke 4:18-19
18"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
Luke 10:25-37
25On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
26"What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"
27He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
28"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."
29But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
30In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'
36"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"
37The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him."
Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."
1 John 3:17-18
17If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Charity and Justice
Next Sunday, March 21, we will host Zellie Earnest from Waverly Road Presbyterian Church in Kingsport. Mr. Earnest will give a presentation on the difference between justice and charity. He promises biblical references to substantiate his point. In light of the recent news about the controversy of adanboning churches that promote social or economic justice, Mr Earnest's subject seems highly topical and current. Please join us at 9:45. We'll be glad to see you. Loving childcare is provided.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
An Introduction to Hinduism
Sunday, March 14...
Rebecca Nunley introduces us to Hinduism.
'Nuff said.
Join us at 9:45
Rebecca Nunley introduces us to Hinduism.
'Nuff said.
Join us at 9:45
Monday, March 1, 2010
Safe Sanctuaries
This coming Sunday, March 7, Jennifer Hann is going to lead our group with a presentation on child safety and security at church. It's an important topic.
Here's Jennifer's synopsis
"As our Children's ministry is growing, we're revisiting the ways in which we can provide a safe and healthy place for our children. Please join us on March 7th as we watch the DVD 'Safe Sanctuaries: Reducing the Risk of Abuse in the Church for Children and Youth.' While abuse of children is a troubling subject, having a well thought out system of polices and practices reduces the chance of child abuse and injury, protects our staff and volunteers and helps insulate our church from liability. Our child protection committee is drafting policies, forms and training guidelines to reduce the worries and protect our church communty. While this topic is of special interest to parents, gandparents and educators, an aware congregation is esential to our mission.
Please join us at 9:45. We'll be glad to have you. As usual, excellent child care is provided.
Here's Jennifer's synopsis
"As our Children's ministry is growing, we're revisiting the ways in which we can provide a safe and healthy place for our children. Please join us on March 7th as we watch the DVD 'Safe Sanctuaries: Reducing the Risk of Abuse in the Church for Children and Youth.' While abuse of children is a troubling subject, having a well thought out system of polices and practices reduces the chance of child abuse and injury, protects our staff and volunteers and helps insulate our church from liability. Our child protection committee is drafting policies, forms and training guidelines to reduce the worries and protect our church communty. While this topic is of special interest to parents, gandparents and educators, an aware congregation is esential to our mission.
Please join us at 9:45. We'll be glad to have you. As usual, excellent child care is provided.
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