Summer Spirituality Series to return to St. Peter’s May 31
On Thursday evenings between Memorial Day and Labor Day, St. Peter’s Church in Lewes will again offer the annual Summer Spirituality Series. This year promises an exciting and varied offering of topics related to the spiritual life in the 21st century. All events begin at 7 p.m., Thursdays in the parish hall unless noted otherwise.
Retired NASA scientist and astronomer Dr. Jim Mullaney will present The Biocosmos: Life Everywhere May 31. Mullaney has presented several times before and always offers an engaging discussion on the intersection of science and spirituality.
St. Peter’s Music Minister T.J. Thomas will offer An Evening with the Psalms June 7. Thomas will look at various forms to sing the Psalms, such as Anglican Chant and simple Plainsong.
Godly Play has been developed by the Rev. Jerome Berryman and spread across the country and the world. It is an exciting way to teach the essential stories of the Bible to young children, using the some of the principles of Montessori learning. St. Peter’s Family Minister Lorri Camilleri will provide an overview to this approach June 14. She will show how it can also be engaging for adults seeking to deepen their own spiritual lives.
YChromes, the only all-male a cappella group at the University of Delaware, will sing June 21 in the church sanctuary.
The Rev. Carlyle Gill will offer a presentation on the life and teaching of Jesus of Nazareth June 28. Drawing from a lifetime of prayer and as a practitioner of many spiritual disciplines, she will seek to remove the façade of nearly 2,000 years to get back to the essential Christ. Her talk is titled The Jesus I Know.
The Rev. Jeffrey Ross, rector of Saint Peter’s, will present a guided tour on the themes and spiritual significance of the many stained-glass windows in the church sanctuary July 5.
The Rev. Rita Nelson will be the speaker July 12. She will seek to answer questions about what Jesus would do in today’s world. Nelson brings a great deal of knowledge from serving congregations throughout the state.
A woman’s perspective on war will be presented by the Rev. Dr. Karis Graham, USAF colonel, July 19. Graham is a licensed ELCA pastor and chaplain. She has served the country in a variety of places around the world and in the war zones of Iraq and Afghanistan. Her studies in psychology provide insight into the challenges confronting modern-day service women and men.
The topic for July 26 will be local stewardship of the environment. Our (Micro)plastic Society will be presented by Dr. Jonathan Cohen, professor of the University of Delaware. Cohen has spent years studying the Delaware Bay and the impact of microplastics in the local ecosystem.
Attorney Meagan Sekscinski will talk Aug. 2 about planning for tomorrow and leaving a legacy of grace for those who come after. All people of faith should leave a will and make provision for those in their family and the community organizations they have supported. Sekscinski will show how to do this both now and in the future through wills and financial planning.
With most people carrying cellphones with fairly sophisticated cameras these days, the opportunity to practice photography is very accessible. Kathryn Harris, LCSW, a Coastal Camera Club member, will speak Aug 9 about photography as a spiritual practice.
Dr. Aimee Wiest, university professor and passionate lover of fine literature, will explore biblical references in world literature Aug. 16. Wiest brings a wealth of experience of many diverse genres from decades of study and teaching.
The Rev. Ray Michener, priest associate of St. Peter’s Church and retired USN chaplain, will talk about how the community can care for returning veterans Aug. 23. Michener was one of the first chaplains on the scene following the 1983 Beirut bombing of the United States Marine barracks, and he has been trained in the pastoral care and treatment of service men and women suffering from PTSD. His presentation will explore how to help integrate and support troops in community as they return from their service.
Fr. Perren Hayes will round out the season integrating theology and science with a presentation called God – a Study in Evolution! Aug. 30.
All presentations will be followed time for questions and answers and King’s Ice Cream. Everyone is welcome to attend. For more information, call 302-645-8479 or go to www.stpeterslewes.org.
