2026 Calvin Lectures
About the Calvin Lectures
The Calvin Lectures at First Presbyterian Church were established to provide the congregation with a continuing focus on the Bible and its practical theological application. The series is funded by generous gifts from our members and guests who would like to see the series continue and funded in part by the William C. Powell, MD Endowment for the McNair Lectureship.
Dr. William C. Powell (1928-2008) endowed the McNair Lecture in his Last Will and Testament as follows:
The William C. Powell, MD Endowment for the McNair Lectureship is administered by the Cumberland Community Foundation.
Our mission at First Presbyterian Church is to serve Jesus Christ and share His gospel through meaningful worship, loving fellowship, spiritual growth, and compassionate outreach within our community and throughout our world.
Our Focus
One of the things that sets us apart from God’s other creatures is our gift of language, that incredibly complex ability to use words in communicating with each other. Language is also a stamp of the divine in us.
Our three lectures will in turn look at how each member of the Trinity uses words to communicate with us, whether in revelation generally or in personal guidance.
The Calvin Lectures at First Presbyterian Church were established to provide the congregation with a continuing focus on the Bible and its practical theological application. The series is funded by generous gifts from our members and guests who would like to see the series continue and funded in part by the William C. Powell, MD Endowment for the McNair Lectureship.
Dr. William C. Powell (1928-2008) endowed the McNair Lecture in his Last Will and Testament as follows:
The McNair Lecture for Religion and Science was established at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, North Carolina by the 1857 Will of my great, great, great uncle, the Reverend John Calvin McNair (1823-1858) of St. Pauls, North Carolina. The Lecture was transferred to Saint Andrews Presbyterian College, Laurinburg, North Carolina, in 2005. It is my wish, desire, and recommendation to the President of Saint Andrews Presbyterian College that at least every fifth (5th) year the income from this trust be used to sponsor a lecture to be given by an eminent Presbyterian Theologian or Minister from the United States or Scotland.
The William C. Powell, MD Endowment for the McNair Lectureship is administered by the Cumberland Community Foundation.
Our mission at First Presbyterian Church is to serve Jesus Christ and share His gospel through meaningful worship, loving fellowship, spiritual growth, and compassionate outreach within our community and throughout our world.
Our Focus
One of the things that sets us apart from God’s other creatures is our gift of language, that incredibly complex ability to use words in communicating with each other. Language is also a stamp of the divine in us.
Our three lectures will in turn look at how each member of the Trinity uses words to communicate with us, whether in revelation generally or in personal guidance.
Our Speaker
Prof. Gordon S. Jackson
Prof. Gordon S. Jackson was born in South Africa, where he received his undergraduate education. He obtained his MA in communications at Wheaton College in Illinois before returning to working in Johannesburg as a reporter and editor on a weekly newsmagazine. In 1979, he returned to the United States to begin his doctorate in mass communication at Indiana University. Upon completing his degree in 1983, he joined the faculty of a Presbyterian institution, Whitworth University, in Spokane, Wash., where he taught journalism for 32 years before retiring in 2015.
He is a prolific author, having written or compiled 25 books. Two are scholarly publications. He has also written four satirical novels and a number of devotional books.
He is married to Sue, also a South African, who keeps his accent honest. They have two adult children, including Matthew, a member of our church.
He is a prolific author, having written or compiled 25 books. Two are scholarly publications. He has also written four satirical novels and a number of devotional books.
He is married to Sue, also a South African, who keeps his accent honest. They have two adult children, including Matthew, a member of our church.
Series Overview
Saturday, September 19
8:30 a.m. Check-in & Refreshments
8:30 a.m. Check-in & Refreshments
9 a.m. Opening Prayer, Chapel
9:15 a.m. Lecture 1, Chapel
10:30 a.m. Break, Eller Hall
10:45 a.m. Lecture 2, Chapel
12 p.m. Lunch, Fellowship Hall
1 p.m. Lecture 3, Chapel
Sunday, September 20
9 a.m. Worship and Sermon, Chapel
10 a.m. Q&A Session, Chapel
11 a.m. Worship and Sermon, Sanctuary
Lecture Series, Lunch & Childcare Registration
There is no fee to attend the Calvin Lecture Series. $12 boxed lunches are available for purchase for Saturday, September 19th and must be purchased in advance.
Limited childcare is also available.
Please register by September 19th.
Click here to register online.
Limited childcare is also available.
Please register by September 19th.
Click here to register online.
Saturday, September 19th
Lecture 1 - The God Who Speaks
Why Dolphins Don’t Write Fiction
9:15 a.m. | Chapel
Lecture One focuses on God’s astonishing power to bring things into existence simply by the power of His word. He speaks, and His word brings results. We will look at the marvel of God’s creation and the sheer grace by which each of us exists—and the further grace by which He redeems us. And we’ll marvel too at the gift of language that he’s given us, a gift unique to human beings (which explains why dolphins can’t write fiction).
9:15 a.m. | Chapel
Lecture One focuses on God’s astonishing power to bring things into existence simply by the power of His word. He speaks, and His word brings results. We will look at the marvel of God’s creation and the sheer grace by which each of us exists—and the further grace by which He redeems us. And we’ll marvel too at the gift of language that he’s given us, a gift unique to human beings (which explains why dolphins can’t write fiction).
Lecture 2 - The God Who Comes
Jesus Moved Into the Neighborhood
10:45 a.m. | Chapel
Lecture Two focuses on Jesus as the incarnate Word. It’s no coincidence that John’s Gospel opens with the description of Jesus, not as a word, but The Word. We’ll explore the implications of Jesus “moving into the neighborhood,” as Eugene Peterson put it in his paraphrase The Message. We’ll also dig deeper into the role of words in our lives and look at some of the words that Jesus speaks and some that He hears directly from God the Father.
10:45 a.m. | Chapel
Lecture Two focuses on Jesus as the incarnate Word. It’s no coincidence that John’s Gospel opens with the description of Jesus, not as a word, but The Word. We’ll explore the implications of Jesus “moving into the neighborhood,” as Eugene Peterson put it in his paraphrase The Message. We’ll also dig deeper into the role of words in our lives and look at some of the words that Jesus speaks and some that He hears directly from God the Father.
Lecture 3 - The God Who Interprets
God in Action Today
1 p.m. | Chapel
Lecture Three focuses on the role of the Holy Spirit in communicating with us today, whether in worship, reading Scripture, or in settings where we need personal guidance. In other words, the Holy Spirit fills the role of an interpreter in conveying God’s will to us. Among the points we’ll touch on are how to know if it’s the Holy Spirit speaking to us (or simply our imagination); the ways in which He might do so; and a Catholic’s thoughts on the role of the Holy Spirit in selecting a new pope.
1 p.m. | Chapel
Lecture Three focuses on the role of the Holy Spirit in communicating with us today, whether in worship, reading Scripture, or in settings where we need personal guidance. In other words, the Holy Spirit fills the role of an interpreter in conveying God’s will to us. Among the points we’ll touch on are how to know if it’s the Holy Spirit speaking to us (or simply our imagination); the ways in which He might do so; and a Catholic’s thoughts on the role of the Holy Spirit in selecting a new pope.
Sunday, September 20th
Sunday Sermon - "Have I got a word for you."
1 Samuel 3:1-10
9 a.m. | Chapel
11 a.m. | Sanctuary
God’s voice may come to us in unexpected ways, at unexpected times; we need always to be ready to listen.
9 a.m. | Chapel
11 a.m. | Sanctuary
God’s voice may come to us in unexpected ways, at unexpected times; we need always to be ready to listen.