Take On Lent 2025

This class is at capacity.

This “inquirer’s class” is designed for the curious: people who are new to The Episcopal Church, new to the Cathedral, interested in baptism, confirmation, reception from a different faith tradition, or simply eager to study with a new community. Newcomers and regulars alike will explore this essential question: what might it mean to join this Episcopal branch of the Jesus movement?

The five sessions will cover our Anglican roots and theology, surveys of the Old and New Testaments, the Book of Common Prayer and our sacramental life together, and finally an instructional Eucharist that will explain how and why we worship the way we do.

Important Note: Participants must commit to all sessions. This class a limited capacity, and is not available to join after March 11.

details

Location: Cathedral Library Boardroom
Facilitators: Vicar Dana Corsello and clergy

Do the politics of the next four years have you feeling unmoored? Holy Scripture is filled with stories of exile, with stories of destruction and separation, even martyrdom. It’s within these stories that we hear of the trials and tribulations of the people forced from what is familiar to the unknown. The wilderness and uncertainty of exile enliven the creativity of God’s people, giving birth to hope and human flourishing. By studying these scriptures, we witness how all creation can thrive and flourish even on the borderlands of home and unfamiliarity. Join us as we delve into scripture with theologians and biblical scholars, breaking open the stories to discover how we can thrive and find hope in the wilderness.

Participants may attend the full session or only register for topics of interest to them. All are asked to bring their own Bible or Bible with commentary to read and mark during the study. The New International Version (NIV) and the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) are common translations used in worship and authorized for use by The Episcopal Church.

details

Location: Bethlehem Chapel
Facilitators: Vicar Dana Corsello and Fr. Spencer Brown
Weekly Scripture and Guests: See below registration button for names and information

Guests:

march 11: acts 6:8-9:19 with dr. michael francis

Michael Francis is Assistant Professor of New Testament at Catholic University. Born and raised in Wales, he earned his PhD at the University of Notre Dame. He teaches courses in all areas of the New Testament, and his current research is focused on the letters of Paul, Hebrews, and the works of Philo of Alexandria.

march 18: revelation with dr. carla swafford works

Dr. Carla Swafford Works (Ph.D., Princeton Theological Seminary) is Dean and Woodrow and Mildred Miller Professor of Biblical Theology at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC, where she has taught New Testament since 2009. Her research interests encompass the Pauline epistles, the New Testament’s use of Israel’s scriptures, biblical ethics, and theological interpretation.

march 25: ruth with the rev. dr. judy fentress-williams

Judy Fentress-Williams is in bi-vocational ministry in Alexandria, VA as the Dodge Professor of Biblical Interpretation at Virginia Theological Seminary and the Scholar in Residence at the Alfred Street Baptist Church. Dr. Fentress-Williams received her Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible from Yale University in 1999. She earned her M.Div. from Yale Divinity School in 1990 and her A.B. in English from Princeton University in 1984 with certificates in African-American Studies and American Studies. Dr. Fentress-Williams’ published work reflects her interest in a literary approach that highlights the multiple voices in scripture.

april 1: jeremiah with the rev. dr. ron hopson

The Rev. Dr. Ronald E. Hopson is a Professor of Psychology and Professor of Pastoral Care at Howard University. He holds a joint appointment in the Department of Psychology and the School of Divinity. He is a licensed Clinical Psychologist in Washington, D.C. He teaches courses on Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, the Psychology of Religion, Pastoral Care, and Sexuality and Race. He is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and has served in pastoral positions in churches in the Washington, D.C. area.

april 8: genesis 16 (hagar) with the Rev. Dr. kelly brown douglas

The Rev. Kelly Brown Douglas, Ph.D. is currently the visiting professor of Theology at Harvard Divinity School. From 2017 to 2023, she was Dean of the Episcopal Divinity School at Union Theological Seminary and Professor of Theology. She was named the Bill and Judith Moyers Chair in Theology at Union in November 2019 where she is now Dean emeritus. She served as interim Dean of the Episcopal Divinity School from 2023-2024. During the 2023 fall term, she served as Honorary Professor of Global Theology at Emmanuel Theological College in Liverpool, England.

With theological debates igniting passions and controversies, the Council of Nicaea sought to untangle and clarify the intricate mysteries of the faith. It culminated in the creation of the Nicene Creed, a powerful declaration of belief that has resonated through the centuries.

As we mark the 1700th anniversary of this historic moment, this course invites you into a captivating exploration of early Christianity—its passionate struggles, its profound insights, and the birth of a creed that continues to pulse at the center of our worship. Delve deep into the theological legacy of Nicaea and discover how its timeless truths resonate in our lives today.

Participants may register for each class session they plan to attend. This class is at capacity for online participants. In-person participants can still register.

details

Location: Northwest Tower Conference Room, 4th Floor (N4) (Zoom portion at capacity)
Facilitators: The Rev. Patrick Keyser

Note: this class is online only.

More than 1500 years ago, St. Benedict wrote a rule of life to ground the daily life of monks in his community in the rhythm and practices of scripture, prayer, service, and common life, and since then monasteries have followed this practice. Today, creating your own rule of life is a way to live life with intention. By being grounded in daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly practices, we can better rely on God’s steady presence in our lives and not be swayed by the winds of the world.

In this Lenten class, you will have an opportunity to explore the themes of prayer, scripture, renewal, community, and service in weekly online classes with the Rev. Jo Nygard Owens. Along with the classes, you will have an opportunity to reflect on your own life, and by the end of Lent create your own personal rule of life. A downloadable workbook will be provided by the first class.

Details

Location: Online via Zoom
Facilitator: the Rev. Jo Nygard Owens

Sacred Ground: An Episcopal Church Dialogue Series on Race, Grounded in Faith, uses films and readings to focus on Indigenous, Black, Latino, and Asian/Pacific American histories as they intersect with European American histories. It also explores America’s history of race and racism, weaving in threads of family story, economic class, and political and regional identity, which seems particularly relevant during this current political climate.

Important Notes

• Participants are expected to commit to attending all 11 weeks of the program. The first five meetings in Lent will be in-person as part of our Take on Lent programming and will migrate to zoom for the remainder of the program.
• This class has a capacity of 9 participants and is not available to join after March 11.

Details

Location: Cathedral Library – Sitgreaves (through April 8, then via Zoom)
Facilitator: Paula Mays