Summer 2023
Mondays, July 10, 17, 24, 31. 6:00-8:00pm.
St. Clare Room in the New Life Center at St. Edward Parish
$30.00 per person - $50 for two persons
Description
Our annual Summer Bible Study provides an opportunity for participants to gather with an acknowledged scripture scholar to explore a particular book or theme from the Scriptures.
The 2023 summer study will give participants opportunities to explore the topics, themes, poetry, and meanings we find in the Book of Psalms. During each session, we will read samples from the Psalms and discuss how they speak to us today. After sharing our ideas, we will relate what we find in individual psalms to the patterns we discover throughout the entire book to see if our own interpretations can be made even more meaningful.
Please bring a bible to the class.
Learn more about our fee policy here.
Schedule
Session 1: July 10. Introducing the Book of Psalms
In this first session we will talk not only about what makes a psalm but also what a “book” looked like for the ancient world. We will identify different types of psalms and their formats. We also will call attention to the range of topics addressed in the Book of Psalms.
Psalms we will discuss: 1, 96, 41, 137
Session 2: July 17. God and Us in the Psalms
The Psalms are a record of a people at prayer and, for that reason, they strive to capture the full range of our relationship with God. One way to enter into a discussion of this relationship is to explore what the Psalms tell us about God and then try to understand how God relates to us.
Psalms we will discuss: 114, 148 (God as creator); 37, 119 (teacher); 24, 29 (king); 94, 145 (just judge)
Session 3: July 24. Us and God in the Psalms
Another way to talk about the psalms is to begin with how they depict us—God’s creation—and then see if we can learn more about our relationship to God
Psalms we will discuss: 3, 7 (individual complaint); 79, 80, 74 (communal complaint); 33. 114 (hymn); 139 (vengeance)
Session 4: July 31. The Psalms and Words
Because the Psalms are poetry, words are essential to their purpose and meaning. In this session we will revisit the poetic organization and meaning of the Psalms and look at how challenging it can be to translate these poems and hymns into English.
Psalms we will discuss: 42, 27, 32
Audience
This program is appropriate for adults and young adults who know a lot about the bible and for those who are just learning. It is particularly appropriate for adults and young adults in thresholds 3, 4, 5 and 6 of faith development.
> Click here to learn more about the thresholds of faith develoment.
About the Presenter
Dr. John Waldmeir recently retired as Professor of Religious Studies and Theology at Loras College. Dr. Waldmier received his Ph.D. in Religion and Literature from the University of Chicago and has taught at Catholic colleges in Detroit and Bismarck, North Dakota. At Loras Dr. Waldmeir taught courses in Catholic identity, sacred scriptures, world religions, and American religious traditions for twenty-two years. He has published six books, including Cathedrals of Bone--The Role of the Body in Contemporary Catholic Literature (2009), The Catholic Church in Ireland Today (with David Cochran, 2015) and In-Between Identities--Signs of Islam in Contemporary American Writing (2018).
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Registration
• By email: dbqwcaf@dbqarch.org
• Online: Click here to register online
Last Update: 05.27.23