Jesus Seminar coming to First Presbyterian in late September

Jesus’ Word is coming to First Presbyterian Church is Elizabethton in a few weeks, though the vocabulary might be a little different than what church-goers might be used to from Sunday School.

Pastor Brian Wyatt said Westar Institute’s Jesus Seminar last appeared at his church about a decade ago, but he himself has attended it many times over the years.

“I have attended a half-dozen of these,” Wyatt said.

He said many Christians often face difficulty in talking about their faith in the various political conversations and debates in today’s world, in part because the language used to discuss the two topics are often different.

“This is about learning that newer language,” he said. “We live in a time where we no longer think of living in a three-tier universe. We have a greater understanding of the world around us.”

As a result, he said, many Christians are unable to carry their spiritual discussions outside of church services each Sunday, which he said is a shame.

“I noticed a gap between what I talk about in church and the conversations during the rest of the week,” he said.

This is disappointing, he said, because matters of faith have the potential to be just as relevant to regular life now as they did when the faith began.

“Christianity and spirituality still have something to offer in the 21st century,” Wyatt said.

The seminar is a project from Westar Institute, who Wyatt said produces some of the best religious scholars in the country.

It teaches “Process” spirituality, which seeks to merge the political and spiritual worlds into something many different people can engage with, regardless of where on the aisle a person sits.

Already, the event has drawn people from as far out as North Carolina and Virginia.

“I am thrilled to be part of the conversation and extend it to these larger populations,” he said.

Signing up beforehand is not required, he said, though it will provide a discount to the ticket price.

The event will run from Friday evening, September 20, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. through a series of day-time sessions on Saturday, September 21, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Ticket prices include $20 for Friday evening, $30 for each morning and afternoon session or $75 for the whole weekend.

For those looking for more information, contact Wyatt at 423-741-5076 or Westar at 719-201-6535.

First Presbyterian Church is located at 119 West F Street.

“Part of this is to offer a language to communicate to a world that does not speak [church] language anymore,” Wyatt said.

SportsPlus

Community

Elizabethton Senior Center Schedule

Local news

Site plan approved for $40 million higher education center

Local news

A visit to remember: Unaka Lady Rangers honor legend Eula Lee Donnelly

Local news

Elizabethton Parks and Recreation seeks community input for Cat Island Park redevelopment

Local news

American Legion Watauga Post 49 receives new charter and new members

Local news

Scouting America Troops forge ongoing partnership with Unicoi County Animal Shelter

Arrests

Carter County man charged after firing gun over truck noise

Arrests

Carter County man arrested for shooting into occupied garage

Local news

General Sessions Court

Arrests

Carter County Sheriff’s Department reports arrests

Local news

Black Jack Symphony presents Jimmy Buffet music June 21

Church News

Church Briefs

Local news

Crossroads Craftworks and Made on Elk launch Art Bar for creative night out

Arrests

Elizabethton Police Department reports arrests

Local news

Louie Greene Scholarship Fund launched to support Happy Valley High School graduates

Local news

Niswonger Children’s Hospital invites community to send Valentine’s Day cards to patients

Local news

Ross, Boys & Girls Club partner for annual fundraiser to help local kids thrive

Local news

Disaster Relief mobile unit will be at Boys and Girls Club Tuesday

Local news

Milligan’s ‘Two Cats + A Herd of Buffalo’ returns to Dos Gatos 

Local news

Humane Society changes address

Local news

Shamrock Shake returns to area McDonald’s

Local news

Tri-Cities commercial real estate on the upswing

Church News

How has Jesus been a good shepherd in your life?

Local news

East Tennessee musician brings home first Grammy