Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom.
COLOSSIANS 3:16a
Join us as every Sunday at 9 a.m. (September - May) in the Activity Center.
January 4 The Social Gospel in the South by Rev. Aaron K. Stauffer, PhD
Over four sessions this course will explore the often forgotten history of social gospelers in the South and their connection to Vanderbilt Divinity School (then school of religion). Exploring the life and work of figures like Alva Taylor, Howard Kester and Claude Williams, we will explore these deep roots of economic and racial justice movements, and how they can inspire contemporary movements today
January 11-25 Social Gospel in the South Continued by Aaron Stauffer
February 1 Bach's St. Matthew Passion: A Jewish Composer's Loving Perspective by Michael Rose
Bio.: Michael A. Rose is a composer of symphonic, chamber, piano, vocal, wind ensemble, ballet and theater music at Vanderbilt's Blair School of Music where he has won many awards including the University's Chair of Teaching Excellence.
February 8 Guatemala Mission Trip Report - David Carlton & Leanne McComb
February 15 Yolanda Pierce, Dean of Vanderbilt Divinity School
Bio.:, She is the University Distinguished Professor of Religion & Literature, and the University Distinguished Professor of African American & Diaspora Studies. Her scholarly research specialties include African American religious history, womanist theology, and race and religion. She holds degrees from Cornell University and Princeton University. She has served as the Founding Director of the Center for African American Religious Life at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC). A widely published author, she has written several books, essays, and articles for academic and trade journals. In addition to her teaching and academic scholarship, Pierce is a native New Yorker, public theologian, community activist, and ordained minister. Author of The Wounds are the Witness: Black Faith Weaving Memory Into Justice and Healing.
February 18 ASH WEDNESDAY
LENT
February 22 Yolanda Pierce, Dean of Vanderbilt Divinity School
Lent Weeks 2 -6 : “Dancing with Divine Humility” by Marjorie Thompson
How we see God’s nature, power, and love inevitably shapes how we see ourselves. It is a mirroring dance, the divine-human relationship, since we are beings created in the divine image. This 5-week class is designed to help us dive deeper into themes of divine humility and love that we began to explore in May of 2025. We will focus first on texts in Philippians and Matthew that root us in a spiritual theology of God’s humble love, which models and evokes our own loving humility. We will then play with aspects of intuition and creativity that reveal our non-dominant gifts, linking them with the Spirit’s preferred way of reaching us with guidance and insight. Finally, we will explore several spiritual practices that help align our hearts and minds with divine love—intrinsically gentle, centered, and poured out in service.
Bio: Rev. Marjorie Thompson is author of the best-selling book Soul-feast: An Invitation to the Christian Spiritual Life and Forgiveness: A Lenten Study. She is a Presbyterian minister who has spent 13 years as Director of Congregational Spirituality with the Upper Room Ministries. She is currently retired but continues to write, to maintain a limited spiritual direction practice, and to teach locally.
March 1: Domination and Humility in the Divine-Human Relationship: Four Views
March 8: The Inverted Arc of Salvation: Divine Self-Emptying and New Creation
March 15: The Beatitudes: Blueprint for the Humility of Kingdom Life
March 22: Exploring our Non-Dominant Gifts: Intuition, Creativity, and Insight
March 29: Spiritual Practices to Align with Divine Love
April 5 EASTER no class
April 12 "Everyman" by Jim Womack.
A discussion of a medieval artwork of Pieter Bruegel with reference to Psalm 8.
Bio: Jim is a long time member of Second Presbyterian who taught art history and art at Montgomery Bell Academy for 40 years.
