New York City Events
Man’s Laws but God’s Justice: Learning to Stay in Our Lane
A CU New York Lunch & Learn featuring Olga Statz
On Friday, February 21, 2020, CU New York was honored to host Olga Statz*, Acting General Counsel at the City’s Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings, as the guest speaker for a Lunch & Learn. Olga began her talk on Man’s Laws but God’s Justice: Learning to Stay in Our Lane with a personal recollection of a moment early in her law career. For the first time she felt the true responsibility expected of her as an advocate, recognizing what it meant to stand between a defendant and the full weight of the State. At this moment Olga was confronted with this underlying truth: the secret of a lawyer’s ability and power lies in process. To this point, Olga emphasized the importance of understanding our roles as professionals and as humans, of understanding our authority in Christ and God’s authority over our lives, in understanding how to submit to Christ and to submit to the procedural standards of our justice system.Undefiled - A Ten Day Fast Inspired by Daniel's Life
Monday, January 20 - Wednesday, January 29, 2020
Christians across America participated in a ten-day fast (fasting from food). Participants followed the example of men and women of Scripture who humbled themselves and sought the Lord through fasting. Our country needs the spiritual renewal that only God can bring.
From Monday, January 20, 2020, participants sought God through the biblical practice of fasting. Some fasted from all foods for the entire ten days—drinking only liquids—or you may choose to fast one or two meals each day. For some, health limitations will require a different type of fast (see fasting resources).
Carpe Diem Redeemed: Seizing the Day, Discerning the Times
CU New York Forum with Dr. Os Guinness
On Friday, January 17, 2020, CU New York had the privilege of hosting esteemed author and friend of the ministry, Dr. Os Guinness, for a forum on his most recent novel Carpe Diem Redeemed: Seizing the Day, Discerning the Times. Dr. Guinness challenged the audience to consider the true meaning and significance of time, our own mortality, and how intentionally we choose to live out our callings for God’s purposes. These biblical ideals about time stand in stark contrast to many common perceptions of time in today’s cultures, especially those in the west.
The New Testament in Its World: How History Can Revitalize Faith
Forum with N.T. Wright
On November 14, CU New York hosted N.T. Wright at the Salmagundi Club for a forum. Graduate students, young professionals, and seasoned professionals gathered for a night of fellowship and teaching.Salon with Guest Speaker Ken Fish
Evangelism: Developing and Communicating Your Story of Jesus
On October 31st, CU New York had the privilege of hosting guest speaker Ken Fish for a salon focused on the topic of evangelism through conversation and testimony sharing.
Finance & Faith Forum
A panel discussion on what it means to be a Christian in the field of finance
On Thursday, October 24, Christian Union co-hosted a Finance & Faith Forum with partners The King's College and Gordon College. This panel of distinguished speakers shared their insights as to what it means to be a follower of Christ in the financial services industry. They spoke to some of the unique challenges Christians in the field face, including navigating finance culture and Christian ethics.
CU New York Fall Kick-Off
On Saturday, CU New York hosted its 3rd annual fall kickoff event. A group of over 50 young professionals enjoyed a cruise on the Hudson. Recent graduates were excited for the opportunity to connect with other like-minded professionals as they search for a church home and a fruitful community amidst the bustling culture of New York.
CU Cities Conference 2019
June 20-21, 2019
New York City, New YorkThe CU Cities Conference 2019 convened graduate students and diverse professionals, from recent graduates to seasoned pros, from across industries, to explore compelling ideas about faith and its relevance to every facet of our lives. You can find video recordings from our plenary speakers here and audio recordings from our breakout speakers here from the CU Cities Conference in 2019.
True Paradox: How Christianity Makes Sense of Our Complex World
Forum with David Skeel
Christian Union New York was excited to hold its first Forum of the year on Monday, May 20. The night’s speaker was David Skeel, S. Samuel Arsht Professor of Corporate Law at the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Drawing on his wide range of expertise, Professor Skeel spoke to the audience, not on bankruptcy law, but on an approach to apologetics fit for our postmodern era.
Vocation and the Kingdom of God
Breakfast with N.T. Wright
On Thursday, 9 May, Christian Union New York was delighted to host Professor N.T. Wright for a breakfast discussion on Vocation and the Kingdom of God. Drawing from his Gifford Lectures (delivered at the University of Aberdeen in 2018) and ideas penned in several of his books (primarily Surprised by Hope and Simply Christian), Professor Wright gave an insightful call to all Christians to advance the Kingdom of God through our vocations by enacting justice, creating beauty and “standing at the dangerous intersection of Heaven and Earth.”
God and the Newsroom
Salon with Paul Glader
Twenty-four attendees gathered on Tuesday night to hear from Paul Glader at Christian Union New York’s latest salon. Glader, Associate Professor of Journalism, Media and Entrepreneurship at The King's College, spoke on God and the Newsroom, highlighting both the current tensions between the media and religion and the potential that exists for a mutually beneficial relationship.
