Upcoming Thornwell Lectures
Dear First Presbyterian Family,
The past few months have been a trial, but your faith has been a source of tremendous encouragement to me and the rest of the staff. From notes to emails to phone calls, your care and love are evident! As with everything else during these unparalleled times, our Thornwell Lectures this summer have undergone some changes. First, because of the restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we will not hold the lectures in person. Instead, they will be pre-recorded and made available for download on the Sunday they were to be delivered. Second, these pre-recorded lectures will feature both audio and visual capabilities so that it feels more like we’re there with our speakers! Of course, I am disappointed that these steps were necessary, as these lectures are among some of my favorite times in the life of our church body. But I am thankful the Lord has provided the technology for our speakers to deliver their content for our spiritual benefit!
Our theme for the 2020 Thornwell Lectures is “What is Jesus Doing Today?” Essentially, we asked our speakers to answer that question relative to their unique contexts. For example, one of speakers, Dr. Paul Lim, is a professor at Vanderbilt University, so we asked him to answer the question, “What is Jesus Doing Today in the University?” Other topics include, “What is Jesus Doing in Missions, Preaching, Worship, and World Missions?” Speakers include Dr. Mark Ross, Dr. Steve Lawson, Dr. Joel Beeke, Rev. H.B. Charles, and Dr. Leslie Holmes. This year, we will begin the Lectures with a special biographical sketch of the life of James Henley Thornwell by Southern Presbyterian expert, Dr. C.N. Willborn. As always, I am thrilled by our lineup, which I encourage you to review online or in the upcoming mailings. All of the speakers are godly scholars who love God’s people!
I am asking the Lord that this will be the last time we ever have to miss seeing each other during the Thornwell Lectures; they form the backbone of our summer ministry. While this summer is different, God ’s word will not be hindered. Please join me in prayer for our speakers, their institutions and churches, and their families. Thank you all so much for your continued support of First Presbyterian Church and your steadfast faith in our risen King during these times. May God bless all of you with a healthy and safe summer; this is the earnest prayer and desire of
Your fellow debtor to grace,
Gabe Fluhrer
Associate Minister of Discipleship
