Dr. Gerald Sittser will lead the 2002 Exploring Our Reformed Faith seminar on November 15 and 16 and will also preach on Sunday morning.  His timely topic is What the Reformers Can Teach Us about the Spiritual Life.  The Reformation introduced a number of new or neglected ways of cultivating the spiritual life, largely because the reformers wanted to make the faith real and livable for ordinary people.  We will explore these expressions of the spiritual by exploring the biographies of the leading reformers and by studying aspects of their theology.

Currently, Dr. Sittser is associate professor of Religion at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington.  Raised in Michigan, Jerry received a BA in Chemistry from Hope College, and his M.Div. from Fuller Theological Seminary.  After serving as a pastor and college chaplain for ten years, he earned his Ph.D. in the History of Christianity from the University of Chicago in 1989.  He has taught at Whitworth College since 1989 and has received the Most Influential Professor award at Whitworth a total of five times fro his unique ability to reach and inspire young adults.  The father of three children, he enjoys managing his home, coaching his children in sports, hiking and backpacking, woodworking, and beekeeping.

Dr. Sittser speaks regularly at churches, retreats, conferences and on college campuses.  Much of his writing and his spiritual journey have centered around the deaths of his wife, a daughter and his mother in a car accident 11 years ago.  He has published many books, the most popular being A Grace Disguised: How the Soul Grows Through Loss.

Here are some details: The first seminar session will be held Friday, November 15 from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.  On Saturday, November 16, there will be a morning session, lunch, and an afternoon session (9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.).  Dr. Sittser will also preach a sermon on Sunday, November 17.  Due to a wonderful gift to our congregation, we are able to keep the registration fee for this event to $25.00 per person which includes the lectures, materials, snacks, and continental breakfast and lunch on Saturday.  Circuit Rider Books of Oregon will be at the seminar with related materials available for purchase.  We encourage you to register for this event soon since the number of registrations is limited.