Welcome to the Banquet

After writing and discussing my offering to Two Friars and a Fool, I realized that there was little use in urging anyone to read the church fathers and mothers if opportunities did not exist for them to do so. For some, entering this foreign territory with no companion or guide is intimidating. For others, adding another class or discussion group to an already hectic schedule is an impossibility. It is my hope that The Heavenly Banquet might serve as a resource for readers to explore this material in the company of others without being bound to regular meetings or a fixed schedule. Guests of The Heavenly Banquet will have the flexibility of participating as much or as little as they like when and if they choose.

Here we'll engage our ancestors in the faith by reading and discussing the works they left to us. The table will be set on September 12, 2011 when we'll open our feast with Augustine's Confessions. We'll read no more than a chapter each week, and I'll post blog entries and video responses to stir our conversation. You'll be invited to speak up by commenting on the entries, submitting your own video or audio responses, and engaging the chatter on Twitter. Again, you are encouraged to participate at your own comfort level, and please don't feel that you need to commit to our reading schedule. Have no worries if you find yourself on Book 4 during the week that we begin posting about Book 6. The resources and discussion for Book 4 will still be here. Join us whenever you can!

Have you previously read the Confessions? Read it again with us! Our conversation will be enriched by your voice, and you'll likely gain fresh insight in the company of your new friends here. We welcome people of all experience levels to join us so we can all learn from one another.

I hope that you'll accept this invitation to The Heavenly Banquet. I'll share the full schedule and details of our first adventure in our next post. If you have any questions or ideas, please do not hesitate to comment below or to find me on Twitter. Also, follow the hashtag #hbchat for the most current discussion of this project. I look forward to reading, thinking and chatting with you.