Lunch & Learn Series
Lunch & Learn Series
Bring a bag lunch and learn during these informative talks on popular topics of history, culture, science and the arts. Lunch & Learn programs are offered both LIVE at the Cape May Lutheran Church Hall, 509 Pittsburgh Ave., Cape May, and by ZOOM. You may bring your lunch and beverage but no food or drink is provided. The hall is accessible and free parking is available. No registration is needed if you plan to attend in person.
2025 schedule and lecture topics listed below.
A Classical Christmas: Instrumental Music for the Season
December 17: 12 pm
Explore music that has captured the spirit of Christmas, from reflective pieces to celebratory tunes. Dr. Brenda Leonard presents instrumental works which showcase the beauty and festive energy of winter and evoke the joy of the holiday season.
Opera and Ballet in Louis XIV’s France
January 7: 12 pm
Louis XIV, the “Sun King” (1638-1715) loved to dance. During his long reign, he brought ballet, opera, and other arts into the cultural life of the French aristocracy and thus created a distinct French tradition. Margaret Montet will talk about Louis the man and Louis the king with an emphasis on the arts of his time.
A Year of Anniversaries: Celebrating Cape May’s 175 Years and 50 as a National Historic Landmark
January 21: 12 pm
Join Ben Ridings, Cape May MAC Curator, for a look at the milestones that make 2026 a year of celebration. Marking Cape May’s 175th anniversary of incorporation and the 50th anniversary of its National Historic Landmark designation, this program explores how Cape May became a living record of American architecture and preservation history.
The Story of Black History Month
February 4: 12 pm
Black History Month has become a vital part of the American calendar — but its story is far richer and more complex than many realize. Ted Bryan explores the origins of the observance, the key figures who brought it to life, and the reasons it remains important today. A concise and insightful introduction to the “who, what, when, and why” behind this annual celebration.
Black Classical Composers
February 18: 12 pm
There have been Black composers of classical music as far back as the mid-eighteenth century, but many have been forgotten. The classical music world is beginning to address the systemic racism and cultural biases in its history. Dr. Brenda Leonard celebrates the artistry of eight composers of color whose work is coming back into the mainstream.
Margaret’s Diary During a Revolution
March 18: 12 pm
Written and performed by Gayle Stahlhuth based on the diary Margaret Morris kept when tensions between Hessians and Patriots were escalating near Trenton in December 1776. As many of her neighbors fled Burlington, she decided to stay, not knowing her fate.