MSSA: Caves of the Cumberland Plateau, Medicare Explained, and Songwriters’ Night
The Monteagle Sunday School Assembly in Monteagle continues its 142nd consecutive summer season of enrichment with an interdenominational worship service at 11 a.m. in the Assembly’s Warren Chapel. The eight-week season will continue through Sunday, Aug. 4, featuring numerous visiting lecturers who will present morning and evening programs that are open free of charge to the public; unless otherwise noted, morning lectures begin at 10:45 a.m. and evening lectures at 7:45 p.m. Anyone interested in a full schedule of the Monteagle Assembly’s 2024 program is welcome to pick one up at the Assembly Office (tel. 931-924-2286), or to peruse the schedule on the Assembly’s website at <www.mssa1882.org>.
Local caving experts Joey Favaloro and Jeffrey Reynolds will give this week’s Plateau Talk on “Dancing in the Dark: Caves of the Cumberland Plateau” in Warren Chapel Wednesday morning. These two cave enthusiasts have been leading tours of local caves for years. Joey belongs to the Big Light Speleology group, whose motto is “No cave too far, too dark, too deep.” Jeff has been exploring the caves of the Cumberland since the 1960s. After their morning lecture, Favaloro and Reynolds will lead an afternoon excursion to Soda Straw Cave (pre-registration required; inquire at the MSSA office).
Thursday’s morning lecturer brings Nashville healthcare benefits management consultant Margaret Smith to the Chapel to lecture on, “Medicare Explained: Learning the Basics and Navigating the Maze.” The daughter and granddaughter of Nashville-based physicians, Smith has always felt an affinity for healthcare. Earlier in her career, she worked at St. Thomas Hospital, where she created an insurance program for older adults. She now works through her company, Medical Accounts Management, to provide healthcare benefits services to employers.
Later that evening, join songwriter Daniel Tashian for a performance at the Auditorium sure to delight your ears. Tashian is a two-time Grammy-award-winning artist, songwriter, and producer. Tashian has worked closely with, among others, Kacey Musgraves and Burt Bacharach. His most recent album is the critically acclaimed Night After Night, released in 2022.
Additional events this week include the following:
Tuesday, June 25, 10:45 a.m., Warren Chapel — Bill Flatley lectures on the topic, “World War II in Russia: The battles of Leningrad, Moscow, Stalingrad, and Kursk.”
Tuesday, June 25, 3 p.m., Harton Hall — Culinary Event: Cooking demonstration and tasting with Chef Tom. Advance registration required; $20 fee.
Tuesday, June 25, 7:45 p.m., Auditorium—Sewanee Summer Music Festival performance.
Thursday & Friday, June 27-28, 3-4 p.m., Pulliam Center — Dr. Mould’s Escape Room: Advance registration required; no fee; limited space available. Two sessions offered (one each day).
Friday, June 28, 10:45 a.m., Auditorium — Dr. Thomas Mould lectures on the topic, “The Power of the Humble Family Story in Three Cultures: Choctaw, Mormon, and Yours.”
Friday, June 21, 2:30 p.m., Writers’ Grove — Shao-nian Bates reads from her book, “Memoir of a Small Chinese Woman.”
Movies begin on Sunday, June 23. They are open to the public (no fee; 4-hour passes available at the gate). All are shown at the MSSA Auditorium.
Sunday, June 23, 7:45 p.m., “Journey to the Center of the Earth” (2008; rated PG)
Wednesday, June 26, 6 p.m., “Cinderella” (original from 1950; rated G)
Wednesday, June 26, 7:45 p.m., “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (1996; rated G)
Friday, June 28, 7:45 p.m., “Karate Kid” (original from 1984; rated PG)
The Mission of the Monteagle Sunday School Assembly is to be a welcoming community of Christian faith where people gather to engage in spiritual growth and renewal, lifelong inquiry and learning, recreational, and cultural enrichment, while being good stewards of our natural resources and our Assembly heritage.