Advertise on podcast: Nassau Presbyterian Church Adult Education

Due to technical difficulties at the beginning of class, this recording begins about five minutes into the presentation. We apologize for the inconvenience. The doctrine of the Trinity is simultaneously at the foundation of Christianity and endlessly mysterious. Robert South, a 17th century Anglican worthy, said “He that denies this fundamental article of the Christian religion may lose his soul; so he that much strives to understand it may lose his wits.” Can we explore the mystery of the Trinity without losing either our faith or our wits? Join us as we walk that tightrope between heresy and insanity, exploring ancient understandings of the Trinity alongside some surprisingly modern ideas. (c)2026 Nassau Prebyterian Church. All rights reserved. For permission requests, contact Nassau Presbyterian Church, Princeton, NJ, (609-924-0103, email). Tom Coogan has been a member of Nassau Presbyterian Church for 20+ years where he has served as Deacon, Elder, and softball coach. He identifies both as a Deadhead and a student of the Bible and laments the misunderstandings that persist between those communities.

What is systematic theology? How should we view the Bible? What in the Christian faith can be understood and what needs simply to be taken on faith? Join us for these opening questions as we begin our walk alongside Dan Migliore’s Faith Seeking Understanding. (c)2026 Nassau Prebyterian Church. All rights reserved. For permission requests, contact Nassau Presbyterian Church, Princeton, NJ, (609-924-0103, email). Mark J. Edwards is the Director of Youth Ministry here at Nassau and holds a M.Div. and a Ph.D. from Princeton Theological Seminary. He teaches religion and philosophy at The College of New Jersey and Princeton University and has also taught regularly inside Garden State Correctional and at Princeton Seminary. He is author of Christ Is Time: The Gospel according to Karl Barth (and the Red Hot Chili Peppers) (Cascade Books, 2022).

What is literalism? Where did it come from? What is at stake for those who read the Bible literally? Join Dr. Kristofer Zimmitti to dig into the history of literalism from his new book, Shadows & Solid Things: A History of Religion and Archaeology in the Modern World (University of North Carolina Press, 2026). Archaeology began in an era when people read ancient texts literally, believing that what was described on the page corresponded to a material reality that existed beneath the earth. With a shovel in one hand and a sacred text in the other, early archaeologists sought confirmation in concrete evidence. As archaeology grew more popular, excavations from Herculaneum to Babylon and discoveries such as the Moabite Stone transformed the modern understanding of the ancient past. This transformation was not the triumph of the traditional story of religion vs science, but of religion in science. And when the dust of excavation had settled, today’s religious world had been forged. (c)2026 Nassau Prebyterian Church. All rights reserved. For permission requests, contact Nassau Presbyterian Church, Princeton, NJ, (609-924-0103, email). Kristofer Zimmitti is a scholar of religion and history and a candidate for ordination in the PC(USA). He is the author of Shadows & Solid Things: A History of Religion and Archaeology and Inside a Very Great Story: The Faith and Wonder of J.R.R. Tolkien.

What is literalism? Where did it come from? What is at stake for those who read the Bible literally? Join Dr. Kristofer Zimmitti to dig into the history of literalism from his new book, Shadows & Solid Things: A History of Religion and Archaeology in the Modern World (University of North Carolina Press, 2026). Archaeology began in an era when people read ancient texts literally, believing that what was described on the page corresponded to a material reality that existed beneath the earth. With a shovel in one hand and a sacred text in the other, early archaeologists sought confirmation in concrete evidence. As archaeology grew more popular, excavations from Herculaneum to Babylon and discoveries such as the Moabite Stone transformed the modern understanding of the ancient past. This transformation was not the triumph of the traditional story of religion vs science, but of religion in science. And when the dust of excavation had settled, today’s religious world had been forged. (c)2026 Nassau Prebyterian Church. All rights reserved. For permission requests, contact Nassau Presbyterian Church, Princeton, NJ, (609-924-0103, email). Kristofer Zimmitti is a scholar of religion and history and a candidate for ordination in the PC(USA). He is the author of Shadows & Solid Things: A History of Religion and Archaeology and Inside a Very Great Story: The Faith and Wonder of J.R.R. Tolkien.

