Back to the Beginning: Genesis in January

You think you’ve got a complex family? Take a fresh look at these first families of faith. Amidst betrayal, competition, and jealousy, there is also love, loyalty, and redemption. Each week will focus on a different family and God’s work in their lives. Let’s explore family dynamics in Genesis in an inter-generational, interactive class of middle school, high school, and adults of all ages. Grab this opportunity to have more than “Hi, how are you?” conversations between Nassau youth and adults while you enjoy a continental breakfast.

All classes 9:15 a.m. in the Assembly Room

Download the January brochure: Adult Ed January 2019 (pdf)

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January 6

Beyond the Garden

Anne Whitaker Stewart

In the beginning was…intrigue, turmoil, and sibling rivalry. Between forbidden fruit and murder, life is off to a rocky start in the early chapters of Genesis. The first family grapples with desire, jealousy, knowledge, and the mysterious nature of God’s favor. Join Adam, Eve, their children, and a slithering serpent to explore life in the garden and beyond.

Anne Stewart moonlights as an Old Testament scholar. By day she works at Princeton Theological Seminary as Associate Vice President for Communication and Deputy to the President.

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January 13

It’s Complicated: At Home with Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar

Jacq Lapsley

We all know families are complicated, our own included. But fraught family dynamics are not a modern invention. Within their blended family, Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, Ishmael, and Isaac are all enmeshed in a web of anxiety, love, jealousy, longing, rage, violence, and more. Plus, God is a major player in their story, in both inspiring and disturbing ways. Come explore this fascinating, difficult story, and reflect on how the messiness of this biblical family can help us think about our own families.

Jacq Lapsley wears many hats, including being mom to Emma and Sam Bezilla. She has loved traveling with the church youth on their adventures. By day, she serves as Dean and Vice President of Academic Affairs and Professor of Old Testament at Princeton Theological Seminary.

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January 23

Are All Happy Families Alike?

Matthew Larsen

What does a happy, loving family look like? Is there really any such thing as a normal family? The story of Jacob, Esau, Rachel and Leah invites us to consider what kind of stories the scriptures tell about how families love each other, how they deal with conflict, and—most importantly—how God never leaves or forsakes his people in the midst of it all.

Matthew Larsen is a cultural historian whose work focuses on the lived experiences of Jewish and Christian communities in classical and late antiquity. Matthew came to Princeton University from a teaching position at Yale, where he also received his Ph.D. in Religious Studies. He is the author of the book, Gospels before the Book (Oxford University Press, 2018). He is currently writing a cultural history of early Christians and incarceration. Matthew is also a priest in the Episcopal church with several years of parish experience.

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January 30

Joseph and all those Brothers (or) Where is God in all this mess?

Joel Estes

Looking for a story about family intrigue? This story has it all! Jealousy, deception, betrayal, dungeons, starving cows, silver cups, and sudden reversals. It shows God at work in all sorts of strange, hidden, topsy-turvy, unexpected ways. Come and explore how God moves in the midst of our mess to produce something good.

Joel D. Estes is a New Testament PhD candidate at Princeton Seminary, where he also serves as Associate Director of Web Communication. A former high school teacher and worship pastor, he is the father of four kids—two boys and twin girls—all under the age of seven. He used to enjoy reading, traveling, playing guitar, and getting enough sleep, but has recently developed interests in cleaning crayon off the walls and building pillow forts.

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The season of Advent anticipates the coming of Christ into the world. Our Adult Education series this month will increase your joy and understanding of Christmas. We begin with an introduction to all of the seasons of the Christian calendar; we gather around the piano to sing carols; we study the incarnation in Renaissance art; we learn about Mary; and finally, we reflect on poetry inspired by events in the season of Advent.

All classes 9:15 a.m. in the Assembly Room unless otherwise noted

Download the December brochure: AE Dec 2018

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December 2

Happy New Year!

Carol Wehrheim

The first Sunday of Advent begins the Christian (liturgical or church) year. Perhaps you didn’t celebrate Advent as a child and have questions about it. Or maybe you just wonder who decides what color of cloth is on the communion table each Sunday. Come learn about the design, the colors, and the celebrations of the church year that order our life together.

Carol Wehrheim is clerk of session at Nassau. For over 30 years, she wrote and edited Christian education resources organized by the Christian year.

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December 2

Sing We All Noël: All-Church All-Ages Lunch and Christmas Carol Sing

Noel Werner

12:15–1:15 p.m., Assembly Room
Suggested donation: $8/adult ($25 max/family)

We welcome the Christ child into our hearts once again. Come gather around the piano with Noel Werner and sing all your old favorite carols. Good food, good company – a joyful start to the season.

Noel Werner has been the Director of Music at Nassau Presbyterian Church since 2006.

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Ongoing through December 16

In-Depth Bible Study: Colossians

George Hunsinger

9:15 AM
Maclean House

George Hunsinger returns for the 21st year to lead this verse-by-verse examination of Colossians. 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).

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December 9

Christmas Theology for the Eye

Karlfried Froehlich

Much happened in theology, culture, and the arts during the time of the European Renaissance, a period in the history of art which has always held a special place in the hearts of American art lovers. Last Advent we looked at the artistic representation of the Incarnation theme in earlier Christian images. This year we will focus on the intriguing development of the theme in Renaissance art, Italian and Northern European. This development reflects the interest in new modes of painting (e.g., the use of perspective) but also new attitudes toward the natural and the social world as it was experienced by the individual artist, and a broadening of the spiritual dimension.

Karlfried Froehlich, a native of Saxony, Germany, moved to the United States in 1964, taught at Drew University and, from 1968 to 1992, at Princeton Theological Seminary, where he held the Benjamin B. Warfield chair in church history. Karlfried is an active member of the Lutheran Church (ELCA). 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.

This class is not recorded because of the heavy use of imagery in the presentation.

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December 16

Favored One: Mary at Christmas

Eric Barreto

Mary’s role in the Christmas story is both central and complicated. Join us as we revisit the story of Mary, how it is narrated in Scripture and how it has been interpreted.

Eric Barreto is Weyerhaeuser Associate Professor of New Testament at Princeton Theological Seminary, an ordained Baptist minister, and a Nassau parent.

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December 23

Poetry in Advent

Roz Anderson Flood

The story that unfolds in Advent has inspired generations of musicians, artists, preachers and poets. We will explore five contemporary poems with very different interpretations of the events of the season. We begin with the Magnificat –“My soul doth magnify the Lord” – Mary’s ecstatic response to the Annunciation — and read Denise Levertov’s “Annunciation,” Madeleine L’Engle’s “After Annunciation,” and Mary Jo Salter’s “Advent.” We continue with T.S. Eliot’s “Journey of the Magi” and conclude with an Advent poem by our presenter Roz which is influenced by the collective body of work of the other poets. You will see how each poem is colored by the poet’s place in history, as well as the juxtaposition of religious imagery with details of ordinary life.

Rozlyn Anderson Flood is a Philanthropic Advisor in the Office of Gift Planning at Princeton University. She is also a poet and is currently assembling a chapbook manuscript for publication. She has previously been published in The Harvard Advocate and served on its editorial board. She has worked as a trusts and estates attorney and wealth management executive on Wall Street, and is an expert in estate and philanthropic planning. She also served on a number of non-profit boards with a focus on civil rights, social service and higher education, and is currently on the Advisory Board and Fundraising Committee of the Paul Robeson House of Princeton. At Nassau Roz serves as a ruling elder, sings second alto in the Adult Choir and is a member of the Worship and Arts Committee.

Download the poem handout: 2018-12-23_Poetry_in_Advent

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