Timothy Slemmons, Associate Professor of Homiletics and Worship at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, will lead a program at Ghost Ranch Education & Retreat Center the week of June 1-7, 2015: Gathering the Fragments: Stewardship of the Word After the Lectionary Feast. This program is designed for experienced pastors who are weary of preaching from the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL), as well as newly-minted lay preachers and seasoned Sunday school teachers.
During the week participants will study overlooked tests in the RCL that have been reclaimed in Slemmon’s fourth year of readings, Year D. His lectionary project began with his belief that while the Revised Common Lectionary is good as far as it goes, it doesn't go far enough. After studying with Old Testament theologian Walter Brueggemann, he looked at omitted psalms and other overlooked Old Testament passages, and in 2004 began to design a proposed fourth year of readings from the entire Bible for preachers who wanted to venture beyond the lectionary. In 2012, his book, Year D: A Quadrennial Supplement, was published.
Slemmons says, “I hope and pray you will be inspired to venture beyond the more familiar rotation of texts into the strange and often wild, territory of forgotten and neglected texts. Our aim is simply to be faithful in our stewardship of God’s mysteries, and do as Jesus commands his disciples to do after the great feeding in John 6, namely, to gather up the fragments so that nothing may be wasted.”
The week is shaped by lecture and discussion in the mornings covering readings for the church year, and sample sermons and discussion in the evenings. Participants are encouraged to develop a seasonal or yearlong course of sermons using Year D texts. Afternoons will be free to enjoy all Ghost Ranch has to offer.
Rates package your tuition, course materials, lodging and meals together. All rates are per person, double occupancy unless otherwise specified.
Private Bath, $1,330; Shared Bath, $1,090; Communal Bath, $1000; Camping, $655. There is a special discount for seminarians.
Ghost Ranch is a national education and retreat center of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A., located in Northern New Mexico. Its synergy of beauty, its scientific value, its cultural and historical traditions and its spirituality make it like no other place in the world.
For more information please contact Becky A. Chamberlain, Faith Community Liaison, at 505-685-1000, ext. 4156 or beckyc@ghostranch.org.