What happens when Presbyterians from across the denomination gather to worship, deliberate, discern, and make decisions about our shared life? Join Rachel Halbo for a look at the 227th General Assembly, which met this summer in Milwaukee under the theme “Persevering Toward Wholeness,” and consider what its work may mean for the church in the years ahead. Download GA in Brief (pdf) (c)2026 Nassau Prebyterian Church. All rights reserved. For permission requests, contact Nassau Presbyterian Church, Princeton, NJ, (609-924-0103, email). Rachel Halbo is a student at Princeton Theological Seminary who has worked with Nassau’s children and youth for the past two years. She will serve as a Youth Ministry intern this year and spent part of her summer hiking Long Pearkes with Nassau’s Beyond Malibu crew.

We too often accept the world “as is,” yet to be a Christian calls us to imagine the world “as if” God’s kingdom has come and to take action to make it so. Imagination is an integral part of faith formation and art has a unique capacity to cultivate it. Join Elizabeth Steel for a two-part series to explore the important ways in which art teaches our faith to see the world "as if" it could be otherwise and to consider our individual and collective imaginations.  (c)2026 Nassau Prebyterian Church. All rights reserved. For permission requests, contact Nassau Presbyterian Church, Princeton, NJ, (609-924-0103, email). Elizabeth Steel is serving as the Nassau post-doctorate fellow for the 2026-2027 year under the Art of Faithfulness ministry. She earned an undergraduate degree in Art History from the University of Virginia, and a Master of Divinity, Master of Christian Education, and PhD in Practical Theology from Princeton Theological Seminary.

We too often accept the world “as is,” yet to be a Christian calls us to imagine the world “as if” God’s kingdom has come and to take action to make it so. Imagination is an integral part of faith formation and art has a unique capacity to cultivate it. Join Elizabeth Steel for a two-part series to explore the important ways in which art teaches our faith to see the world "as if" it could be otherwise and to consider our individual and collective imaginations.  (c)2026 Nassau Prebyterian Church. All rights reserved. For permission requests, contact Nassau Presbyterian Church, Princeton, NJ, (609-924-0103, email). Elizabeth Steel is serving as the Nassau post-doctorate fellow for the 2026-2027 year under the Art of Faithfulness ministry. She earned an undergraduate degree in Art History from the University of Virginia, and a Master of Divinity, Master of Christian Education, and PhD in Practical Theology from Princeton Theological Seminary.

Nassau has a long-standing relationship with the Advocacy & Witness Offices of the national church, advancing federal policy for a more just world. How has this work changed in recent years given the decline in church membership, rise of political polarization and Christian nationalism, and electoral influence of wealth inequality? Is the PC(USA) still a relevant player in national politics? (c)2026 Nassau Prebyterian Church. All rights reserved. For permission requests, contact Nassau Presbyterian Church, Princeton, NJ, (609-924-0103, email). Isabella Shutt is a senior MDiv student at Princeton Theological Seminary and a member of Nassau Presbyterian Church. She interned with the PC(USA)’s Office of Public Witness during the summers of 2025 and 2026 and is a graduate of Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs.

What does it actually look like to live the life Jesus calls us to—and does it make a difference? Together, we will consider how generosity, purpose, and faith shape our lives, what “reward” might really mean, and how the church can support us in living more fully into Christ’s vision for abundant life. (c)2026 Nassau Prebyterian Church. All rights reserved. For permission requests, contact Nassau Presbyterian Church, Princeton, NJ, (609-924-0103, email). Bart Jackson is the author of Holy Christ – It Works: A Practical Message From a Carpenter’s Son and CEO of Yourself. A publisher and globe-trotting journalist, he has spent his career interviewing a wide range of voices, from Nobel Laureates to Tibetan monks, in pursuit of what it means to live a full and meaningful life. A longtime member of Nassau Presbyterian Church, Bart lives in Cranbury, New Jersey with his wife, Lorraine.

Conversations with Mary Bess Clark, Doodie Meyer, Nancy Prince, and Carol Wehrheim Sarah Berliner is a junior at West Windsor Plainsboro High School South. She enjoys playing field hockey and lacrosse. An active member at Nassau, Sarah participates in youth Fellowship, singing in Cantorei, helping with Carol Choir, and is on the Youth Ministry Committee. View the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/nKtwbAsN08Y (c)2026 Nassau Prebyterian Church. All rights reserved. For permission requests, contact Nassau Presbyterian Church, Princeton, NJ, (609-924-0103, email). Each January, our meaningful tradition of intergenerational education brings together Middle School, High School, and Adults of all ages to share in food, fellowship, and the stories of God at work in our community. Over light breakfast and good conversation, we listen for the ways faith is lived, deepened, and discovered across generations. This year’s speakers offer a remarkable range of voices from within our own congregation—voices shaped by ministry, creativity, and leadership.

