faculty news notes
good reads Benjamin Alire Sáenz, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, Simon & Schuster (2014); Kimberly Garza: The Last Karankawas, Henry Holt and Co. (2022; Bryan Burrough, Chris Tomlinson, Jason Stanford, Forget the Alamo: The Rise and Fall of an American Myth, Penguin Books (2022)
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n 2015, after I moved to Texas, I hoped someday … but not today. to learn more about this state. However, Exploring San Antonio’s most famous family demands and a global pandemic mission and battleground led me to Forget have left me little opportunity to explore. the Alamo by Bryan Burrough, Chris Thank goodness for books. This year, I’ve Tomlinson, and taken myself on a Texas book tour. Here are Jason Stanford. three highlights, for those who might want This rollicking to join my journey. non-fiction history Set in contemporary El Paso, Benjamin explains Texian Alire Saenz’s young adult, LGBTQIA history under coming-of-age story, Aristotle and Dante Mexico. However, Discover the Secrets of the Universe, follows its strength lies two teenaged, in the authors’ middle-class exploration of Latinos as they the growth of the muse about life, “Alamo myth” about what it through the means to be Latino, influence of such disparate figures as the about fitting in Daughters of the Republic of Texas, Walt with other kids, Disney, John Wayne, and Phil Collins. and, of course, The history is so engaging that my now about parents fourth-grader insists that I read it to him at and their hopes bedtime. and dreams. The Books like these encourage me to novel gently takes consider not only what our faith says, but the reader into the boys’ adventures with what it says in this particular place and grace and good humor. And while some time. They encourage me to listen to the harrowing events take place stories of those who have lived on (spoiler alert) nobody dies, this land—life-long Texans and and the novel ends with joy immigrants alike—and to connect and love. their stories to the story of faith Kimberly Garza sets the that we share, a story in which we story of The Last Karankawas are just a small part of God’s much on Galveston Island in the grander narrative. years leading up to Hurricane What are your favorite Texas Ike. The novel highlights the reads? How do these help you to lives of Filipino, Latino, and think theologically about God’s Vietnamese families on the word to this particular place in this Texas coast, relating their season? v loves and their hurts even as the storm bears down. Survival and determination mark these —Reviewed by Margaret lives, even as those who live by the coast Aymer, Academic Dean maintain a determination to survive. and The First Presbyterian Like Magdalena, these characters live Church, Shreveport, D. with the power of nature, the reality Thomason Professor in New that the sea will take the island algún día, Testament Studies
faculty notes | Sarah Allen (advanced studies) was the worship leader for a Grace Presbytery clergywomen’s cohort retreat in November. Patricia Bonilla (Christian education) led worship and participated in active listening sessions with pastoral leaders at “Entre Nos: A Hispanic/Latino Pastoral Gathering.” Hosted by The National Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry of the United Methodist Church, the gathering in Phoenix, Arizona, Oct. 30-Nov. 2, is the first of its kind. Mindful of their Hispanic/Latino constituency and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic that disproportionately impacted communities of color, participants discussed issues such as how clergy serving these communities experience burnout, exhaustion, and loss. They also considered denominational schism and how the disaffiliation of congregations has further strained communities of color. In June, Jennifer Lord (homiletics) was an invited Consultant for the Calvin Institute for Worship in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She preached and gave the Lupberger Lectures at St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church in New Orleans in November. She will serve the next four years as the
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