Читать книгу Toward a Common Hope - Robert Allan Hill - Страница 4

In August of 2017, Jan and I had the privilege of enjoying the unique setting, surroundings, program, and leadership of The Chautauqua Institution. From August 6th to 13th, we were engaged in the music, lectures, discussions, dinners, and informal conversations which make Chautauqua such a unique and powerful means and mode of grace, summer by summer. This book of sermons collects those preached in that week (the first six), along with others that had been brought along in reserve (the last five), as it were, in case they were needed.

The Spaniards have a term and tradition to identify a form of ongoing, lengthy, easy conversation which is somewhat harder to come by here in America—una tertulia—an engaged and engaging conversation. Chautauqua, though ruggedly American, rural not urban, still historically Methodist, and altogether different from the paseos and taverns of Madrid, Segovia, or Barcelona, does share the same regard (even reverence) for conversation. We would like to thank those friends, old and new, with whom we spoke at Chautauqua, for their heart, mind, and spirit, generously shared on the porches, along the lakeside, over dinner, and on the walkways of the Institution, which is so precious and unique to New York and to the United States.

In particular, we express our thanks for the warm hospitality and unstinting kindness of Chautauqua’s leaders, including but not limited to President Michael Hill; Department of Religion Director, the Rev. Dr. Robert Franklin: and Department of Religion Associate Director (now in fact director herself), Ms. Maureen Rovegno.

In the evenings, walking on the bank of the Charles River in Boston, something of the spirit of Chautauqua strides along with us, week by week, and a shimmering reminder of learning harnessed to piety, a glimpse of what gracious life can be, and the tunes and words of sacred hymns meant for singing in the warm open summer air: Now on land and sea descending brings the night its peace profound; let our vesper hymn be blending with the holy calm around; Jubilate! Jubilate! Jubilate! Amen; let our vesper hymn be blending with the holy calm around.

The Rev. Dr. Robert Allan Hill

Dean, Marsh Chapel

Professor, New Testament and Pastoral Theology

Chaplain to the University, Office of Religious Life

Boston University

6173583394

rahill@bu.edu