Seminary Saturday – March 3, 2012

Wisdom Builds Her House, Again!
Dr. Kenneth Ngwa, Assistant Professor of Hebrew Bible

Why are there books on Ancient Israelite wisdom (Proverbs, Job, and Ecclesiastes), and what will they do to you if you read them? Broadly, these books make a number of assumptions about life, raise questions and propose solutions: how to cope with life when you know the rules, apply them, and they work (Proverbs); when the rules are contradicted (Job); and when there is uncertainty about what the rules are (Ecclesiastes). There is so much political, theological, economic, and social flux in these books (and in our world), necessitating new ways of thinking and being in community. Reading these books will cause you to examine what they say about human existence, broadly, and the specific social, political, religious, theological belief systems and structures that make life meaningful, challenging, and oftentimes traumatic. That is where and when the work of wisdom begins.

Holy Listening and Spiritual Discernment
Cynthia Bailey-Manns, Certified Spiritual Director and Coordinator of Spiritual Formation Certification Program

Many of us face confusion as we deal with questions and conflicting choices about personal relationships,  work issues, medical concerns and spiritual challenges.  Holy Listening, being aware of the Holy Spirit’s presence and/absence and Spiritual Discernment, “…calling on the Holy Spirit to lead or give direction on a matter,” (www.spirithome.com), are powerful spiritual practices to help sort through one’s confusion.  Join us as we explore how scripture, silence and other spiritual tools can be used in individual and communal Holy Listening and Spiritual Discernment.