Discovery Adult Education

Ordinary and Extraordinary Saints

10am, Sundays, September 25-October 16, Trinity Commons and online.

We often think of saints as perfect and one dimensional. In this series we learn about the lives of people who served, sacrificed, and followed their faith calling and explore what they can teach us about our own life of faith.

September 25

Elizabeth Burrow, courageous journalist in Arkansas, fought segregation in the 1950s and was close friends with Dorothy Day. Join the Rev. Elizabeth Edman, Burrow’s grandniece, to learn how these two ordinary saints dug deep into their faith and stood against injustice.

October 2

Edith Cavell was a WWI nurse who tended the war injured and helped soldiers escape on both sides of the conflict. Her bravery is depicted in artist Brian Whelan’s “The Stations of Edith Cavell.” Ruth Frey, from the faith formation team, will discuss Cavell’s life and invite the Discovery community to contemplate Whelan’s Stations.

October 9

The Rev. Pauli Murray had a profound impact on the judicial system and racial equity in this country. Join Barbara Lau, Executive Director of the Pauli Murray Center, to learn about Murray’s life and legacy.

October 16

Join the Very Rev. Dr. Kelly Brown Douglas, Dean of the Episcopal Divinity School at Union Theological Seminary and Trinity’s Theologian-in-Residence as she discusses the spirituality of the Rev. Pauli Murray and how her faith fueled her work for justice. 

Creation, EarthCare and Environmental Justice

When God began to create the heavens and the earth, the earth was complete chaos, and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from Godswept over the face of the waters.  Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. –Genesis 1:1-3

October 23

Summerlee Staten, Executive Director for Faith Formation and Education, speaks to Discovery about the Tree of Life, and the inter-connected story of the Bible and Creation.

October 30: no class

November 6 and 13

Dr. Ellen Davis, Professor of New Testament at Duke Divinity School, joins Discovery for a two-week discussion on the Bible and ecology.

November 20

Eco-Philosopher and writer Lyanda Haupt, joins Discovery to talk about her acclaimed book Rooted: Life at the Crossroads of Science, Nature and Spirit.

Hospitality of the Table and Food Justice: How are we Physically and Spiritually Fed?

God said, “See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food.” –Genesis 1:29

December 4

Join Trinity’s Program Coordinator for Outreach, Metha Balasquides, as he talks about Trinity’s current Food insecurity initiatives and ways you can get involved in caring for those in Trinity’s neighborhood.

December 11

Regina Jacobs, Chair of Trinity’s Hospitality Committee, will speak to Discovery about hospitality of the table.

December 18

Lyla June, Indigenous public speaker, artist, scholar, and community organizer, talks to Discovery about Food justice and indigenous food sovereignty.

For an archive of recent 2022 Discovery classes see below. For 2021 classes, click here.

Race, Slavery, Freedom, and the New Testament

10am, Sundays, January 9-30, 2022

January 9 and 16  Dr. Peter Ajer, Professor of New Testament at Church Divinity School of the Pacific, joins Discovery for a two-week discussion on the Epistle of Philemon. Watch the videos of session one and session two.

January 23 and 30  Dr. Lisa Bowens, Professor of New Testament at Princeton Theological Seminary, leads a two-week discussion about her book, African American Readings of Paul: Reception, Resistance and Transformation. Please note: the January 23-30 sessions will not be recorded.

Identity, Race and Reconciliation in a Divided America

10am Sundays, February 6-27, 2022

February 6  Join the Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers as she speaks about her book, The Church Cracked Open: Disruption, Decline, and New Hope for Beloved Community. Following Canon Spellers’ talk, the Discovery community will engage in a three-week discussion of her book.

February 13, 20, and 27  Community response discussion on The Church Cracked Open.

The Book of Job: Where is God when We Suffer?

10am Sundays, March 6-April 3, Trinity Commons and Online

Please note, in-person capacity is limited; registration and proof of vaccination are required. 

