October 16: Simone Weil: French Philosopher, Social Activist and Christian Mystic

October 30: The Devil's Rejects: Tracing the Evolution of Evil

Speak of the Devil, and he shall appear. But who is he, and where does he come from? Join Rev. Seth Ethan Carey on a journey through time to explore the evolution of demonological thought. Hear tales from the burning sands of ancient Egypt and the towering ziggurats of mesotopotamia. Explore eldritch legends told to frighten the children of Israel, and learn how the medieval Catholic Church contributed to the evolution of ideas that gave rise to the most diabolical character in the history of civilization.

 

January 15: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: Beyond "I Have a Dream..."

In honor of Dr. King and his life, we will come together with Seminary Intern Kathryn Price to discuss King's prophetic role as a Christian minister and disciple of Christ. There is more to this man and his vision than his famous "I Have a Dream speech," much more. Come hear about a man who loved Jesus enough to lose his life for him and for his fellow brothers and sisters of all races.

 

 

 

January 29: Navigating the Crisis: Survival in a Bad Economy

Join attorney Jon Noel Dowat for an informative discussion that aims to provide strategies for navigating the ongoing economic downturn. Dowat brings a Christian perspective to his work and will address issues such as restructuring debt, safeguarding your retirement, understanding the fundamentals of bankruptcy and how to settle tax debts with the IRS, among other matters.

 

 

 

February 5: Let's Talk About 2012

Mass culture today is filled with talk about 2012, a date that's supposed to bring about the end of an era.Why has 2012 been chosen? What's in store? Richard Smoley will give a lively and enjoyable presentation on the sources of this supposed historical watershed and on what it means in the light of Mayan prophecy, the predictions of Nostradamus, the Bible, the astrological ages and other sources. He'll also investigate the role of prophecy in our civilization and discuss why the need to believe in apocalypse is so deep-seated in the Western mind.

 

 

February 19: Screening of the film, "Fish out of Water"

Fish out of Water is a genre-bending feature documentary that uses animation and academic interviews to dissect the seven Bible verses used to condemn homosexuality and justify marriage discrimination. Director Ky Dickens shows, through animated illustrations of the oft-quoted Bible passages and revelatory commentary on them by celebrated scholars, that the Bible is misinterpreted and misquoted regarding same-sex relationships. Fish out of Water makes this controversial and dusty topic accessible and those who previously contorted the Bible to deny human rights now must face the truth of their own hatred and of God's unqualified love.

 

 

March 25: The Global Labyrinth: A Symbol for Hope & Healing

Explore historical labyrinths found around the world, and the rebirth of this symbol in today's world. The process of walking the labyrinth is unique to each person. We will talk about its many uses, and the variety of settings where they can be found. A list of local labyrinths open to the public will be available.

 

 

Ever wish that you could explore the Bible, understand it better and see how it pertains to your own life? Then check out AMEN: A Men's Bible Study, which meets every 1st and 3rd Tuesday from 7:00 – 8:30 pm in the Parlor.

 

 

 

 

III. Spritual Formation Groups

The Faith Forum meets on Sunday mornings, at 9:00 a.m. in the Parlor, where they discuss a variety of current issues as well as biblical interpretations. The group has had as many opinions as participants.

Sisters on a Sojourn meets in designated member's homes. This group of women gathers at 9:15 a.m. on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month. Discussion is based on a book that is purchased by everyone in the group.

The Guy's Groop is a men's group that meets on the 2nd & 4th Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. in the conference room. The topics are pre-selected based upon the interests and suggestions of the group, and vary widely from meeting to meeting. Most sessions relate in some tangential way to development of expression of individual spirituality or one's personal faith journey, to current events topics or issues as they impact our personal or our church's manifestation of faith, or to some totally non-religious topic that just seems to strike someone's fancy.

Moms & Psalms is a group of mothers with young children who gather from 9:15-10:45 a.m. on the 1st & 3rd Fridays in the Parlor. Childcare is provided for a small fee. The group selects a book, which everyone purchases, and then gathers to explore their faith in open and lively discussion and fellowship.