Lamott to lecture on faith with a side of humor

Anne…Anne Lamott March 1, 7 p.m. Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall 412-394-3353 $10 for students

Pittsburgh’s Community of Reconciliation Church is celebrating its 40th anniversary with the help of best-selling writer Anne Lamott. Lamott is author of Bird by Bird, Operating Instructions, Traveling Mercies and Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith. These works of nonfiction cover everything from alcoholism to single motherhood to Christianity.

Joining Lamott will be the Renaissance Choir of Pittsburgh, a local choral group aiming to educate audiences about the gay and lesbian communities through song. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette columnist and associate editor Tony Norman will act as master of ceremonies.

Lamott will fill the role of key speaker and is sure to discuss rather difficult topics while still maintaining a humorous atmosphere, as she commonly does in her books. The Rev. Denise R. Mason, of the Community of Reconciliation Church, urges students to attend the celebration for this very reason.

“Anne Lamott talks about spirituality and struggles that particularly young adults deal with as they seek to figure out their own individual selves and how they relate to each other and God. She is honest and vulnerable, practical and down to earth,” Mason said.

In this respect, Lamott’s speech will directly pertain to college students since these years are the most difficult to endure, with pressures coming from not only schoolwork, parents and peers, but also from ourselves as we begin to make lifelong decisions.

“God really loves us as we are. Our work in this world in not really about the end result but how we can recognize God in one another and in everyday places,” Mason added.

This theme will be the main point of Lamott’s speech, with the added element of self-depreciating humor that often appeals to college-aged adults.