Art for Advent
In December join us for the inspiring art and music of Advent and learn about the “subtle hints which artists suggested to faithful eyes….”
Sundays, 9:15 a.m, in the Assembly Room unless otherwise noted.
For a look at Adult Education offerings through December, download the brochure: Adult Education Nov Dec 2017 (pdf).
Art of the Annunciation
Jason Oosting
December 3
As we enter this season of waiting, we will explore the first scene of Christ’s life on earth, the moment when Mary learns of God’s plan for salvation. Using works of art from the Medieval to the Modern, we will see how artists across time and space have chosen to represent the initial moment of awareness of the incarnation. By visualizing the revelation of the greatest of all news, we can ponder these things with Mary as we wait for Christ this Advent.
Jason Oosting teaches Advanced Placement Art History at Montgomery High School. He lives in Hopewell with his wife Shari, two sons Asher and Ezra, and two daughters Elia and Ada.
Ongoing through May 13
In-Depth Bible Study: First Corinthians
George Hunsinger
9:15 AM
Maclean House
Holiday Schedule: Class will meet on December 3, then resume on January 7.
George Hunsinger returns for the 21st 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).
Series concludes December 3
A Romp through the Bible (Fall: Old Testament)
William R. (Bill) Phillippe
9:30 AM
Niles Chapel
True to the definition of romp, “to play boisterously,” Phillippe will move participants quickly through the 39 books of the Old Testament and do it with a style he believes the writers would approve, even if the some biblical interpreters might not. One reviewer of Phillippe’s book says, “Phillippe’s work will be seen by some as blithe and brash. That’s the best part. He takes us on a tour of what and where and why the Bible happened, and by peeling off the dusty old trappings he brings to light an enchanted story about people, and a God, we’d like to know better.” Copies of the book will be provided free to the first 12 participants.
William R. (Bill) Phillippe, upon retirement, chose to move to Princeton primarily so he could worship and engage at Nassau Presbyterian Church. He is a retired Presbyterian minister and author of A Romp through the Bible, and most recently, The Pastor’s Diary. Bill has served a number of churches as pastor, was a Synod Executive for 10 years, and has served as Acting Executive Director of the General Assembly Mission Council.
Advent Hymns and Luther’s Reformation
Paul E Rorem
December 10
While Martin Luther is most often remembered for having posted his ’95 Theses’ on the door of Wittenberg Castle Church, he, indeed, wrote several pertinent Christmas Hymns. This class will serve to enlighten about Luther’s musical abilities and will focus on Glory to God Hymnal #102, “Savior of the Nations, Come,” a composition we sing at Nassau on occasion during our celebration of Advent.
Paul E. Rorem is Princeton Theological Seminary’s Benjamin B. Warfield Professor of Medieval Church History. An ordained Lutheran minister, he is interested in medieval church history. His courses cover the confessions and influence of St. Augustine, the Christian mystical tradition, medieval Christianity, and the spiritual and theological legacy of the Pseudo-Dionysian writings.
Christmas Theology for the Eye
Karlfried Froehlich
December 17
More than entire chapters, one verse in the New Testament has shaped Christian theology from its beginning to this very day: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). Condensed into a single Latin word, “incarnation,” this verse expresses on its deepest level the central mystery of the Christian faith. Examine a number of art works from the early and medieval period depicting Christ’s nativity and explore the question of how the artists wrestled with the meaning of this central mystery in the context of the theology of their time. The result will be the discovery of a host of cross-connections and subtle hints which artists suggested to faithful eyes and expected to be understood by generations of people well versed in the rich tradition of Christian symbolism. This discovery may enrich our own insight into Christmas art as well.
Karlfried Froehlich, a native of Saxony, Germany, studied theology, history, and classical languages in Germany, France, and Switzerland. Moving to the United States in 1964, he taught at Drew University and from 1968 to 1992 at Princeton Theological Seminary where he held the Benjamin B. Warfield chair in church history. An active member of the Lutheran Church in America (today the ELCA), he was a member of the Lutheran – Roman Catholic National Dialogue in the 1970s and 80s and of the Reformed – Lutheran Conversations in the 1990s which led to the 1997 declaration of full communion between the churches involved. His scholarly interests include the history of Christian art and the history of biblical interpretation, a field to which he has contributed significantly through his teaching and writing.
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