Lenten Preaching Series Audio
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Lenten Preaching Series Archive
2010 Preachers | Waffle Shop | Parking | Volunteer Opportunities
February 18 —March 26 , 2010
2010 Lenten Noonday
Preaching Series
Mondays-Fridays 12:05-12:40 pm
Waffle Shop
Mondays-Fridays 11:00 am-1:30 pm
For over eighty consecutive years during the season of Lent, Calvary Episcopal Church has hosted a noonday preaching series featuring inspiring and diverse speakers. Through the Series, which is free and open to the public, Calvary provides numerous opportunities for spiritual renewal and growth, and a deeper relationship with God.
The Series features dynamic
local and national speakers from various denominations and faiths
and takes place Mondays through Fridays from 12:05 to 12:40 p.m.,
beginning the Thursday after Ash Wednesday, and continuing through
the Friday before Palm Sunday.
FEBRUARY 18 and 19 at 12:05 pm
Thursday and Friday
DR. MARCUS J. BORG
Author and Canon Theologian,
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral
Portland, OR
Thursday Feb. 18 - Lenten Journey: Salvation
Friday Feb. 19 - What's Salvation All About?
The 2010 Lenten Preaching Series will open with renowned “Jesus Scholar” Marcus Borg. He is the author of more than ten books, two of which have become best-sellers, Jesus: A New Vision and Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time, and published his most recent book in March 2009, The First Paul: Reclaiming the Radical Visionary Behind the Church’s Conservative Icon. With the highest of national and international credits, Borg’s deep concern for God’s justice is reflected in all of his published works and lectures. His remarkable memory, love of travel, and sense of humor flavor the presentation of his ground-breaking new approaches to traditional biblical work. An extraordinarily thoughtful human being, Borg’s depth of knowledge and grasp of spirituality and religion provide much to ponder.
FEBRUARY 22 and 23 at 12:05 pm
Monday and Tuesday
THE REV. BARBARA CAWTHORNE CRAFTON
Episcopal Priest and Author
Metuchen, NJ
Monday Feb. 22 -Forgiveness: What It Is & What It Isn't Pt. I
Tuesday Feb. 23 -Forgiveness: What It Is & What It Isn't Pt. II
Barbara Cawthorne Crafton is an Episcopal priest, spiritual director and author of many books as well as of the celebrated “Almost Daily eMo from the Geranium Farm,” read by thousands worldwide and found online at www.geraniumfarm.org. She was rector of St. Clement’s Church in Manhattan’s Theatre district, a chaplain on the waterfront of New York, and served both historic Trinity Church, Wall Street and St. John’s Church in Greenwich Village. Crafton was also a chaplain at Ground Zero during the recovery effort after the World Trade Center bombing. An actress, director and producer, she has worked for many years combining the lively arts and the life of faith. She is seen frequently on television both as a preacher and as a commentator on Hallmark’s “New Morning” and “America at Worship.” Crafton’s books include: The Sewing Room, Let Us Bless the Lord (Vols. 1-4), Meditations on the Psalms, and Mass in Time of War, a book about the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in the aftermath of the World Trade Center bombing. Her most recent book is Jesus Wept: When Faith and Depression Meet, which focuses on how people of faith experience depression.
FEBRUARY 24 at 12:05 pm
Wednesday
THE REV. KEITH NORMAN
Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church-Broad
Memphis, TN
Wednesday Feb. 24 -Viewing Service As More Than Ritual
Pastor of First Baptist Church-Broad, located in the Binghampton community of Memphis, Keith Norman is a well-known preacher and evangelist. He has been successful in implementing an on-going campaign of community revitalization and strategic planning, including The H.O.P.E. Zone (Haven of Perfective Empowerment). Upon completion, The H.O.P.E. Zone will be dedicated to Christian education, senior living, temporary housing for the homeless and other much-needed ministry and services for the people of God and the community at large.
FEBRUARY 25 at 12:05 pm
Thursday
THE REV. DAVID BRECKENRIDGE
Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church
Memphis, TN
Thursday Feb. 25 -Why Not Take All Of Me?
