Starting September 22, 2009, at 7 PM I am hosting a “Classic Christian” small group in my apartment! This is very exciting because I think that one learns and encounters things very differently in a group than all alone or in manipulating blogs and websites.
This is a group not only for critical discussion of classic writings of the Christian faith but also for creative exploration the impact of these writings upon our lives, meaning we will be both critical and devotional, going beyond the academic/cerebral and avoiding the frooffy. Each reading will be paired up with Scripture in the hope that each will cast light on the other.
Tentative Schedule
September 22: Why read old stuff? Who really cares? Joining us: John Wesley, “Advice on Spiritual Reading”; GK Chesterton, “On Reading”; CS Lewis, “Introduction” to On the Incarnation by St. Athanasius.
September 29: What do we believe? What did those who come before us believe? Texts: The Nicene, Apostles’, & “Athanasian” Creeds.
October 6: Matthew & Jennifer celebrate their second anniversary. No meeting this week. Take your sweetheart out on the town this night; over the week, read St. Augustine’s treatise “On the Good of Marriage.”
October 13: Matthew’s favourite saint: St. Francis of Assisi, “Canticle of the Sun” & Little Flowers. Expect an exciting, challenging evening!
October 27: Entering the path of prayer & of the mystics: Evelyn Underhill, a late 19th- early 20th-century Anglican mystic. Her writings make the sublime accessible.
November 3: In honour of Reformation Day (October 31), when Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses to the chapel door in Wittenburg, we shall look at the life of Martin Luther and his writings.
November 10: Two Mystics: Sts. John of the Cross & Teresa of Avila, 16th-century Spanish masters who are totally awesome.
November 17: Another of the mystics: Lady Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love. Her visions of the Cross help us draw near to Christ in our devotion to Him.
November 24: This is the Tuesday following Christ the King Sunday. Our guide on this theme: Dorothy L. Sayers, The Man Born to Be King and Catholic Tales and Christian Songs. Bound to be an exciting evening involving dramatic readings and all-around awesomeness!
December 1: Advent’s advent. We shall celebrate the arrival of this season with an ancient or mediaeval liturgy.
December 8: As Christmas draws near, we must ask: Cur Deus Homo? Why did God become man? Our answer shall come from St. Athanasius, Doctor of the Church.
December 15: Classic Christian Christmas Party!
To come in 2010 (I hope): St. Thomas Aquinas, the Desert Fathers, John Donne, more Lewis & Chesterton, Leo the Great, assorted liturgies, George Herbert, Thomas Merton, the Cappadocian Fathers, and more!
[...] As well, once I have time, I’ll post a tentative schedule in the right-hand side bar on the page “Classic Christian Small Group.” [...]