The Dawn Treader

Anyone up for hosting a small Pigfest in March?  On or about ... say ... March 22nd or 23rd?  I am thinking about 10 to 12 people ... others will help with food ... I will moderate.

I am just looking for someone to open their house and set up the tables and chairs.  Send me a note if you are willing.

Just got this letter from a Pigfest moderator mentoree.  It made my day.

No Pigfest at our house this month. I know. We are overdue.  I will pick out a date this summer for a Pigfest (most likely in July) and advertise it.

I am considering tweaking the format (none of these are definite).

• Limiting the size to between 10 and 15 people to make conversation a little easier.
• Getting the ratio of Christians to non-Christians as close to 50-50 as I can.
• Reducing the scope of topics to three : Culture, Politics, or Philosophy (eliminating religion and history as stand alone topics).  I still expect people to bring their worldviews with them and be willing to talk about them openly.
• Asking everyone except first timers to bring food.

Here is a missional idea.  Use parties as a platform for mixing unchurched people with followers of Christ.  Read about how one couple is doing that.  This idea, like the Pigfest concept, are ways to combine hospitality with conversation to accomplish the work of the kingdom. ( HT: Jesus Creed )

Thomas Jefferson, a fellow Virginian, would have enjoyed our Pigfest.  The conversation was fluid and dynamic.  The food was excellent.  The topics were engaging.

I opened the Pigfest with a Thomas Aquinas quote that "civilization is constituted by conversation."  Jefferson, and many others through history, understood the importance of mixing hospitality and conversation in advancing ideas and thought.

Pigfest is t'nite.  The Pigfest staff at Mr. Dawntreader managed to scrounge up 28 of the sharpest thinkers in Virginia to attend ... from middle school ranks up through grandparents ... from poets to scientists ... from empiricists to romanticists.

There are some challenging topics in store for t'nite.  Mr. Dawntreader has seen a preview of the topics to be discussed ... you won't be disappointed.

Bring your worldviews, your ideas and your appetite with you -- but leave your high school diplomas at home.  Diplomas are not required for Pigfests.

The table has been set in the basement.  The chairs are deployed.  The food is being prepared.  All we need ... is you.

P.S.  Don't forget, apathy is strictly prohibited at all Pigfests.

Thomas Jefferson ... thinker, lawyer, musician, architect, scientist, statesman, president ... and Pigfester.

Pigfest on Friday, March 24th.  Seven o'clock.

Set Tivo to record the NCAA regional finals, and head over to our house for conversation and cuisine. (Duke is taking it all, btw)

Pig out on food and feast on ideas.   High school diploma not required.