Community Advent Study to begin in Owego

A Community Advent Study, A Clear View of the Birth of Jesus: Understanding the Christmas Story from a Middle Eastern Perspective with Dr. Kenneth Bailey, is planned for Tuesday afternoons and Thursday evenings at the First Presbyterian Union Church in Owego. 

In these four half-hour talks, internationally renowned Bible teacher, Kenneth E. Bailey, sheds new light, answers questions and reveals deeper meanings on what actually happened at the first Christmas. The First Presbyterian Union Church is offering this wonderful DVD and discussion series.

The public is invited to attend on either Tuesdays, starting Dec. 4, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. or Thursdays, starting Dec. 6, from 6 to 7 p.m. in the lounge. An optional dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday evenings (pizza on Dec. 6). Individuals are welcome to attend all four sessions or as many as work for your schedule. 

Dr. Bailey served as a Presbyterian mission worker for 40 years living and teaching in Egypt, Lebanon, Jerusalem and Cyprus. Bailey employs his trademark expertise as a master of Middle Eastern culture to lead participants into a deeper understanding of the person and significance of Jesus within his own cultural context. 

With a sure but gentle hand, Bailey lifts away the obscuring layers of modern Western interpretation to reveal Jesus in the light of his actual historical and cultural setting. These talks have been so popular that they were published in a popular book titled Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies of the Gospels.  

Each talk is half an hour long, and will be followed by a half-hour group discussion.

Pastor Bruce Gillette will be the discussion leader for this Advent series. His Master of Divinity senior concentration was in Christian Education at Princeton Theological Seminary. He has attended several conferences with Ken Bailey and offered Bailey’s video courses in three previous congregations.  

Pastor Gillette has been a teacher at regional and national conferences, but most enjoys teaching in a congregation with others from the community participating.  

Family and friends are welcome to join them for these times of fellowship and learning together. For further information, call the church office at (607) 687-1682 or email office@owegofpuc.org.