Start the New Year With Spiritual Enrichment
As we begin this new year, I invite you to spend some time at Scarritt Bennett Center in worship, prayer, study, and fellowship as you continue to grow in your spiritual life. Below are listed several opportunities for the month of January 2020.
Tuesdays in the Chapel each Tuesday at 12:30-1:00. Tom Lee starts the new year off with his message on the baptism of Jesus on January 7. On the 14th we will experience the first of our monthly prayer services for government leaders, issues and concerns in this election year. Laura Cheifetz of Vanderbilt Seminary will speak on the 21st and Cynthia Wilson of Discipleship Ministries on the 28th. This time of worship is a “Sabbath break” in the middle of the week.
Vespers & All That Jazz each Sunday evening at 6:30-7:15 in Wightman Chapel. Music in the jazz format, contemporary readings, scripture, stories bring renewal and challenge during these weekly services. On January 12 the theme is “God is Impartial: Welcome to All” and on the 26th the theme is “Follow Jesus: Accept Others.” On January 19, we will hear from the speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr. and honor his prophetic voice.
Storylines Book Club Monday, January 13, 2020 at 7:00-8:00 pm. The book this month is “Eliza Hamilton: The Extraordinary Life and Times of the Wife of Alexander Hamilton:” by Tilar J. Mazzeo. This is a great read with the show “Hamilton” doing sold-out performances this month in Nashville. It gives great insight into what women experienced during this time in history.
Poet’s Corner on Thursday, January 23 at 7:00-8:00 pm with Chris Pepple the featured poet. Chris writes: “Through my poetry, I invite [you] into my conversations on healing, on change, on hope, on courage, on determination, on love, and on self-discovery. I share my voice with others as I give you glimpses into the journey I have traveled on—a journey that has taken me through grief as I led the funeral for a relative who died from complications from AIDS, through pain as I struggled to free myself from domestic abuse, and through joy as I raised two courageous children who found their own voices.” Come and share in her journey.
Retreat: Radical + Hospitality + Spirit = God’s Kin-dom January 24 at 5:30 through January 25 at 3:30. Registration required at http://bit.ly/radicalretreat20 Led by Donna Patterson the study will focus on such questions/concerns as: What is a spirit of radical hospitality? How could identifying hospitality as a spiritual practice make a difference in our lives, our communities our world? What does it mean to open our hearts and minds to the radical witness of the Spirit of God welcoming the stranger both internally and externally? Come and join in the conversation. The cost is $130 for commuter and #190 for resident.
Aid for the spiritual journey is available. In the midst of the winter darkness brighten God’s light within your heart and soul, thus sharing more light in our world.
Joyce D. Sohl, Laywoman-in-Residence
Joyce D. Sohl has been Laywoman-in-Residence since 2009 as a full-time volunteer. She retired as CEO of United Methodist Women in 2004. She is the author of 4 books, a teacher, retreat leader, writer and non-professional musician. Here at the Center her work is in the area of Spirituality & the Arts with such programs as Tuesdays in the Chapel, Vespers & All That Jazz, Poet’s Corner, quarterly retreats, and art exhibits.