Pitts Quick Links
Librarians Blog
Summer Hours Begin on Thursday, May 9th
The library’s summer hours begin Thursday, May 9th. We will be open weekdays from 7:30 AM until 5 PM Monday through Friday. We will be closed for Memorial Day (May 27), and on July 4 in observance of Independence Day. Click here to learn more about library hours. Read More »
Featured at Pitts
Joining Together in Discourse: Sermons from the 18th century to the Present
A pastor’s sermons are discourses between the pastor, the congregation and the community at large. Studying sermons reveals a great deal, both about the individual pastor, and about the social, cultural and political landscape in which the pastor preached.
The content of a pastor’s sermons, particularly when a large number are viewed over time, can shed light on the development of the pastor’s faith, as well as the significant issues facing his or her community. The style of preparation and preservation of sermon texts provide information about the particular pastor’s habits, but also about the churches in which he or she functions.
Sermon collections are as varied as the pastors who create them. Some consist of loose handwritten pages, bound journals with tables of contents, or newspaper clippings. Some pastors arrange their sermons chronologically; while others group them according to Scripture passage or to theme. As all of these elements are preserved, they become part of the discourse of the sermon.
Pitts Theology Library Archives and Manuscripts hold a wide range of sermon collections and this exhibit presents a small sampling of this collection. The exhibit will be on display through June.
