Christianity and Culture Program
One hour presentations on a broad range of topics by a broad range of presenters from the church and the community related to Christianity and Culture. Check this space for forum topics, presenters, and recorded programs. Sundays at 9:15 a.m. unless otherwise stated. Full program descriptions sent out weekly in Parish News.
Current Programs:
October 1: This will be our second intergenerational program and our members both young and old are invited to join us. This is the Sunday where our rector blesses the animals (no snakes, please) both during and following the services. You can bring your pets, your stuffed animals and pictures of beloved animals to be blessed. Following coffee hour, a delightful book entitled, "Bible Birds and Beasties" will be read to the children. We will be pulling together all the items members donated to the SPCA and prepare them for delivery.
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October 8: What beloved book by a Rockbridge County native was recognized in 1970 as the "most distinguished contribution to American literature for children"? How did an extraordinary local teacher of color inspire the story and another go on to share it with Lexington fourth graders, sending at least one on a life-long quest for social justice? Come to the October 8th Christianity and Culture program at 9:15 to learn the answers and to imagine together how we might use lessons learned to build a Beloved Community --that is, "A Sounder Community."
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October 15: David Cox will share information that will help us understand the purpose and meaning of Evensong, which is a service traditionally held near sunset focused on singing psalms and other Biblical canticles. The Grace choir performs Evensong once a month at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.
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October 22: Sacred Ground is a film and readings based dialogue series on race, grounded in faith. This 11-part series is built around a powerful online curriculum of documentary films and readings that focus on Indigenous, Black Latino, and Asian/Pacific American histories as they intersect with European American Historie. Please join Tuck and some Sacred Ground graduates and learn more about this timely program.
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October 29: Now that our Grace pilgrims have recovered from their recent pilgrimage to Israel, we are excited to have them share their experiences and inspirational moments with us.
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Past 2023 Programs:
January 22: Building Use Plan
January 29: Diocesan Convention - Parochial Report Discussion
February 5: What happened at Diocesan Convention - presentation by our Delegates
February 12: 9:15AM Eucharist followed by 10:30AM Town Hall with Neal Roseberry
February 19: Last Epiphany Intro to Lent Madness
Wednesday, February 22: Ash Wednesday
Sunday, February 26: 1 Renewal of Faith, Confirmation –Dwelling in the Word Mt 4:1-11
Wednesday, March 1: 6PM Prayer 6:20 Supper 6:45PM Lent Madness
Sunday, March 5: 2 Lent Renewal of Faith/Confirmation
Wednesday, March 8: 2nd 6PM Prayer 6:20 Supper 6:45PM Lent Madness
March 12: 3 Lent Renewal of Faith/Confirmation – Dwelling in the Word John 4:5-26
March 15: 3rd Wednesday 6PM Prayer 6:20 Supper 6:45PM Lent Madness Saintly 16
March 19: 4 Lent Renewal of Faith/Confirmation Dwelling inthe Word 15 minutes, John 9:1-12
Wednesday, March 22: 6PM Prayer 6:20 Supper 6:45PM Lent Madness Elate 8
March 26: 5 Lent Renewal of Faith/Confirmation Dwellingin the Word John 11:17-37
Wednesday, March 29: 6PM Prayer 6:20 Supper 6:45PM Lent Madness – Final 4
April 2: Palm Sunday Why Jesus?
April 9: Easter
April 16: 2 Why Jesus?
April 23: 3 Easter Why Jesus?
May 7: Becoming Beloved Community Repairing the Breach
June 4: Trinitarian symbology at Grace
June 11: No C&C 9:30am Unitive Worship followed by 11am Town Hall Meeting with Neal Roseberry - Response to Building Use Proposals
June 18: Introduction to Spiritual Formation - Introduction to six Christian spiritual Traditions - ways to live like Jesus: Sacramental, Contemplative, Evangelical, Holiness, Compassion/Justice, Charismatic. Starting July 9 we will look more closely at one tradition each Sunday and suggest some practices to experiment with during the week.
June 25: No C&C Prepare for 10:30 am Eucharist at Jordan's Point.
