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November 14 - Black Theology and Black Liberation

Lillie Edwards

Lillie Johnson Edwards, Ph.D. is Professor Emerita of History and African American Studies at Drew University, Madison, New Jersey

 

October 24, 2021 - Reconstruction, 1861 to 1877: Race, Religion and Revision

Richard Schwartz

The period of Reconstruction has been understood in many different ways up to the present day. 

How should we as 21st-century American Christians see it?

 

October 17, 2021 - All You Want to Know About Morris Area Together 

Frank McMillan and Ari Uribe

On May 10, 2021, more than 650 leaders from 18 congregations & non-profits launched Morris Area Together, a new, powerful and non-partisan coalition that will work to create change on the issues that matter most in Morris County.

 

How We Work Toward Being a Matthew 25 Church

The Reverend Sarah Green

Pastor Sarah Green will lead us in an understanding of what it means to be a Matthew 25 Church. This was initiated by the PCUSA. Our Session committed to following the guidelines laid out for us. Matthew 25 calls us to live as Jesus did

 

October 3, 2021 - Part 1

 

October 10, 2021 -  Part 2

King James Bible and Walt Whitman

Professor Chip Dobbs-Allsopp

In this telling of the story of the KJB two moments are highlighted, the original work of William Tyndale and the story of the translation and publication of the KJB itself. Tyndale was the first to translate the Bible into English from the original Greek and Hebrew. Tyndale is the true genius behind the KJB, and his translation technique set the pattern for all later translations into English. Then we shift forward several generations to the time just after James I’s ascension to the English throne, when the famous companies of translators are assembled to publish the KJB in 1611. F. W. “Chip” Dobbs-Allsopp is the James Lenox Librarian and professor of Old Testament at Princeton Theological Seminary. He holds a MDiv from Princeton Theological Seminary and a PhD from Johns Hopkins University. Before joining the Princeton faculty in 1999, he taught for five years at Yale. and has been known to enjoy a glass of wine. His research interests include the historical, philological, and literary study of biblical and ancient Near Eastern literature. Dobbs-Allsopp’s most recent book is On Biblical Poetry (New York/Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2015. He loves sailing, poetry, and PCM’s interim pastor, Rev. Leslie Dobbs-Allsopp.

 

April 11, 2021 - Part 1

Unfortunately, a recording of Part 1 is not available.

April 18, 2021 - Part 2

The second installment of a three-part series on the making of the King James Bible, and of the remarkable influence this masterpiece of prose translation had on America’s greatest and most original poet, Walt Whitman.

April 25, 2021 - Part 3

The concluding segment of the series jumps forward several centuries and offers a brief look at the influence of the KJB on Walt Whitman (1819-92) and his poetry. An important mode of poetic composition for Whitman is that of collage. He takes up language from a wide array of sources and then molds and shapes and remakes the language until it becomes his own. The KJB was the English Bible of 19th c. America and, not surprisingly, is one of Whitman’s sources of found language.

Bach's "St. John Passion"

The Reverend Leslie Dobbs-Allsopp and Dr. Matthew Webb

 

In this two-part series, the Reverend Leslie Dobbs-Allsopp and Dr. Matthew Webb explore Bach’s St. John Passion. This oratorio sets poetry and texts from the Gospel of John to dramatic music to tell the story of the betrayal and suffering of Jesus.

 

March 21, 2021 - Part 1

Unfortunately, Part 2 is not available

"Illuminating the Psalms: Images for the Faithful from Medieval Europe"

Jean Sorobella

 

Rich in poetic imagery but slim in story matter, the psalms are not easy to illustrate. Yet medieval copies of psalm texts, lettered and embellished by hand, match words and pictures in surprising ways.

This two-part series examines a handful of manuscripts that bear witness to the imagination and devotion of scribes, artists and the praying faithful from the 9th century to the eve of the Reformation.

Jean Sorabella is an independent art historian and writer. She earned her doctorate at Columbia University. Jean taught at Columbia University, Smith College, and Providence College, and currently lectures at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She has led previous seminars at the Presbyterian Church on representations of the Nativity and the material world of Martin Luther.

February 21, 2021 - Part 1

February 28, 2021 - Part 2

“A Reconciling Life"
The Rev. Dr. Thomas Sheffield

This course looks at the Apostle Paul, who experienced a "transcendent" moment that led him to declare that reconciliation was at the heart of living as a Christian. Looking at words throughout Paul's letters, this course explores his life and the way his struggle to live out reconciliation can impact us today.

The Rev. Dr. Thomas Sheffield served as pastor to the Presbyterian Church in Morristown from 1973 to 2001. For the next 16 years he served the Presbytery of Denver as Presbytery Pastor, retiring in 2017. His work there included caring for ministers and congregations in all times of their lives, supporting the formation and strengthening of new worshipping communities including many who worship in languages other than English, and encouraging numerous missions including a partnership with the Presbytery of Zimbabwe. Currently he serves as coconvener of the Presbyterian Church (USA)'s Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique Mission Network and was named Pastor Emeritus of PCM in 2019. Tom is a graduate of The College of
Wooster (BA). Princeton Theological Seminary (MDiv) and Drew University Theological School (DMin). Kathy and Tom live in Toms River, New Jersey.

January 10, 2021 - "At the Heart" Reconciliation is at the heart of Paul's writing. But we also can see that reconciliation was for him and is now for us a life-long work.

Unfortunately, recordings of Parts 2 and 3 of “A Reconciling Life" with The Rev. Dr. Thomas Sheffield are not available

January 31, 2021 - "A Remaining Struggle" In the brief letter of Philemon Paul takes on the problem of slavery and the relationship between a believing master and believing slave. Can we see any light from Paul that can shine on our persistent problems of slavery and race?