Over the past three years, the ICJS has provided Christian clergy with an opportunity to engage in creative text study, and in the process explore the challenges of preaching troublesome lectionary readings during the seasons of Advent and Lent. Our experience has consistently demonstrated that when Christians hear and interpret their sacred texts in the presence of thoughtful and knowledgeable Jews, fresh and ex-pansive insights abound. The Preaching Colloquia have thereby benefitted greatly from the animated interplay with rabbis and Jewish scholars. The ICJS is grateful to the Baltimore Chapter of the American Jewish Committee, whose help and encour-agement make these programs possible.

On November 18, 1996, Dr. Bruce Birch, Professor of Hebrew Scriptures at Wesley Theological Seminary, explicated the readings from the fourth Sunday in Advent. Rabbi Paul Caplan from Beth Am then offered a response that situated the read-ings from the Hebrew Scriptures within a Jewish liturgical framework and alerted Christians to challenges that emerge from divergent understandings. The next segment of the after-noon directed participants' attention to a controversial icon, and the ensuring conversation evoked a lively exchange about the consequences of blurring the boundaries between Chris-tianity and Judaism.

On February 11, 1997, the Preaching Colloquium focused on Lenten and Easter texts. Both in small study groups and in plenary discussion, participants wrestled with the seasonal lectionary readings. Dr. Ed Hostetter, Hebrew Bible scholar at the Ecumenical Institute of Theology at St. Mary's Seminary & University, and Rabbi Donald Berlin of Oheb Shalom facilitated the plenary exchange, which assisted clergy in the develop-ment of innovative homiletical strategies.

This year the Advent Preaching Colloquium will take place on Thursday, November 13, 1997, and will center its attention on the theological implications of our Advent hymns and Christmas carols. In characteristic fashion, the ICJS will make certain that a diverse range of denominational perspectives are represented, and that all have the benefit of discovering new and often unexpected opportunities to examine the religious assumptions embodied within our liturgical rhythms.

The Lenten Afternoon will be held on March 3, 1998, and will concentrate on the problematic texts from the Book of Acts that are read in the weeks following Easter. We extend a warm welcome to any clergy who would like to find new possibilities of reading, interpreting, and proclaiming the sacred stories of the Christian tradition.