A Hattiesburg, Mississippi native, David Breckenridge is compelled by how the story of God’s grace seeks to transform all our stories into ones of redemption and hope, joy and promise. “Preaching,” says Breckenridge, “is the art of connecting the ancient stories of scripture to our story and in the process revealing the Storyteller behind them all as one who loves us more than we will ever know or understand.” First Baptist Church of Memphis, located at Poplar and East Parkway, has served as a lighthouse of hope and love for over 170 years. Breckenridge has served as pastor there since August 2008.
FEBRUARY 26 at 12:05 pm
Friday
THE REV. DR. CRAIG STRICKLAND
Senior Pastor, Hope Presbyterian Church
Cordova, TN
Friday Feb. 25 -Love: The Ingredient of a New Life
Craig Strickland, founding pastor of Hope Presbyterian Church in Cordova, started Hope Church 22 years ago with a vision to minister to unchurched people throughout Cordova and East Shelby County. Wanting to reach two-timers (folks who attend church only at Christmas and Easter), he assembled a core group of supporters who set out to create a different kind of church in Memphis. Today, some 8,000 people worship at Hope each weekend. Strickland is also a recognized consultant and teacher in the field of church planting and development. Having recently participated in Faith-Based Initiatives forums at the White House, he has spoken to thousands of pastors from multiple denominations around the world and recently published his
first book: Rethinking Reason: With so many different faiths, does someone have to be wrong for someone to be right?
MARCH 1 and 2 at 12:05 pm
Monday-Tuesday
PHYLLIS TICKLE
Author and Founding Editor of the Religion Department of Publishers Weekly
Millington, TN
Monday Mar. 01 - Publisher's Clearinghouse; 1st Edition
Tuesday Mar. 02 -The Witch of Endor
A brilliant storyteller and author of some two dozen books on religion and spirituality, Phyllis Tickle has special insight into how and what Americans believe. Her newest book The Great Emergence- How Christianity Is Changing and Why, describes the social and cultural changes that are affecting Christianity in North America today. In The Words of Jesus, Tickle engages and inspires readers by expressing the relevance of Jesus through His own words. With her series of books The Divine Hours and The Night Offices, she reconnects Christians to the holiness of their everyday lives through the ancient practice of fixed-hour prayer. Monthly, she writes the blog "First Sundays" for www.explorefaith.org.
MARCH 3 and 4 at 12:05 pm
Wednesday-Thursday
SARA MILES
Author and Executive Director of St. Gregory’s Food Pantry, San Francisco, CA
Wednesday Mar. 03 - Hear These Words and Act
Thursday Mar. 04 - Healing, Not Cure
Sara Miles is the Director of Ministry at St. Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church in San Francisco and works with churches and community groups to connect liturgy and service. Author of Take This Bread, Sara’s newest book is Jesus Freak: Feeding, Healing, Raising the Dead, in which she tells what happened when she decided to follow the flesh and blood Jesus by doing something real. For everyone afraid to feed hungry strangers, love the unlovable, or go to dark places to bless and heal, she offers hope. She holds out the promise of a God who gave a bunch of housewives and fishermen authority to forgive sins and raise the dead, and who continues to call us to action. And she tells how the ordinary people around her are transformed by taking up God’s work in the world.
MARCH 5 at 12:05
Friday
THE REV. JOHN PITZER, O.P.
Associate Pastor, St. Peter Catholic Church and Director of St. Martin de Porres Shrine & Institute,
Memphis, TN
Friday Mar. 05 - Turning Over The Tables
Associate Pastor of St. Peter Catholic Church, John Pitzer is also Director of St. Martin de Porres Shrine & Institute, a ministry that reaches beyond boundaries of race, class, denomination, and nationality to promote social justice, spiritual growth, and healing works. Pitzer’s work with the Shrine has allowed him to collaborate with churches of all denominations in order to bring programs to the Memphis area that both challenge and support spiritual growth. In addition to his work in Memphis, Pitzer has led numerous preaching events and retreats around the country.
MARCH 8 at 12:05 pm
Monday
THE REV. DR. MAXIE DUNNAM
Chancellor, Asbury Theological Seminary
Wilmore, KY
Monday Mar. 08 - A Plea of Grace
Maxie Dunnam is chancellor of Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky, where he also served as president from 1994 through 2004. Widely known as an evangelist, leader, and pioneer in small-group ministries, he organized and pastored three United Methodist churches before becoming the world editor of Upper Room Fellowship. Dunnam created the Upper Room Cursillo that later became the Walk to Emmaus. He served twelve fruitful years as senior minister of the six-thousand-member Christ United Methodist Church in Memphis. His tenure at Christ Methodist Church was marked by a commitment to evangelism, inner-city ministries, housing for the working poor, outreach to the recovering community, and innovative worship. Dunnam has authored more than 40 books, most notably The Workbook of Living Prayer, which sold over one million copies, Alive in Christ, and This Is Christianity.