July 2: Retired professor of history Holt Merchant will offer reflections on the Federalist papers focused on paper #10
July 9: Charismatic Tradition. Jesus relied on the power of the Holy Spirit. The Charismatic Tradition opens us to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit which transforms us from within. Led by Jerry Nay
July 16: Evangelical Tradition. Jesus studied the Scripture, Jesus is the Word, Jesus proclaimed the Word. The Evangelical Tradition directs us toward knowledge of God through the Word of God. Led by Anne Hansen
July 23: Justice/Compassion Tradition. Jesus served the marginalized and oppressed. The Justice Tradition directs us to acts of direct service, advocacy and the dismantling of unjust systems. Led by Susan Mead
July 30: Renewal Works. Setting a course for Congregational Spiritual Growth.
August 6: Sacramental & Holiness Tradition. The Sacramental Tradition directs us to live as members of Christ’s Body - Our hands are his hands, our vocation is affirm the goodness of human life and the entire material world. The Holiness tradition protects us from ways of life that lead to death and despair and guides us into ways of life that lead to true freedom and joy. Led by Madelyn Stuart and Drew Sorber.
August 13: Contemplative Tradition - Jesus Prayed. The Contemplative Tradition is a response to God's longing that we spend time with God. The goal of Contemplative Prayer is intimacy with God who is always with us. We will discuss several resources and exercises for practice during the week. Led by Heidi Schweizer and Alexandra Brown
August 20: Jonathan Daniels. Today, in honor of 2023 Golden Halo Winner Jonathan Daniels we will reflect on his life and legacy. Led by Keith Gibson
August 27: Marc Nikkel Day. Today, in honor of Marc Nikkel and the people of Sudan we will reflect on the work of the American Friends of the Episcopal Church in Sudan.
September 3: "All Good Gifts from South Sudan" Through a little music, art, and storytelling for ALL ages--and a quick 5-minute trip through South Sudan--we will explore the cultural richness and many gifts we receive from our spiritual neighbors across the globe.
September 10: James Keane will be talking about Education for Ministry (EfM), one of the most meaningful spiritual growth programs at Grace. EfM teaches about history, content, and their impact on the spiritual journey of EfM participants. Please join us to find out more about this enriching and challenging program.
September 17: Entering into and understanding the liturgical year of the Church can itself contribute to personal, spiritual growth. David Cox will explain the significance of this liturgical calendar during this session.
September 24: This will be a double program. Speaking first will be Elise Sprunt Sheffield, from Boxerwood, who will share interesting information about COREworks, a grassroots effort that focuses on carbon emission-reducing projects. Elise will educate us on ways that we can work together to preserve the glorious world that God created for us and charged us to protect. The second part of the program is our own David Hansen, who will speak on the Legacy Society of Grace. What better way to express our spiritual commitment than to make a special gift to our church.
Recordings of Previous Programs
2022
Recognizing Bias with Tamara Futrell, Dean for Diversity, Inclusion, and Student Engagement at Washington & Lee University.
Legacy Planning with Sally Hurme. What is the most important information you need to decide, document, and organize to ensure your life's plans and wishes are carried out? Sally Hurme, an Episcopalian and attorney, retired AARP executive, and bestselling author shares her experience and suggestions.
Recovering our Connection to God’s Joy in Creation (Part 1) led by Anne Hansen
"....when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy" (Job 38:7). Is there a place for joy in our age of ecological anxiety? If so, how do we regain it? We'll consider creation through the accounts in Genesis and our own experience.
Recovering our Connection to God's Joy in Creation (Part 2)
Three Kings of Israel, with Doug Ayer
Doug Ayer treats from a historical perspective three Kings of Israel who exemplify prominent aspects of the development of Israel's Monarchy. David transforms a Tribal Confederation into a Nation-State. Solomon expands David's State into a Regional Empire. Josiah, near the end of the Pre-Exilic Period, institutes a major if short-lived Political Reform which institutes elements of limited government parallel in some respects to features found in institutions in Ancient Greece during roughly the same period.
2021
The Seven Last Words of Christ with Joanne Robblee
A three-part series of Reflections on The Seven Last Words of Christ from Jon Meacham's The Hope of Glory. The events of Good Friday and Easter reveal essential truths about Christianity. Beginning with “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” we will discuss how these words epitomize Jesus’s message of love, not hate; grace, not rage; and, rather than vengeance, extraordinary mercy.
The Life and Doctrine of Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Our presenter, Brooklyne Oliveira is a senior in Religion and Philosophy at WLU.
The Labyrinth with Joanne Robblee
The History of the Labyrinth, part 1
The Labyrinth of Grace, part 2
Walking the Labyrinth, part 3
The Windows and Brass of Grace with Marlys Craun