The following post is from Matthew Robbins-Ghormley, pastor of Randolph Heights Presbyterian Church in St. Paul.
Matthew Robbins-Ghormley
For the last year or so, I’ve been meeting weekly with three other pastors of smaller Presbyterian churches here in the Cities. We get together to read the Bible together, specifically the texts we’ll be preaching, and to talk together about the common work we’re doing. Often we end up talking about the particular challenges and opportunities in the situation we find ourselves in here at the beginning of the 21st century, and how different it is to be church in 2009 than it was in 1959. Out of our conversations together, we’ve planned an event for Saturday, September 19th designed for our congregations (and for anyone else who would like to join in) on what we think is an intriguing topic. Our topic is the question: Does the church have anything to say to real life? Are we just a nice little group of people who sit in a room together once a week and talk about things that are interesting only to ourselves, or are we a part of something that has something real and compelling to say to the very real questions of our neighbors, co-workers, and friends? If it’s the former, maybe we should just go ahead and close our doors right now. If we really do have something to say, what is it, and what prevents us from saying it? What are the big questions that people are wrestling with today, and how are we being a community that speaks the hope of the Gospel to those questions?
Our guest for the day is Dr. Andy Root, theologian and professor at Luther Seminary in Saint Paul. The day is intended both for church leaders, and for regular folks too. It is a day of theological conversation for everyone. Bring your own questions too.
The Details: Saturday, September 19th, 2009, 9am – 3pm, Lake Nokomis Presbyterian Church, 1620 East 46th Street, Minneapolis MN 55407. Registration Including Lunch: $20 (Lunch by Pepito’s) Registration is limited. To register, call Jan at 612-721-4463.
Put the date on your calendar now. Hope to see you there,
Matt Robbins-Ghormley
A flyer is available to promote the event.
