"holy, holy, holy."

This is Sufjan Stevens' version of the classic hymn, "Holy, Holy, Holy." We'll be doing a similar arrangement in Chapel tomorrow morning.

Take a listen?

february 1.

 Text:  Matthew 11:2-13:52

Speaker:  Tali Hairston, Director of the Perkins Center and Special Assistant to the President.

Big picture:  Instead of reinforcing our certainties about God, Jesus' parables challenge our ideas of how we live into the kingdom of heaven. Throughout his teaching Jesus speaks through the mystery of parables as a way of eliciting a response from his audience, proclaiming that the kingdom comes only to those who are willing to see and hear the newness of God's word. We do not find crisp legalistic truths in Jesus' teaching but are instead convicted to listen to the ever expanding will of God.
 

Proof that Tali hangs out with VIPs.

january 25.

Text:  Matthew 8:1-11:1

Speaker:  Susan Lane, Director of Multi-Ethnic Programs at SPU

Big picture:  Immediately after his preaching, Jesus sets out to enact this newly revealed kingdom of love, generosity and justice. He does not stop at words, but instead seeks out the poor, heals the sick and raises the dead while continually calling others to do the same. In these actions we find a similar call to live out these realities within our own circumstances.

january 11.

Text: Matthew 1:1-4:17

Speaker: Dr. David Nienhuis, Associate Professor of New Testament Studies.

Check out details on one of Dr. Nienhuis's books about the Catholic church here.

Big Picture: In the beginning of Matthew we are introduced to the figure of Jesus as God's promised Messiah. These first chapters assert God's ongoing work in the world specifically through Jesus, who stands as a continuation of God's covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.