CONWAY, Ark. (December 4, 2013) – Hendrix alumnus the Very
Rev. Barkley Thompson’s first book Elements of Grace will
be published this month by Trinity Books.
Thompson, a 1995 Hendrix graduate, is dean of Christ Church
Cathedral (Episcopal) in Houston, Texas.
Before coming to Christ Church Cathedral in early 2013,
Thompson was rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Roanoke, Va., for six
years. Before that he served for four years as rector of the Church of the Holy
Apostles in Collierville, Tenn. All royalties from
the book will be donated to the outreach ministries of Holy
Apostles-Collierville, Tenn.; St. John's-Roanoke, Va.; and Christ Church
Cathedral.
After receiving a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and
religion from Hendrix, Thompson earned a master of arts degree in religious studies
from the University of Chicago, and the M.Div. from the Episcopal Seminary of
the Southwest in Austin, Texas.
Thompson will be the featured speaker Jan. 5 and 12 on “Day
1” with host Peter Wallace, the nationally syndicated ecumenical radio program
also accessible online at Day1.org. In 2014 “Day
1” begins its 69th year of weekly broadcasts.
His sermon for Jan. 5, Epiphany Sunday, drawing from
Matthew 2:1-12, is entitled “Whose Side Are We On?” “I suggest to you on this
Sunday that is the Eve of the Epiphany that we look with fresh eyes at the
story of the Magi. Forget for a few moments the wonderful Wise Men costumes
that children wore in last month’s Christmas pageant. Set aside even the words
of ‘We Three Kings’ that hone our minds to this story in this season. Let’s
look at this account as Holy Scripture gives it to us. When we see it this way,
one conclusion is inescapable: The Magi were spies.”
Thompson’s sermon for Jan. 12, based on Matthew 3:13-17, is
entitled “Secret Identity.” “On this day of the Baptism of our Lord, we are
called to remember into whom we are baptized. At his own baptism God spoke to
Jesus, and half a Gospel later God spoke to the disciples, saying, ‘This is my
Son, the Beloved, in whom I am well pleased.’ That only is truly Jesus. That is
his identity. And in baptism, Jesus’ identity becomes our own true selves. We
emerge from the water reborn into him.”
Each program includes interviews with Thompson conducted by
Wallace, who is executive producer.
“Day 1,” has been broadcast every week for nearly 69 years,
formerly as “The Protestant Hour.” Featuring outstanding preachers from the
mainline denominations, “Day 1” is currently distributed to more than 200 radio
stations across America and overseas. The program is produced by the Alliance
for Christian Media, based in Atlanta, Ga.
For more information, visit http://day1.org.
Founded in 1876, Hendrix College is a national leader in
engaged liberal arts and sciences education. For the sixth consecutive year,
Hendrix was named one of the country’s “Up and Coming” liberal arts colleges by
U.S. News and World Report. Hendrix is featured in the latest edition of Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change
the Way You Think about Colleges,
as well as the 2014 Princeton Review’s The Best 378 Colleges, Forbes magazine's list of America's Top Colleges, and
the 2014 Fiske Guide to Colleges. Hendrix has been affiliated with the United
Methodist Church since 1884. For more information, visit www.hendrix.edu.