The Rt. Rev. Michael Bruce Curry, XI Bishop of North Carolina, will be the special guest at this year’s Diocesan Convention, leading a Friday morning preaching workshop, a Friday afternoon forum and preaching during the Eucharist on Saturday morning. All events will take place at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Burlington. A brief biography of Bishop Curry (pdf file) is here.
Preaching God’s Dream in the Midst of a Nightmare
Friday morning, November 2, 10:00 am – Noon
Preaching God’s Word in today’s complex and pressured culture provides both lay and ordained preachers the challenge to reflect on Scripture at deeper levels of insight, awareness and perception. Please join us and Bishop Michael Curry, one of the premiere preachers in the Episcopal Church, for this two hour workshop to engage with fresh ways to look at texts while building skills and insights on making God’s Word come alive.
NOTE: Clergy and lay preachers from other denominations are also invited to attend this workshop. In order to provide adequate seating for outside guests, we ask that guests from other denominations please RSVP with Sarah Maynard at sarah265@myfairpoint.net.
Jesus and Social Justice: Hope in a Time of Darkness
Friday afternoon, November 2, 3:30 – 5:00 pm
Bishop Curry will continue his visit on Friday afternoon, offering a social justice forum. As Episcopalians, we are Christians who engage with world issues that seem to grow larger and more urgent every year. Questions such as…
· “How do we keep hope alive in ourselves in the face of such overwhelming issues in order to be a positive voice for change?”
· “How do spiritual issues inform social justice issues and vice versa?”
· “What does Jesus say about social justice and what he does he do?”
…frame our spiritual engagement and commitment “to strive for justice and peace and respect the dignity of every human being.” [Book of Common Prayer p. 305]
Against the backdrop of present-day Occupy Movements, Bishop Curry will lead a social justice forum that will bring together scripture, our baptismal promises and the 2012 Mission Goals of the Episcopal Church, with a specific focus on the contemporary issue of income inequality.
In addition to Bishop Curry’s presentation, there will be time for small group interaction and conversation. There will also be opportunity to sign up to be part of a grass roots effort to continue engaging in future conversations around the social justice issues of our time.
Please join us as we welcome Bishop Michael Curry as he engages us in the tough questions but also in the hope that holds us fast and that we are called to hold out to others.