Adrian College Announces Fall Chapel Series posted 8/9/10
“New Look at Old Stories”

ADRIAN, Mich. – Adrian College presents its 2010 Fall Chapel Series “Old School Stories All Grown Up” on Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2010. This series will acknowledge the challenge when familiar Bible stories open new questions.

Many questions are raised with standard interpretations of texts, only to discover later in life that there are discrepancies or troubling implications among these stories. College students are especially sensitive to this dynamic.

Writer/thinker Paul Ricoeur suggested that we might pass through three perspectives of understanding: a first naivete, when we do not question texts, a critique (and perhaps crisis) posture, when we face intellectual challenges to the text, and a second naivete, when we might receive new meaning and depth within the tradition. College students often inherit a “first naivete,” and scholars sometimes act as if “critique” marks the end of exploration. What if intellectual exploration expressed both savvy awareness of the text and warm embrace of the faith?

This worship series was designed by the students of the Adrian College Religious Life Council. Each semester this student-led body ponders a theme for weekly worship life and designs a series.

“Our students are at their best when they don’t import ‘off the shelf’ or pre-packaged programs,” said Dr. Chris Momany, chaplain at Adrian College. “They engage the sacred writings on their own terms and ask their own questions. It’s really amazing to learn from them.”

The chapel series will be held on Wednesdays at noon in the Adrian College Herrick Chapel throughout the fall semester. The services are ecumenical (open to all) and about 45-minutes long. They feature contemporary music, prayer, and a brief meditation on the biblical text. Guests from the community are most welcome.

For more information, please contact Dr. Chris Momany at 517-265-5161 ext. 4211or via e-mail at cmomany@adrian.edu