MARCH 9 at 12:05 pm
Tuesday
THE REV. BILL MURRAY
Rector, St. Elisabeth’s Episcopal Church
Bartlett, TN
Tuesday Mar. 09 - What Are the Odds?
A former Youth Minister at Grace-St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, a coordinator of Youth Week at Kanuga Conference Center, and past leader of the Diocesan Youth Council for the Diocese of West Tennessee, Bill Murray’s passion and interest rests with the children and youth of any community. His preaching style is born from engaging the youth and young adults of the church while inspiring those of all ages. Murray leads St. Elisabeth’s and is in the process of building a new church on 38 acres adjacent to St. Columba Conference Center in Bartlett. Despite his work as youth leader and priest, he is often best known for spending his college years as Pouncer, the University of Memphis Mascot.
MARCH 10 at 12:05 pm
Wednesday
THE REV. EYLEEN FARMER
Priest-in-Charge, St. John’s Episcopal Church
Hagerstown, MD
Wednesday Mar. 10 - Beyond Blue
An eloquent and awe-inspiring Southern Baptist preacher turned Episcopal priest, Eyleen Farmer is currently serving as Priest-in-Charge at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Hagerstown, Maryland. A gifted preacher noted for being able to connect the ancient faith story to the joys and challenges of contemporary life, Farmer is a long-time Memphian with a background of compassion in local hospice care and a Master of Divinity degree from Vanderbilt University. She also has a Bachelor’s degree in history and a Master of Arts in Teaching, both from the University of Memphis. Farmer served at Calvary Episcopal Church from 2006 to 2009, during which she helped to create a Bible Study curriculum for young people using art and popular culture.
MARCH 11 at 12:05 pm
Thursday
THE REV. JIM BOYD
Presdient, BRIDGES, Inc.
Memphis, TN
Thursday Mar. 10 - Wild Space
Accepting the invitation to become President of BRIDGES, USA in 1995, Jim Boyd has become a “bridge” himself, tirelessly advancing the organization’s mission to build a community of leaders to advance racial, economic, educational and environmental justice. It was in this new calling that Boyd discovered his true life’s work as a servant leader, building “bridges” through the organization’s programs: strengthening cultural and racial diversity and developing leadership skills in youth; empowering adults through education and workforce development; and increasing awareness of environmental problems and exploring sustainable solutions. Today, more than 15,000 youth and adults are directly affected by BRIDGES programs, and the agency has become a national model in experiential, programmatic work – work that seeks systemic change in the city of Memphis.
MARCH 12 at 12:05 pm
Friday
THE REV. DR. COZETTE GARRETT
Director of the Sustaining Pastoral Excellence Program, Memphis Theological Seminary,
Memphis, TN
Cozette Garrett is an ordained Disciples of Christ minister who served as the Senior Pastor of Community of Faith Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Memphis for seven years. She also is the Director of the Sustaining Pastoral Excellence Program which is a ministry of Memphis Theological Seminary. Garrett is known as a lively and informative preacher, workshop leader and speaker who teaches and trains in a variety of settings. Her concern for the health and wholeness of people is a common thread that runs throughout her presentations and sermons.
MARCH 15 and 16 at 12:05 pm
Monday and Tuesday
RABBI MICAH GREENSTEIN
Senior Rabbi, Temple Israel
Memphis, TN
A brilliant and caring preacher/teacher, not-to-be-missed Micah Greenstein packs the house at the Lenten Series. The Senior Rabbi of Temple Israel and one of Memphis’ most significant leaders, Greenstein’s compassion and vast knowledge of Judaism and Christianity lend a different perspective to our Lenten practices. He is two-time President of the Memphis Ministers Association, serves on the Executive Board of the National Civil Rights Museum, and is past-President of the Southwest Association of Reform Rabbis, covering six states. He was the first Rabbi ever to speak in the Lenten Series, and in 2005, he was selected to be the principal speaker for the State of Tennessee at the Washington National Cathedral.
