At Zabriskie Learning Series
The attendees at this year’s Zabriskie Learning Series were treated to an outstanding lecture by Lauren Winner on the topic A Theology of Home, and an engaging afternoon exercise of drawing prayer, writing exercises and reflecting on the theme of home in Biblical texts.
Lauren Winner, a native of Asheville, is the author of numerous books, including Girl Meets God and a recently published historical study on Anglicanism in early Virginia called A Cheerful and Comfortable Faith.
Dr. Winner teaches at Duke Divinity School and is currently on a year-long fellowship at the Institute for Sacred Music at Yale Divinity School. She holds degrees from Duke, Columbia and Cambridge.
During her morning lecture, Winner offered a variety of ways in which home has been defined across time and reflected on the various images that the Church and culture have attached to the idea of home. Her primary touchstones were a passage from St. John’s Gospel concerning the Son and the Father taking up home in us and Emily Dickinson’s quote that “home is the definition of God.”
Participants for the day included members of All Souls and members from parishes in the WNC Diocese, along with guests from the Asheville community and from as far away as Alabama and Florida. During the break for lunch, Bob Feeser led the group in a series of mindful stretching exercises.
On the following day, Lauren preached at all three services and also spoke in the Adult Forum. Throughout all her engagements during the weekend at All Souls, Winner held everyone’s attention with her intellect, spirit, heart and humor.
The Zabriskie Learning Series is sponsored by All Souls and the Center for Spiritual Resources.