St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Helena, Montana, Rev. Marianne Niesen
St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Helena, MT
Monday, September 06, 2010
St. Paul's is a Christian Community in the Heart of Helena, grounded in hospitality, growing in faith, giving in service and going in mission.

Pastor's Corner

August 29, 2010
 
     This week the school year gets underway, the St. Paul’s office returns to regular office hours and we launch into our final month before our 6th Annual St. Paul’s Expanding Faith Lecture series. This year, our lectures will be the weekend of September 24 - 26 and will feature Bishop John Shelby Spong, retired bishop of the Newark Diocese of the Episcopal Church. Bishop Spong is the author of several books, many of which we have been studying is small groups and classes over the past year. These include Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism, Eternal Life, Why Christianity Must Change or Die and Jesus for the Non-Religious. His books have sold over a million copies! He has appeared on 60 Minutes, Good Morning America, Fox News Live, Larry King Live, The O’Reilly Factor and William F. Buckley’s Firing Line. (That’s quite a variety!)
 
     Bishop Spong is one of the definitive voices of progressive Christianity and has tirelessly worked over his career to make theology understandable and accessible for the average lay person. We are incredibly blessed that he has agreed to be our lecturer this year. He has also agreed to preach at St. Paul’s at both services on Sunday morning, September 26th. Largely because of Bishop Spong’s tireless work on behalf of a more inclusive and open Christianity, he has been the target of much controversy but he has been and remains firmly committed to the gospel and the transformational power of the Christian message.
 
     Tickets are already in demand for the weekend and we expect a well-attended event. So, the bottom line is . . . put this on your calendars, get your tickets early and get ready for an awesome lecture series. Despite the added costs this year, we have committed to keep the ticket prices at last year’s level so as many as possible can attend.
 
     This weekend, I am attending a wedding in St. Louis. I am grateful to George Harper who is preaching today, Mary Linn Crouse who is our liturgist and to all those who are doing various things to make it possible for me to be away. I will return to Helena on Monday.
          Grace and peace,
               Marianne