Wednesday, March 15, 2017, 7:00 PM, Holy Cross College, Rehm Library

"Putting a Human Face on the Refugee Crisis: Global and Local." The speakers will be Lou Soiles, Pastor in Worcester and a founding member of the Worcester Alliance for Refugee Ministry (WARM), and Jenna Soiles (Lou's daughter). Jenna is a 2016 Holy Cross graduate and she was recently a volunteer at the Abla and Fida refugee camps in Zahle, Lebanon. Lou and Jenna are currently working with refugees in Worcester as part of partnerships between Worcester-area churches and government agencies working on refugee issues. The event is free and open to the public.

March 10, 2012, 9:30-11:00 AM, Worcester Public Library “The Narnia Code,” 

Stan Bohall will discuss Michael Ward’s book, “The Narnia Code: C.S. Lewis and the Secret of the Seven Heavens” and present selections from the documentary film of the same title. Here’s a summary from amazon.com of Ward’s fascinating thesis:

“Millions of readers have been captivated by C. S. Lewis’s famed Chronicles of Narnia, but why? What is it about these seven books that make them so appealing? For more than half a century, scholars have attempted to find the organizing key—the “secret code”—to the beloved series, but it has remained a mystery. Until now. In The Narnia Code, Michael Ward takes the reader through each of the seven Narnia books and reveals how each story embodies and expresses the characteristics of one of the seven planets of medieval cosmology—Jupiter, Mars, Sol, Luna, Mercury, Venus and Saturn—planets which Lewis described as “spiritual symbols of permanent value.” How does medieval cosmology relate to the Christian underpinnings of the series? How did it impact Lewis’s depiction of Aslan, the Christ-like character at the heart of the books? And why did Lewis keep this planetary inspiration a secret? Originally a ground-breaking scholarly work called Planet Narnia, this more accessible adaptation will answer all the questions.”

Stan Bohall has a Master of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, MA. For more than two decades he served as a pastor in the Baptist tradition. Now he serves a larger community of churches and individuals interested in creative and relevant approaches to sharing God’s Good News. He and his wife, Judi, live in Auburn, MA. They have two married sons and three grandchildren.   

The Worcester Public Library is located at 3 Salem Square, Worcester, MA 01608. Parking at the library is metered. Rate as of March 2010 is $0.25 for 30 minutes. 

For a review of “The Narnia Code” by Stan Bohall, click here

March 20 – April 17, 2011, 7:20 – 8:50 PM, Church of The Nativity, 45 Howard Street, Northborough, MA “Growing in Grace with The Chronicles of Narnia”  A Lenten Series Led by Reverend Stan Bohall

Sunday, March 20: Growing in Grace with The Chronicles of Narnia – An overview of the seven Chronicles from the perspective of the Anglican view of spiritual formation
Sunday, March 27: A discussion of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Prince Caspian
Sunday, April 3: A discussion of The Voyage of the “Dawn Treader” and The Silver Chair
Sunday, April 10: A discussion of The Horse and His Boy and The Magician’s Nephew
Sunday, April 17: A discussion of The Last Battle and a review

Before the series begins, participants will be give written instructions to help them accomplish the goal of reading at least one of the Chronicles during the season of Lent. Google docs will be set up so participants will be able to get the notes for the series. Participants will be able to share their experiences with the Chronicles. Some will come who have not read any of the stories.  It will be interesting for all!  The Companion to Narnia by Paul F. Ford, the single best resource for insight into the books, will be discussed as well as other resources.

Rev. Stan Bohall is an ordained American Baptist pastor, C. S. Lewis scholar, and member of Nativity. He has led many Lewis seminars. For more information visit the church website www.churchofthenativity.org. 

Saturday, January 22, 2011, 9-11 AM, Auburn Public Library,  Reflections by Ellie Kraner on C.S. Lewis Summer Seminar

This past summer, Ellie Kraner, Pastor of Brookfield Congregational Church, participated in a week-long C.S. Lewis Summer Seminar in Residence. The seminar was sponsored by the C.S. Lewis Foundation and held at Lewis’ home, the Kilns, in Oxford, England. Ellie will share her experiences from the seminar about the sights, life, and works of C.S. Lewis. As the author of “Birthday Gift,” Ellie is a wonderful storyteller. Come and enjoy her images and stories.

The event will be held on Saturday, January 22, 9-11 AM at the Auburn Public Library at 369 Southbridge Street.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010, 3:00–5:00 PM, Worcester State College “Problem of Pain” Mini-Conference

The Campus Ambassadors ministry at Worcester State University and the C.S. Lewis Society of Central Massachusetts will jointly sponsor a “mini-conference” at Worcester State on Wednesday, September 22 from 3:00-5:00 PM in the Blue Lounge of the Student Campus Center. The event will consider selected issues related to the question, if God exists, is good, and is all-powerful, why is there so much pain and suffering in the world? This question has perplexed theologians, philosophers, and suffering people for centuries. Our objective is not to provide a systematic treatment of the question. Instead, the mini-conference will feature the stories and insights of two speakers. First, Monica Nelson will explain her struggles and experiences with serious breast cancer in an interview format facilitated by Linda Bourie; the interview will then open up to questions from the audience. Second, Stan Bohall will provide an overview of Lewis’s classic book, “The Problem of Pain: How Human Suffering Raises Almost Intolerable Intellectual Problems.” A variety of books related to the problem of pain will be available at cost at a book table following the presentations.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010, 7:00-8:00 PM, Holy Cross College, Hogan Campus Center

The Entrepreneurial Studies Program at Holy Cross College and the C.S. Lewis Society of Central Massachusetts will co-sponsor a special event at Holy Cross on Wednesday, January 27, 7:00-8:00 PM in the Hogan Campus Center. The event will feature presentations by Lin Bourie and Joanne Spurr about their business partnership “Art By The Heart.” Lin and Joanne’s business is a wonderful integration of Christian inspiration and vocation, artistic beauty, mission to children living in abject poverty, and entrepreneurship. For further information about Art By The Heart, click here.