Three-Week Overview

To prepare for Diana Butler Bass’ visit to Second Presbyterian Church in May, the Hage Committee will be offering a small-group session for three weeks in April to discuss her recent book, Christianity for the Rest of Us. At the basis of this book is Bass’ three-year research project in which she studied fifty congregations from six denominations to determine how mainstream churches not only survive but thrive in today’s religious climate. Christianity for the Rest of Us is divided into three parts, and we’ll use these sections as the basic organizing structure for our three-week study.

April 16: Tradition and Transformation. During this meeting we will seek to gain an understanding of the spiritual experiences of our group. Some questions we’ll consider: Why do we value church? What do we seek in a church? What are our personal spiritual histories? How do our own stories compare with the history of our church or our denomination? Finally, we’ll explore the notion of “spiritual nomads” and why they’re relevant to Second Church.

April 23: Expanding Our Sense of Worship. Ten chapters form the heart of Bass’ book. She calls these chapters “Signposts of Renewal” because the work and activities described in each chapter demonstrate how specific congregations achieved a sense of renewal. As we discuss these chapters, we’ll grapple with the very definition of worship and how a church might create something new while staying true to its foundation. We’ll discuss topics such as hospitality, contemplation, testimony, diversity, justice, and beauty.

April 30: Becoming a Pilgrim Congregation. After contemplating what other churches have done across the United States, it’s time to look at our own church. Where do we see Second Presbyterian Church in the coming years? What signposts of renewal from Bass’ book might work for us?