A Night of Glorious Praise
Local Ministries, Musicians Unite for Worthy ’19
By Grace Choi, Cornell ’22
Loud echoes of worship could be heard from Barnes Hall on Saturday, March 9, as a crowd gathered for Worthy ’19, a campus and community-wide effort that drew musicians, singers, artists, and performers from Cornell University, Ithaca College, local churches, and community organizations during the Lent season.
Jazz musician and visiting lecturer Joe Salzano organized the unique, multimedia worship night.
This year’s event, titled “Song of Salvation,” featured a mini-orchestra, a brass ensemble, members of Christian Union and Cru’s worship teams, and two of Cornell’s a cappella groups: Measureless A Cappella and Baraka Kwa Wimbo Gospel Ensemble. The event was sponsored by Campus On A Hill, Cornell Worship Workshop, and the Cornell Department of Music and was well attended by students.
Biblical Literacy in America
By Matt Allen
On Thursday 18 April, Christian Union New York invited Chuck Stetson to speak on Biblical Literacy. With George Barna’s research showing that only 7 percent of Americans have a biblical worldview (whereby the Bible is the primary resource through which one understands the world), Stetson took the evening to tell his audience what can be done to see that number increase and why this endeavor is so important.
How (And How Not) to Watch a Movie
Salon with Caleb Brown
by Matt Allen
Christian Union New York adopted a new format for their latest salon on March 26, 2019, when they invited guest speaker Caleb Brown to speak on the topic How (And How Not) to Watch a Movie. Rather than the usual lecture followed by Q&A format, Brown led a room of nearly thirty attendees through the pilot episode of Downton Abbey, taking regular pauses to point to the expertly crafted use of camera-angles, iconography, and audio that casual viewers (i.e. the majority of us) rarely pick up on. A short but lively discussion followed.
Partial Audio Recording
Fasting: Personal Torture or Connection with God?
Salon with Professor Amy Davis Abdallah
On Wednesday February 27, Christian Union New York hosted a salon on the important, though not overly popular, spiritual discipline of fasting. With Lent commencing on March 6, this discussion, led by Professor Amy Davis Abdallah of Nyack College, explored the biblical underpinnings of fasting, best practices, and its connection to Lent. Over thirty attendees were present.
Professor Davis suggested that one way of looking at the Fall is to see it as Adam and Eve breaking a partial fast, choosing a forbidden food over total reliance on God. Jesus then redeemed this wrong at the start of his ministry by successfully fasting, declaring before the tempter that “One does not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
The New Frontier of Mission
Salon with Mark Reynolds
On Thursday January 17, Christian Union New York welcomed over thirty guests to hear Mark Reynolds (of Redeemer City to City) teach on church planting in global cities. Through a Salon entitled The New Frontier of Mission, Reynolds outlined effective ways for Church planters and Christian leaders to engage the city around them, along with advice on how to avoid common pitfalls.The central point of the discussion focused on what Reynolds described as the “Two-Cities” theory.
As outlined in a simple diagram Reynolds handed out at the start of his talk, the church can often be described as one smaller “second city” within the larger “first city.”
The Fall of the Household
Salon with Aaron Renn
Christian Union New York hosted a salon titled, "The Fall of the Household" on December 4, 2018. Aaron Renn discussed the challenges posed to the family and the church by the changing nature and function of the household.
Salon with Justin Whitmel Earley
Habits of Purpose in an Age of Distraction
Christian Union Washington, DC, was delighted to host Justin Whitmel Earley on November 29, 2018, for the second of two salons that he led this month. Earlier this month, Justin led a hugely popular salon in New York City titled, "Habits of Purpose in an Age of Distraction." Justin led a second salon on the same topic for graduate students and young professionals in Washington, DC.If you missed the details from the New York City salon, the following is what Early shared in Washington, DC, including the audio recording from the event.
Earley’s topic, “Habits of Purpose in an Age of Distraction” is practical, but he began the discussion by sharing his personal story. Once a missionary in Asia, Earley returned to the US to follow a call from the Lord to become a lawyer. After excelling at Georgetown Law School, landing his dream job, and starting a family all seemed to well. Yet one day in that first year of work he was overcome by a sense of existential paranoia – he couldn’t sleep, he could no longer handle basic household tasks, his heart and mind raced. A trip to the ER only diagnosed severe anxiety – but no solution. Crippling anxiety began to tear down the good life he had established.To Change the World
Salon with James Davison Hunter
By Scott Crosby
The social analysis and theory of culture contained within James Davison Hunter’s book To Change The World comprises much of the academic foundation upon which Christian Union New York’s mission is built. Being so heavily informed by this work, CU New York was excited to host a breakfast discussion on To Change The World at the Union League Club on Friday, October 26, 2018. Over twenty of CU New York’s young professionals were in attendance.
Habits of Purpose in an Age of Distraction
Salon with Justin Whitmel Earley
By Matt Allen
Christian Union New York was delighted to host Justin Whitmel Earley on November 13, 2018, for the first of two salons that he is leading this month. Salons can typically accomodate up to 20 participants. This event was hugely popular, with twenty-five in attendance and many more on the waitlist. Graduate students and professionals gathered to learn about the topic, "Habits of Purpose in an Age of Distraction."
