Discovery Archive

 Fall 2021–Spring 2023 Discovery Courses

Identity, Race and Reconciliation in a Divided America

 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?

March 6–April 3, 2022

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

April 24–May 29, 2022

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

June 19­–August 28, 2022

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

Ordinary and Extraordinary Saints

September 25–October 16, 2022

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. Watch the video here.

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. Watch the video here.

Creation, EarthCare and Environmental Justice

October 23–November 20, 2023

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.

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?

December 4–December 18, 2022

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.

God, Love, Eros, and Incarnation: Considering the Song of Songs

January 8–29, 2023

The Song of Songs gives a blueprint for love and companionship. See how poets and artists and the writer’s contemporaries explored relationships in this Scripture.

January 8

Hide and Seek: Reading the Song of Songs with Poets with Nate Wall, Scholar-in-Residence at Church of the Redeemer, Toronto. Watch the video.

January 15

Love in the Hebrew Bible and the Song of Songs with the Rev. Beth Blunt, Director of Congregational Life and the Arts, Trinity Church Wall Street. Watch the video.

January 22

Visual Art and the Song of Songs with Dr. Susan Ward, retired professor of Art History, Rhode Island School of Design

January 29

The Song of Songs and the Return to Eden with Summerlee Staten, Executive Director of Faith Formation & Education, Trinity Church Wall Street

Spiritual Friendship: 

God’s Love in Community

February 5–19, 2023

In this series we’ll explore God’s love in community, with special emphasis on the relationship between Teresa of Ávila and St. John of the Cross.

February 5

The Practice of Spiritual Friendship with Dr. Kathy Bozzuti-Jones, Associate Director, Spiritual Practices, Retreats and Pilgrimage, Trinity Church Wall Street

February 12 and 19

Spiritual Friendship and Mysticism: Teresa of Ávila and St. John of the Cross with Mirabai Starr, teacher and author of Wild Mercy: Living the Fierce and Tender Wisdom of the Women Mystics.

Watch the February 12 video.

Watch the February 19 video.

Unity, Forgiveness, and Talking Across Difference

February 26–March 26, 2023

How do we resolve conflict and act as one body when we’re so different from one another?

February 26

A Forgiveness Toolkit: How do We Forgive? How are We Forgiven? with the Rev. Dr. Mark Bozzuti-Jones, Director, Spiritual Formation, Trinity Retreat Center. Watch the video here.

March 5

Conflict, Forgiveness, and Poetry with theologian and poet Pádraig Ó Tuama, author of Poetry Unbound: 50 Poems to Open Your World, host of the Poetry Unbound podcast, and subject of this recent New Yorker piece. Watch the video here.

March 12

Conflict, Forgiveness, and Poetry with poets Pádraig Ó Tuama and Dr. Peter Ajer, Professor of New Testament at the University of San Francisco. Watch the video here.

March 19

Conflict, Forgiveness, and Unity with The Rev. Kristin Miles, Priest and Director for Pastoral Care and Community, Trinity Church Wall Street. Watch the video.

March 26

Spiritual Unity with the Rev. Michael A. Bird, Vicar, Trinity Church Wall Street. Watch the video.

Lamentation and Joy in the Bible

April 16–May 21

The Bible mirrors our own lives, including the highs and the lows. Explore joy and lamentation in the Bible in this series, with a special session with pilgrims returning from Greece and Rome.

April 16, 23, and 30

Lamentations in the Bible with the Rev. Beth Blunt, Director of Congregational Life & Liturgy, and the Rev. Yein Kim, Congregational Life & Liturgy, Trinity Church Wall Street

Watch the April 16 video, the April 23 video, and the April 30 video.

May 7 and 14

Joy in Paul’s Letter to the Philippians with Summerlee Staten, Executive Director of Faith Formation & Education, Trinity Church Wall Street

May 21

In the Footsteps of Paul with the Trinity Pilgrims back from travels to Greece and Rome.

Spirituality, Christian Identity and Leadership: The Worldview of Desmond Tutu

The Very Rev. Dr. Michael Battle, Professor of Church and Society and Director of the Desmond Tutu Center at The General Theological Seminary, recently joined the Trinity community for a three-week series based on his new book, Desmond Tutu: A Spiritual Autobiography of South Africa’s Confessor.

Watch the recording of session one.

Watch the recording of session two.

Watch the recording of session three.

The Very Rev. Dr. Michael Battle

Currently appointed as Herbert Thompson Professor of Church and Society and Director of the Desmond Tutu Center at General Theological Seminary in New York, the Very Rev. Michael Battle, Ph.D. has an undergraduate degree from Duke University, a master’s of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, a master’s of Sacred Theology from Yale University, and a PhD in theology and ethics, also from Duke University. He was ordained a priest by Archbishop Desmond Tutu in 1993.

Battle has published eleven books, including his latest, Desmond Tutu: A Spiritual Biography of South Africa’s Confessor. You can learn more about his academic, parish, and peace work at his website, michaelbattle.com.

Prayer, Liturgy, & Contemplative Practice: Finding Our Footing in a Changed World

Watch recordings of Trinity clergy and special guest Lindsay Boyer as they discuss forms of contemplation and how contemplative practice can benefit all aspects of our lives.

September 26 Join Trinity’s Vicar, the Rev. Michael Bird, as he considers what it means to worship in this time and the place of contemplation within the Eucharistic liturgy. Watch the recording.

October 3 The Rev. Beth Blunt, Trinity’s Priest and Director for Congregational Life & Liturgy, discusses the Daily Office and its relationship to the rhythms of prayer in our lives. Watch the recording.

October 10 An introduction to lectio divina with Dr. Kathy Bozzuti-Jones, Trinity’s Associate Director, Spiritual Practices, Retreats, and Pilgrimage. Watch the recording.

October 17 The Rev. Phil Jackson, Trinity’s Priest-in-charge, discusses the life of Howard Thurman, Thomas Merton, and the Spiritual Path. Watch the recording.

October 24 Contemplative teacher Lindsay Boyer, the author of Centering Prayer for Everyone, talks about prayer practices to deepen our daily spiritual life. Watch the recording.

The Ministry of Hospitality at Trinity and in our Neighborhood

What does it mean to welcome friends and visitors, to provide hospitality? In these three sessions, hear perspectives rooted in scripture and expressed in Trinity’s current practice of hospitality in our hybrid world.

November 7 Summerlee Staten, Executive Director of Faith Formation and Education, shares what the Hebrew Scriptures teach us about the importance of hospitality in our own lives.

November 14 New Testament scholar, Dr. Deirdre Good, discusses the “hospitality of the table” in the New Testament. Watch the recording.

November 21 Congregational Council member Regina Jacobs leads us in a discussion about practices of hospitality at Trinity, in our neighborhood, and in a hybrid world.