Classes at 9:15AM in the Assembly Room unless otherwise noted.
Download a copy of the brochure here Dec 2016 (pdf)
A Colonial Christmas
December 4
A colonial-era Virginia Almanack once announced, “We may expect to hear of a great Mortality among the Hogs, Sheep, Geese, Capons, and Turkies.” Colonists claimed that even the deaf and blind could tell when they crossed into Virginia around Christmas just by the aromas — of spices, nutmeg, mincemeat, great roasts, cakes, and, of course, Martha Washington’s famous pies. We’ll look at the ways Christmas was celebrated (or not) in colonial
America as well as by the founding fathers.
Edward A. Mauger, founder and director of Philadelphia on Foot, has been hailed as “America’s top tour guide” by the travel writers of USA Today and the Chicago Tribune. He is the founding president of the Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides (APT) and has authored several books on historical Philadelphia. Mauger served as an associate dean and director at Rutgers University, Camden.
1st Corinthians In-Depth
George Hunsinger
9:15 AM, Maclean House, ongoing through May 21
the class will NOT meet on December 25 or January 1
George Hunsinger returns for the 20th year to lead this verse-by-verse examination of the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians. Bibles are available for use during the class. Find them on the Deacon Desk by the church kitchen. Class meets next door in Maclean House (Garden Entrance).
Christmas with the Classics
December 4: Maya Angelou’s “Amazing Peace”
9:15 AM, Music Room
In 2005 Maya Angelou presented her poem “Amazing Peace” at the White House tree lighting ceremony. In the wake of the election season and as we enter into Advent, come and hear a dramatic reading of this poem from Barbara Florvil, a Princeton Theological Seminary Senior, and discuss the theme of peace as it relates to Luke 2 and our responsibility as Christians in our communities.
December 11: “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry
“The Gift of the Magi” is a classic Christmas short story by O. Henry. First, hear the story as told by Michael Dean Morgan & Company. Then, ask the question, is it really better to give than to receive (Acts 20:35)? What is Christmas about — giving or receiving?
December 18: “It’s a Wonderful Life”
Following the guidance of Clarence Oddbody (Henry Travers), the bumbling angel in It’s a Wonderful Life, the 1946 classic Christmas film, come and wonder what it would be like if George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) had never been born. With the same sort of wonder, listen to the biblical story. What characters wondered about the coming of the Messiah? Is this wonder actually doubt? In the season of advent, is it ok to doubt? What would it be like if Jesus had never been born?
Melissa Martin is a third-year student at Princeton Theological seminary and an Adult Education intern at Nassau. She also works in the church office as the Administrative Assistant for Pastoral Care. Between her many responsibilities she loves to sneak in a good novel, because she finds that through them her big theological questions can be explored in a refreshingly human way.