Adult Formation for Advent

SUNDAY MORNING CLASSES FOR ADULTS - 9:45 – 10:45 a.m. in the Celebration Room

December 6: THE CHRISTMAS STORIES, presented by parishioner, Ricky Shinall, a general surgeon at Vanderbilt Hospital and a doctoral candidate in New Testament at Vanderbilt University

Most of us have heard the Christmas story and seen Nativity pageants since we were children: we all recognize the Holy Family, the angel, the wise men, the shepherds, and the animals all gathered in the stable under the star. What we usually don't recognize is that this familiar story is actually a mash-up of two different stories about Jesus' conception, birth, and infancy told in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. In this session we'll look at each of these stories in turn to see what each evangelist thought was so important about Jesus' birth to help us develop a deeper appreciation for the meaning of Christmas.

December 13: THE ART OF WRITING: INK, SILK AND GOLD AT THE FRIST, presented by Richard McGregor, PhD, Associate Professor or Religion and Islamic Studies, Vanderbilt University

Calligraphy has developed as a rich and diverse form in Islamic art. This presentation will explore the variety of Arabic and Persian inscriptions in the Ink, Silk, and Gold exhibition, with special attention to style and poetics.

Professor McGregor's area of expertise is Islam, particularly the medieval intellectual and mystical traditions. He teaches courses on Qur'an and Interpretation, Sufism, and Methodology in the Study of Religion. Before coming to Vanderbilt University in 2003, professor McGregor spent two years in Cairo, Egypt, at the Institut Français d'Archéologie Orientale working on Arabic manuscripts.

SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY FOR CHRIST THE KING PARISHIONERS
On Sunday, December 13, Christ the King parishioners may visit the Frist Art Center at no charge. Sunday hours are 1 pm – 5 pm, though the café opens at noon. To receive free admission, please show your Christ the King bulletin at the admissions desk. If you park in the Frist parking lot you may also present your parking ticket to receive discounted parking.

There will be no Adult Classes on December 20, 27 and January 3. We will resume Sunday morning classes for adults on January 10, 2016.