Mr. Kelly is the executive director of the Community Mediation Center, which oversees the implementation of the police consent decree. He is the former president of the No Boundaries Coalition in West Baltimore.

For the final forum, the Wardens and the Clergy invite you to a Q&A session to discuss any lingering questions about the program year, our new Rector's arrival, or the new season in Emmanuel's life together.

Even as movies like The Conjuring, The Rite, and (most of all) The Exorcist continue to haunt our popular imagination, the Episcopal Church only dedicates one page to the practice of exorcism in its official resources, and even that mention offers scant details. Our Associate Rector will examine what is discussed in the Book of Occasional Services, explore where we can still find other traces of exorcism in broader Christian tradition, and perhaps begin to answer why the ritual has maintained such an indelible presence in modern culture. What do we mean when we talk about exorcism? And why -- when topics like angels and demons have largely become the subject of derision -- do we keep waiting for an old priest and a young priest to come knocking?

The Old Testament has God laughing, both in enjoyment and in mockery. The New Testament describes Jesus' use of irony, paradox, and banter. In this forum, we will examine together the Bible's use of humor, with special attention to the book of Jonah. We will consider the question of how and why humor is used, by whom, and how recognizing humor in the Bible helps us, as contemporary persons of faith, to become more faithful in our Christian living. Dr. Rebecca Hancock teaches Old Testament at St. Mary's Ecumenical Institute, and she also works as the Coordinator of Communications and Student Services. She received her Ph.D. from Harvard University's Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations in Hebrew Bible. Rebecca teaches a variety of classes related to the field of Old Testament, including biblical Hebrew, Psalms, Prophets, and a course on the Decalogue. Her research interests are related to gender, ethnicity, and social constructions in the ancient world.

1 Maccabees and 2 Maccabees, writings included in the Apocrypha, inform us of the political and spiritual tensions between the Jews of Jerusalem as they contend with the globalization of their day (ca 196 BCE).  Both books tell about the conflict that resulted from the efforts of Antiochus Epiphanes, the Syrian king, to create a multi-cultural society and the Jews' struggle to stay true to the Scriptures' teachings.  In addition to informing us of historical context leading to Jesus' life, these readings invite us to consider the timeless and universal challenges of holding firm to one's spiritual beliefs amid world-wide change. 

In its General Thanksgiving, the Prayer Book prompts us to give particular thanks for “the means of grace and hope of glory.” These twin concepts show forth our quiet confidence in the benefits of our two sacraments of Baptism and the Holy Communion, as well as in our other sacramental acts and devotional practices. This final forum in the series explores the means our Church offers for participating in the rich measure of religious experience that we share with other sacramental denominations. Come join Jim Holmes and Tim Sabin on Sunday, April 7, at 9:10 in the Gallery to conclude our Lenten conversation. 

The first hymnal of The Episcopal Church was the 150 songs called the Book of Psalms. The poet of Psalm 119 writes: “Thy word is a lamp unto our feet, and a light unto our path.” (119:105) Such language is an apt description of the affecting and compelling archetypes which, for virtually 500 years, have been found throughout the volume in which the Psalter has always been included, theBook of Common Prayer. However, has the Prayer Book served its purpose and is now obsolete? Or will the urgent needs of our generation find new life in its pages? Join Jim Holmes and Tim Sabin on Sunday, March 31, at 9:10 in the Gallery for a discussion of the Book of Common Prayer. 

The Outreach Committee will be packing 200 lunch bags for individuals experiencing homelessness at the back of the church (after the 10:30 service) from noon until approximately 1:15 pm. The packs will then be delivered to Happy Helpers for the Homeless at Our Daily Bread, and the lunches will be distributed from roughly 1:30 to 3:30 pm. 

Many outside the Episcopal Church think of us as an assemblage of the privileged and indolent, unaware that an energized sense of mission has characterized our denomination since its gathering in 1789. Mary A. Thompson's 1871 manifesto "O Zion, haste, thy mission high fulfilling, to tell to all the world that God is light" has provided the rallying cry for Episcopalians throughout our catholic and evangelical outreach to others for a century and a half.  Join us back in the Gallery for the third session in Tim Sabin and Jim Holmes' Lenten series on the Episcopal Church.

Jerusalem, My Happy Home, a hymn beloved of generations of Episcopalians, sets the tone for the second in Jim Holmes' and Tim Sabin's five-part Lenten series on the Episcopal Church. Participants will gather at the back of the church and follow a pilgrim's path through the iconography and architecture of the physical building, leading to the high altar's offering of a spiritual and peaceful Jerusalem in the present time.

