A few weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to see
Free Solo, the National Geographic documentary on Alex Honnold, the first person to free climb the face of El Capitan.
The film showed Honnold carefully picking his way up this rock face with no assistance, no ropes, no net. Just watching it was terrifying.
Researchers were so fascinated with Honnold's capacity to keep focus in situations of grave danger that they asked to scan his brain to see what it took to stimulate his amygdala. To nobody's surprise, they discovered his brain was largely unresponsive to danger, that it failed to send him appropriate warning signals when his life was vulnerable. This certainly helped him set astonishing records as a rock climber, but also makes his survival highly unlikely.
This week, our sanctuary and chapel services will explore the relationship between faith and anxiety, trust and worry, and see if we can tap the resources of faith to live appropriately healthy lives. You can
read these passages in preparation.
In addition, at our 11 a.m. Fellowship Hall service, we'll depart from our normal worship format and have a unique opportunity to hear Dr. Brennan Breed, assistant professor of Old Testament at Columbia Theological Seminary.
Dr. Breed will be our
guest convocation speaker at 9:30 a.m. and will then join Jessica Patchett at the 11 a.m. Fellowship Hall service to offer a dialogical sermon - both offering thoughts, insights, and perspectives -- on the topic of The Bible, Violence and God's Concern for the Vulnerable.
We're fortunate to have Dr. Breed with us, and I trust you will find both of his presentations compelling. You can prepare by
reading this passage.
At all services, we'll celebrate communion and give thanks for the year past and the year to come.
Join us, and bring a friend.
