Adult Education June 2016

Coffee and bagels served at every class


Mysteries That Matter: A Theology of Community

Joyce MacKichan Walker

June 12, 11:15AM
Assembly Room

Expect a plot and a murder and a clever detective. Discover a community, a theology of darkness and light, a fallen and redeemed humanity, and a brilliant, best-selling Canadian mystery writer with a deeply spiritual, biblically-grounded heart and mind. Louise Penny — the series begins.

Joyce MacKichan Walker had the great privilege of interviewing best-selling mystery author Louise Penny in the eastern townships of Quebec during her fall of 2015 sabbatical. An aficionado of mystery, Joyce has read this series of ten books twice, and can’t wait for number 11 on August 30! The other thing she loves is being an educator and pastor at Nassau — her 27th year.


The China Challenge: Shaping the Choices of a Rising Power

Thomas J. Christensen

June 19, 11:15AM
Assembly Room

Many see China as a rival superpower to the United States and imagine its rise is a threat to U.S. leadership in Asia and beyond. Tom Christensen argues against this zero-sum vision. He describes a new paradigm in which the real challenge lies in dissuading China from regional aggression while
encouraging the country to contribute to the global order.

Tom Christensen, William P. Boswell Professor of World Politics of Peace and War and Director of the China and the World Program at  Princeton University, will discuss his most recent book on China (published in 2015) and the challenge navigating U.S.–China relations.


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The Pastor’s Diary: How a Conventional Conservative Became a Theological Liberal

William R. Phillippe

June 26, 11:15AM
Assembly Room

“Over my life, I have learned that early myths are very formidable, but I have also learned that other people have different myths that are just as formidable. I have learned that we all do and must have myths to live by. But my early myths were no longer serving their function of helping me make sense of my existence. I had to find others. And that is what this book is about — my constant search for myths that mattered as I let my mind truly explore and analyze my experiences.”

Born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA, Bill Phillippe was mentally wired to go into science and was awarded the Western Pennsylvania Physics Award. But with the encouragement of a few professors he took the road into the Presbyterian ministry instead.