MARCH 17 at 12:05 pm
Wednesday
THE REV. OLLIE V. RENCHER
Associate Rector for Pastoral Care & Social Outreach
Church of the Holy Communion
Memphis, TN
Since 2008, Ollie Rencher has served the Memphis region as Associate Rector for Pastoral Care and Social Outreach at Church of the Holy Communion (Episcopal). Originally from Clarksdale, Mississippi, Rencher offers that “Memphis continues to be a familiar and yet unfamiliar community” in which God’s work is shared with many faithful citizens of all sorts and conditions. Through his ministry and life, he seeks deeper conversations and actions focused on human respect, racial reconciliation, peace and hope in all communities. A 2003 graduate of The General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church in New York, he reflects on the priesthood as “fun work” and enjoys living life to the fullest as a gift from God.
MARCH 18 at 12:05 pm
Thursday
THE REV. DR. STACY L. SPENCER
Founder & Senior Pastor, New Direction Christian Church
Memphis, TN
Arguably one of the country’s emerging pastoral leaders and visionaries, Stacy Spencer serves as Senior Pastor of New Direction Christian Church in Memphis, one of the country’s fastest growing congregations with a membership of more than 13,000 in three campuses in the Memphis area and another in Dutwya, South Africa. The Olmstead, Kentucky native is a tech-savvy pastor who ministers to thousands throughout cyberspace using Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites. Spencer’s newest book, U-Turn: 12 Step Guide to Spiritual Transformation, was written to help people experience a deeper and more fulfilling relationship with Christ.
MARCH 19 at 12:05 pm
Friday
THE REV. DR. FRANK THOMAS
Senior Servant, Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church
Memphis, TN
In demand as a preacher, speaker, lecturer, and revivalist, Frank Thomas, an ordained minister and pastor for almost 30 years, is the Senior Pastor of Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church in Memphis. Thomas regularly shares his gift of preaching in the Master of Divinity Program at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago. His first preaching method book, They Like to Never Quit Praisin’ God: The Role of Celebration in Preaching, was printed in 1997. He also has written What’s Love Got To Do With It? Love, Power, Sex, and God: The Workbook; Spiritual Maturity: Preserving Congregational Health and Balance; and many others.
MARCH 22 and 23 at 12:05 pm
Monday and Tuesday
THE REV. DR. DANIEL P. MATTHEWS
Co-Chair of Development
The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine
New York, NY
Dan Matthews is one of the Lenten Series’ perennial favorites. His feisty and inspirational stories give great insight into the role of a Christian and leave listeners on the edge of their seats. Since 1972, Matthews’ work has been concentrated in larger, inner-city parishes, but he also has been influential in bringing together faith groups and clergy through the Hallmark Television Channel, the Clergy Leadership Project, and the publication of Spirituality and Health. For years the rector of Trinity Wall Street in New York City, Matthews played a major role in the aftermath of September 11, 2001, as an apostle for hope and healing in lower Manhattan as the district sought to rebuild itself.
MARCH 24 at 12:05 pm
Wednesday
THE REV. BURTON D. CARLEY
Minister, First Unitarian Church of Memphis
Memphis, TN
Burton Carley has served The Church of the River on the banks of the Mississippi River in downtown Memphis for 26 years. He has led the congregation through two expansions and the establishment of a second suburban church. As a national leader in the Unitarian Universalist Association, Carley served for ten years on the Board of Trustees and gave the 2005 Berry Street Lecture, the longest running lectureship in America, established in 1820. Recently he published two prayers in a meditation anthology, With or Without Candlelight. Carley’s preaching, teaching, and writing is a thoughtful and inspirational voice interpreting the intersection of progressive theology and contemporary culture.
MARCH 25 and 26 at 12:05 pm
Thursday and Friday
THE REV. ALVIN O. JACKSON
Senior Pastor of Park Avenue Christian Church
New York City, NY
Dynamic former Senior Pastor of Memphis’ Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church, Alvin Jackson became Senior Pastor of Park Avenue Christian Church in 2006. When he left MBCC in 1998, it had a participating membership of over 7,800, making it the largest Disciples congregation in the U.S. and Canada. A forceful and inspiring preacher, Jackson has provided courageous and energetic public vision and leadership for all of the congregations he has served.