Why has still life endured for centuries, from ancient ruins to modern photography? Join photographer Ned Walthall as he explores how this often-overlooked art form speaks to the essentials of human life—food, beauty, growth, and death—and reveals glimpses of God’s grace in the ordinary. We will explore objects of God’s grace as they are represented in still life painting and photography. Link to online gallery: https://bit.ly/41Dyuxo (c)2026 Nassau Prebyterian Church. All rights reserved. For permission requests, contact Nassau Presbyterian Church, Princeton, NJ, (609-924-0103, email). Ned Walthall is a photographer based in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. He holds an MFA from the Institute of Art and Design at New England College and has exhibited his work in galleries and photography centers across the United States and internationally. His work can be viewed at nedwalthall.com and on Instagram @walthallphotography, and has been featured in Lenscratch, including his post-pandemic series on Grand Central Terminal.

What does it look like to respond to need in our own community with dignity and hope? Join us as Maureen Hunt, Executive Director of Arm In Arm, shares how this vital local organization is addressing food insecurity, housing challenges, and economic hardship in Mercer County. Through stories and insight from her leadership, we will explore how we are called to serve our neighbors and participate in this work together. (c)2026 Nassau Prebyterian Church. All rights reserved. For permission requests, contact Nassau Presbyterian Church, Princeton, NJ, (609-924-0103, email). Maureen Hunt is Executive Director of Arm In Arm, where she previously served as Chief Development Officer and has been part of the organization’s leadership team for five years. With more than 15 years of experience in nonprofit human services, including work with Covenant House and Bonnie Brae, she is deeply committed to strengthening communities and ensuring that all neighbors have access to food, housing, and support.

How do we live faithfully amid rising authroitarianism and the erorsion of democratic culture? Hanna Reichel draws on scripture and historical examples to explore spiritual grounding, communal discernment, and Christian courage in challenging times. (c)2026 Nassau Prebyterian Church. All rights reserved. For permission requests, contact Nassau Presbyterian Church, Princeton, NJ, (609-924-0103, email). Hanna Reichel is the Charles Hodge Professor of Systematic Theology at Princeton Theological Seminary. A ruling elder in the PC(USA), Reichel also serves on the Theology Working Group of the World Communion of Reformed Churches. For Such a Time as This: An Emergency Devotional is their first book for a wider audience.

Karen Christians have creatively shaped their ethnic identity on their own terms—contextualizing the Christian faith within their particular cultural setting and using religion to strengthen their collective status. In 1828, the Karen were an agrarian, nonliterate people living in upland villages. By the turn of the twentieth century, they had become a literate and partly urban community deeply engaged in education, the military, commerce, and politics. The embrace of Christianity both accompanied and reinforced the development of a distinct Karen ethnic identity. (c)2026 Nassau Prebyterian Church. All rights reserved. For permission requests, contact Nassau Presbyterian Church, Princeton, NJ, (609-924-0103, email). Pum Za Mang is Associate Professor of World Christianity at Myanmar Institute of Theology. He earned his M.A. from Princeton Theological Seminary and his Ph.D. from Luther Seminary. He has published widely—contributing book chapters, journal articles, and reviews in Asia, Europe, and North America. His research focuses on Burmese Christianity, and he is currently a visiting scholar at Princeton Theological Seminary.

Today Denmark is often described as one of the happiest countries in the world, with a robust economy, universal health care, and tuition-free universities that even provide stipends for students. Yet Denmark’s churches are now strikingly empty. What happened? Is the church simply asleep, or is it hiding in plain sight? Ed Madsen explores the story of the Danish church across three centuries and what it reveals about faith and cultural life today. (c)2026 Nassau Prebyterian Church. All rights reserved. For permission requests, contact Nassau Presbyterian Church, Princeton, NJ, (609-924-0103, email). Ed Madsen, a 30-year member of Nassau, has assembled a book inspired by a bundle of his parents’ letters—preserved for half a century under his grandfather’s thatched roof in Denmark. He has written for various Christian publications, has been published in The Bridge, the journal of the Danish American Heritage Society, and has crafted new lyrics for two Danish hymns.