Lucky for me, we are beginning to get into territory that connects with something in the modern Christian's background. I got more response out of them tonight as we talked about the Arian controversy and the changes in Church life that followed the Peace of the Church. 'Course, I tend to present things in a rather breezy format, trying to make these people and their debates come alive and all.
So even though Nicholas of Myra wasn't a big player at I Nicea, I made sure we talked about him. After all, he later became the most popular saint of the Middle Ages -- not to mention the model for Santa Claus. (Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus: he was a good man who loved Jesus and helped write the Nicene Creed we said in worship this morning.)
Anyway, one of the class members -- a woman of my age -- asked tonight where she could find a copy of Augustine's City of God. I said I'd go prowl through my library and find my copy to loan her. But, hey -- an ordinary church member who wants to read The City of God? That's an opening into a wider world, I hope!