Adults

As we regather on this Rally Day in the 250^th anniversary year of our church, we will consider how this church has shaped our faith journeys and how we have put that faith into action.

Members of the Meeting House family will share stories of the many ways they have given their time and talents and how those acts of generosity have been shaped by and have shaped their faith.  Come join members of the choir, the Dismantling Racism Team, Education Ministry, Youth Group, and food & feeding programs as they share their stories. As we celebrate our past, we now look forward to our future.

A Conversation with Justin Wilson and Senator Adam Ebbin

Justin Wilson was re-elected mayor of Alexandria in 2021, after initially being elected to that office in 2018. Previously, he served eight years on the Alexandria City Council. He graduated from high school in Northern Virginia and earned his undergraduate degree at VCU.  He was a Fellow at the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at UVA.  He is a senior director at Amtrak, in addition to serving as mayor.  He and his wife, Alex, have two children who attend school in Alexandria.

Senator Adam P. Ebbin took office in 2012 after serving for eight years in the House of Delegates.
 
As a leader in the General Assembly, Adam has fought to advance progressive priorities, including preventing gun violence, making it easier to vote, and fighting for equality for all Virginians.

​A native of Commack, New York, Adam has resided in Alexandria since 1989 and is a 1985 graduate of American University in Washington, DC. He was a Fellow with the Flemming Foundation for Legislative Leadership in 2006 and at the University of Virginia’s Sorensen Institute of Political Leadership in 2000. In 2012, Adam was also a Fellow at Harvard University’s Kennedy School program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government.

Blood Drive Donors Wanted! The annual Leslie Sherman Memorial blood drive sponsored by the Board of Deacons will be on Sunday, September 25 from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM in Fellowship Hall. Be sure to register early for best selection of time.  Questions? Contact Tim Elmore at twelmore@gmail.com.

This series will explore Scripture recommended by Brian D. McLaren in his book, We Make the Road by Walking. The selected Biblical passages will be familiar, but we will seek new perspectives.

As McLaren says, “The road of faith is not finished. There is beautiful land ahead, terra nova waiting to be explored. It will take a lot of us, journeying together, to make the road….The Christian faith is still learning, growing and changing, and so are we.”

One need not purchase the book and each class is a separate study.

Led by Meeting House member, Rob Dunn. Rob is a retired attorney. He is involved at the church in a variety of ways: he’s served as a Deacon, an Elder, and on various committees, both at the church and Presbytery levels.

October 30: Establishing the Biblical Canon, presented by the Rev. Katherine Grieb, Emeritus Professor of Biblical Interpretation and New Testament, Virginia Theological Seminary.

Our Bible was not put together in a vacuum.  Out of multiple manuscripts, competing versions of similar texts, and differing thoughts on the nature of Christianity, early church leaders over decades brought together a canon for the universal church.  What went into these decisions?  Who were the deciders, and what was gained and lost in this process.  Dr. Katherine Grieb will take us through this inspired process and provides us with the confidence that the choices made leaves us in good hands.

The Rev. A. Katherine Grieb, Ph.D., is an affiliated faculty member and director of the Center for Anglican Communion Studies. She joined the VTS faculty in 1994. Her expertise includes Greek language, New Testament Interpretation, Romans, Hebrews, social justice, Biblical storytelling, and theatre. Before coming to VTS, she taught at Bangor Theological Seminary.

November 6: The History of Biblical Translation, Linda Lanam, MTS, Teaching Assistant in Old Testament (retired) at Virginia Theological Seminary and Meeting House Elder

Our Bible did not begin as written manuscripts ready for publication and intended for individual readers. These texts have their own traditions, whether as ancient stories passed down through the centuries or words of poets and prophets recalled by a people in exile or letters written to far-flung communities in the ancient Mediterranean world. What do biblical scholars and archeologists believe to be the origins of the texts that would become our sacred scripture? Linda Lanam will lead us through a consideration of what voices we may hear in some of the most familiar texts.

Linda Lanam who has been an active member of this congregation for more than 20 years and is currently serving her third term as a ruling elder, having previously served one term as a deacon. After a 30+ year career as a corporate lawyer, Linda took early retirement and enrolled in the Master’s program at Virginia Theological Seminary where she received her Master’s in Theological Studies cum laude in 2009. Over the last 13 years she has served as preacher and liturgist at the Meeting House on a number of occasions in addition to teaching a number of adult education classes and currently co-leading a weekly Bible study.

November 13: The Impact of Culture on Translation, presented by Rev. Alice Ogden Bellis, Ph.D., an ordained Presbyterian minister and Professor of Hebrew Bible, School of Divinity, Howard University.

Our Bible is not just theological and spiritual in its impact. It is also a piece of culture, of many cultures in fact. To that end, the Bible has been both translated and paraphrased. Particular translations have become symbolic for particular religious traditions.  Dr. Bellis will lead us through a discussion of the differences between Biblical translation and paraphrase, looking at how and why Bibles are produced for different audiences.  Why do some churches prefer one translation over another.  Culture plays a huge role in this.  Side-by-side comparisons of some of the variations among these texts will show how different translations of the same verse can affect the way we personally interpret what we read.

November 20: The Most Recent Translations and the Driving Purpose Behind Them, presented by Rev. Alice Ogden Bellis, Ph.D., an ordained Presbyterian minister and Professor of Hebrew Bible, School of Divinity, Howard University.

Our Bible was not originally written in English, not even in the lovely English of the King James Version with which many of us grew up. Our Bible is a translated text and every act of translation is an act of interpretation. Dr. Bellis will lead us through a discussion of the process of translation, why there are multiple translations and what this means to us in our understanding of Biblical text.

“Advent” means “coming” — the coming of Jesus Christ into the world. Christians around the world prepare on each of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas with special liturgy, hymns, and candle lighting. On this first Sunday in Advent, join all ages in preparing your hearts and homes for the coming Christmas season. We will learn more about the meaning of Advent, light the first Advent candle together, and share a special Advent blessing. We will provide greens, wreath forms, and candles for all, but if you have additional greens of all kinds to share, we invite you to bring them, along with clippers for easier assembly.

There is something remarkable around the entire conception and subsequent birth of our Savior that is the mystery and the miracle. What would it be like to explore these Advent themes with mystery and wonder instead of what is normally done? In a world of uncertainty, join Moderator of National Capital Presbytery, Elder Shani McIlwain for a 3 week Advent series that looks deep within to find hope, peace, and joy for today!

Known for her candid personal stories, Shani E. McIlwain weaves her “messy” moments of life into practical teaching lessons for others. She is a sought-after speaker, pulpit supply preacher, retreat leader, Moderator-elect of National Capital Presbytery, and Ruling Elder at Faith Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) in Washington, DC. She serves on the NEXT Church strategy team, works as a group facilitator and an executive coach, leading individuals and groups in faithful and transparent conversations about dismantling racism and white supremacy.

Shani is the 2018 Indie Author Legacy Awards™ Distinction of Excellence Honoree, a prolific global writer, and a five-time bestselling author. Her works include the inspirational devotionals Sharing My Mess: 90 Days of Prayer and Spiritual Intimacy with God and It’s Time To Make a Change: 30 Days to Renew Your Heart, Mind, and Soul, and the forthcoming self-help short read Awkward Silence: Practical Activities for White Ministry leaders confronting racism.

She is also the host of her own Facebook Live weekly web show, Sharing With Shani, which highlights ordinary people working for an extraordinary God–all while sharing love, light, and life with thousands of listeners across the country.  Through humor, honesty, and compassion, Shani strives to teach women and men how to use daily practices to form a spiritual and intimate relationship with God.