March 6  Dr. Choon-Leong Seow, Professor of Hebrew Bible at Vanderbilt Divinity School, discusses the book of Job in the Hebrew Bible, and the ways in which Job’s story of suffering continues to speak to us today. Watch the recording.

March 13  Dr. Choon-Leong Seow discusses the book of Job and its images through visual art. Watch the recording.

March 20  Rabbi Darren Levine of Tamid: The Downtown Synagogue, speaks about the book of Job in Judaism. Watch the recording.

March 27  Summerlee Staten, Executive Director for Faith Formation and Education, moderates a discussion on the book of Job with the Discovery community.

April 3  Marilyn Green and members of Trinity’s Movement Choir, share the inspiration behind their Sacred Dance piece, “The Book of Job.” Watch the recording.

The Movement Choir will perform “The Book of Job” on Sunday, April 3, at 1pm in the Parish Hall at Trinity Commons.

The Parable of the Talents:  Introducing Trinity’s New Stained-Glass Window

10am Sundays, April 24–May 29, Trinity Commons and Online

Please note, in-person capacity is limited; registration and proof of vaccination are required.

April 24  Join Dr. Susan Ward, Professor of Art History at Rhode Island School of Design and Trinity parishioner, as she teaches on the history of stained glass in religious settings. Watch the video.

May 1  Dr. Susan Ward discusses the stained glass at our own beloved Trinity Church. Watch the video.

May 8 The Rev. Phillip Jackson discusses the new stained glass window and how the Parable of the Talents speaks to Trinity’s context specifically. Watch the video.

May 15  Join Dr. Susan Ward as she leads an in-person and virtual tour of select stained-glass windows at Trinity Church.

May 22  Join Summerlee Staten, Executive Director of Faith Formation, for a Bible study on the Parable of the Talents as Trinity celebrates the newest stained-glass window. Watch a clip.

May 29  Join Summerlee Staten as she moderates a discussion about renowned stained-glass artist Thomas Denny, the designer of Trinity’s new stained-glass window, as we learn about his artistic process and the meaning of this new work for Trinity’s community and beyond.

A Study of Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians

10am, Sundays, June 19­–August 28, Trinity Commons and Online

This summer, Discovery will explore Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians with insights on Paul’s views of love, spiritual gifts, and resurrection, from Dr. Lisa Bowens, Professor of New Testament at Princeton Theological Seminary. Each month will feature one “Bible toolkit” session with Dr. Bowens followed by parishioner-moderated discussions. 

Section One: Introducing the Corinthians

June 19 Bible Toolkit with Dr. Lisa Bowens, Professor of New Testament at Princeton Theological Seminary. The Bible toolkit helps us explore Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians in its ancient Near Eastern context, its place in the Biblical canon, and how it still speaks to us today.

June 26 Chapter Two­— Parishioner-moderated discussion

July 3 Chapter Three— Parishioner-moderated discussion

July 10 Chapter Four— Parishioner-moderated discussion

Section Two: Spiritual Gifts, Love, and Community

July 17 Bible Toolkit with Dr. Lisa Bowens, Professor of New Testament at Princeton Theological Seminary. With special focus on Paul’s understanding of spiritual gifts and love, Dr. Bowen will help explore Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians in its ancient Near Eastern context and how it still speaks to us today.

July 24 Chapter 12— Parishioner-moderated discussion

July 31 Chapter 13— Parishioner-moderated discussion

August 7 Chapter 14— Parishioner-moderated discussion

Section Three: What is the Resurrection?

August 14 Bible Toolkit with Dr. Lisa Bowens, Professor of New Testament at Princeton Theological Seminary. With special focus on Paul’s understanding of resurrection, Dr. Bowen will help us explore Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians in its ancient Near Eastern context and how it still speaks to us today.

August 21 Chapter 15—Parishioner-moderated discussion

August 28 Chapter 16­— Parishioner-moderated discussion