11:30 am in the Meade Room                    

Sundays in August, the clergy and lay staff will be offering a forum series called The Big Questions. What does our faith have to say about issues of marriage, money, or life after death? What does Christian tradition have to say about war or our relationship to people of other faiths? Come hear what the Bible, the Church Fathers and Mothers, and contemporary theologians have to say about these issues that have been so important throughout history and that continue to challenge us today. Bring your thoughts and your questions to these conversations, and together we will explore some possible answers to these questions – as well as all of the additional questions that those answers raise.

Aug. 1 ‘Til death us do part.’ Really? Where is God when we say, ‘I do’?

Why do more than 50 percent of marriages fail? What does the church say about marriage? What can you tell about a marriage from the outside? What makes a marriage healthy and long-lasting? And what does God have to do with all of it? Come with your spouse (or to find one!) and we'll explore the role of spirituality in marriage today.

Aug. 8 Is money really the root of all evil?

Scripture tells us that the love of money is the root of all evil. The 5,000 advertising messages we receive each day tell us we need more of something, or we need a better something, or we need a particular name brand of something. And yet, we strive to be good stewards of our resources and conserve and protect the world around us. How can we make sure our spending is in line with our values? How can we take the mystery out of money and go from the tightly closed-hand clenching our dollars to the open hand of abundance and generosity?

Aug. 15 Should Christians participate in war?

The New Testament and teachings of Jesus seem to answer this question in the negative. However, human experience does not necessarily allow for such a definitive answer. Integral to Christian discussions about the morality of violence and warfare is the “just war” tradition. But is it the only, best, or most faithful Christian response? From President Barak Obama’s favorite “philosopher” to an African bishop in a back-water town, we’ll hear a variety of Christian voices, explore our own, and struggle to hear God’s will.

Aug. 22 What about them? What does the church say about other faiths?

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6) and the classic position of Christian theology has been that non-Christians would end up in hell. Christian thinkers throughout history have challenged this belief and offered us alternatives ways of understanding different faiths. Should we be working to convert people of other faiths? Are we all on different paths to the same goal? We’ll explore these questions and seek to understand our responsibility and relationship to non-Christians.

Aug. 29 What happens when we die?

Our Christian faith is grounded in the belief that Jesus Christ has offered us eternal life in the gift of our baptism. But what will that eternal life look like, and when does it start? Come learn what the Bible, Christian tradition, and contemporary theologians have to say about life after death.