Entitled All People that on Earth do Dwell, the first session of this five-part series will focus on the history and structure of the Church, and will include a brief video.  Please join Tim and Jim and bring your questions and insights about our life together in what our Presiding Bishop had called “The Episcopal Branch of the Jesus Movement.”

Dr. Matthew Crenson is a political scientist who specializes in the study of urban politics and American political development. He received his PhD at the University of Chicago, and in 1969 joined the Department of Political Science at Johns Hopkins University and retired 38 years later as head of the Department. He is the author of numerous books and is frequently interviewed by the media. He will lead us in a two-part discussion examining how American politics reached its current state. Does the Trump presidency represent a short-term detour from the arc of our political history, or does it reflect something more permanent in this country’s unwritten constitution? It’s obvious that the political divisions in the United States are sharper and perhaps more rancorous than they have been in the recent past -- don’t forget the Civil War -- but exactly what we’re about is not so clear. This two forum rumination on our current political circumstances, where they came from, where we are, and where we’re headed, invites extensive contributions, questions, and challenges from the listeners.

Dr. Matthew Crenson is a political scientist who specializes in the study of urban politics and American political development. He received his PhD at the University of Chicago, and in 1969 joined the Department of Political Science at Johns Hopkins University and retired 38 years later as head of the Department. He is the author of numerous books and is frequently interviewed by the media. He will lead us in a two-part discussion examining how American politics reached its current state. Does the Trump presidency represent a short-term detour from the arc of our political history, or does it reflect something more permanent in this country’s unwritten constitution? It’s obvious that the political divisions in the United States are sharper and perhaps more rancorous than they have been in the recent past -- don’t forget the Civil War -- but exactly what we’re about is not so clear. This two forum rumination on our current political circumstances, where they came from, where we are, and where we’re headed, invites extensive contributions, questions, and challenges from the listeners.

Dr. Sherwood Githens will discuss David Reich’s 2018 book, Who We Are And How We Got Here: Ancient DNA And The New Science Of The Human Past. “Ancient DNA” refers to DNA extracted from human bones 50,000 years old and more -- including Neanderthals -- which is then sequenced. These ancient DNA sequences have allowed scientists to determine some of the relationships among migrations of groups of humans that are not possible using modern DNA sequences. The migrations of humans during prehistory in Africa, Europe, Asia, the South Seas, and the Americas will be summarized. Sherwood holds a Ph.D in biochemistry from Harvard University and has held numerous university teaching and administrative positions throughout his career.

In honor of St. Valentine’s Day, the Outreach Committee will write cards to patients in the VA hospital following coffee hour after the 10:30 service.

Dr. Sherwood Githens will discuss David Reich’s 2018 book, Who We Are And How We Got Here: Ancient DNA And The New Science Of The Human Past. “Ancient DNA” refers to DNA extracted from human bones 50,000 years old and more -- including Neanderthals -- which is then sequenced. These ancient DNA sequences have allowed scientists to determine some of the relationships among migrations of groups of humans that are not possible using modern DNA sequences. The migrations of humans during prehistory in Africa, Europe, Asia, the South Seas, and the Americas will be summarized. Sherwood holds a Ph.D in biochemistry from Harvard University and has held numerous university teaching and administrative positions throughout his career.

Peter Dunn, Director of Community Relations at the Samaritan Community, will discuss the activities of their assistance and empowerment programs, which include: food pantry operation; clothing shop/computer workroom; individual case management; emergency financial assistance; individual empowerment counseling; group support; and life enrichment. The Emmanuel Outreach Committee awarded a grant of $5,000 to the Samaritan Community in 2018, which was used to support the overall program of the Community’s activities as listed above. (We also assist the Samaritan Community throughout the year via the Frank Russell Memorial Clothing Drive and other donations.) Herschel Wade, chair of the Outreach Committee, will introduce the speaker and briefly discuss Emmanuel’s relationship with the grantee during the past two years.

Dr. Arthur Sutherland is Associate Professor of Theology at Loyola University, Maryland, and recently won a grant from the Project on Lived Theology to support a critical commentary on “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” Dr. King is well known for his speeches and sermons—indeed, phrases like “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” have become part of our national quote book. However, there is another side to King revealed in his private letters and lesser known public addresses: his wit and wisdom. This two-week study will examine a selection of King’s writings that link the power of laughter to the work of love.