As ministries are getting back to “normal,” I’ve asked Greg Wilbur to write about the re-start, but also re-imagining, of opportunities to engage with stories, books, films, and music for the purpose of growing in grace and in the Great Narrative of redemption.
Since the earliest days of Cornerstone, we have hosted regular conversations around various topics. To help facilitate that, we’ve planned evenings to watch films, to discuss books (both literary and theological), to invite speakers to talk about art, and authors and musicians to talk about their work. We’ve also planned outings to various musical events. Sometimes these activities were primarily for fun (Summer Family Movies) and sometimes more theological (the Men’s film and the Lenten literature discussion this past spring).
Because our culture likes to divide things and place things in categories, it’s easy to think of these as opportunities for bookish people or film buffs or artists to be “enriched” or connect with like-minded people in the congregation. However, our goal and purpose are much grander and more integrated than that. As with all ministries of the church, we seek to make Christ known and for God to shine into our hearts the “light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor 4:6).
Our model is displayed in the ministry of Paul in Acts 17 in which he interacts with Jews and Greeks to share the Gospel. Paul reasoned from the Scriptures to explain the necessity of Christ’s suffering and resurrection in Thessalonica. In Berea, he encouraged the examining of the Scriptures to affirm and strengthen their belief. At the Areopagus in Athens, Paul engaged the pagan philosophers (the cultural leaders) on their turf, by using the words of their poets, to show them the truth of the Scriptures. We desire to use these planned ministry opportunities to examine the Word, teach the Gospel, and utilize the areas of film, music, and books (fruits of culture) to show the Truth that is made plain even to unbelievers (Rom 1). The following is our stated purpose as well as some upcoming events:
The Goal:
Our desire is to provide events to help show the beauty of Christ more clearly in the things that are made and the things we make as sub-creators and to engage the broader community with the significant questions that the arts raise, but that can only be answered in Christ.
The Means:
Regular Community Book Discussions, Film Discussions, and Music Discussions
Participatory activities such as hymn sings, jam sessions, hosted concerts, etc.
Periodic outings to concerts or galleries, guest speakers, etc.
Monday, October 25 at 7:00pm—Focus: Integration of Story and Faith (Arts)
Live podcast recording of The Habit with author Jonathan Rogers interviewing Carolyn Weber (Surprised by Oxford, Holy is the Day) about writing, faith, teaching, and integration of art and life.
Monday, November 1 at 7:00pm—Focus: Seeing the Gospel in Stories (Literature)
Using the Grimm’s Fairy Tales “Snow White” and “Hansel and Gretel,” we will talk about how to read for symbols in a story, how that helps us to understand Scripture, and how these stories intentionally tell the story of the Gospel and redemption. Look for a PDF to read ahead of time.
Sunday, November 7 at 5:00pm—Focus: Community through Harmony and Using/Developing Gifts (Music)
Jam Session for players, singers, musicians, interested bystanders! Bring your instrument, and we will have an evening of playing and singing hymns, worship songs, new songs, old songs, etc. All levels of expertise welcome. If you have some suggested songs, contact greg@cstonepres.org ahead of time.
Monday, December 6 at 7:00pm—Focus: Seeing the Gospel in Stories (Literature)
This Literature Discussion of Dicken’s A Christmas Carol will explore the connection with allegory and fairy tales to understand and develop the ability to see how this classic story of redemption mirrors the Gospel and critiques the secular distractions of the good, true, and beautiful.
Narrative, Story, and music are powerful ways to incarnate truth. With these fall events and with upcoming films, books, and concerts in the Spring, we look forward to developing our ability to read and comprehend for the purpose of examining the Word, teaching the Gospel, and engaging our community and culture.