Education > Adult Ed Class Archive > Adult Ed Class Archive - 2009
Adult Education Class Archive - 2009
Read about classes SPC has offered previously:
What We Believeled by Revs. Dick Wohlschlaeger and Lisa Day
Sundays Jan. 4 through 25, 2009
Adults and high school youth are invited to take advantage of this new year’s opportunity to deepen and enrich their understanding of four important questions Christians ask about our faith and to engage in dialogue with theologians from antiquity to today — including fellow classmates. According to theologian Daniel Migliore, “asking questions is part of what it means to be human, and asking tough questions in the light of the grace of God in Jesus Christ is part of what it means to be Christian.”
Presbyterianism 101 focused on the heritage of the Presbyterian Chruch; this sequel will focus on our belief system. Topics include: The Authority of Scripture (Jan. 4), The Triune God (Jan. 11), The Providence of God and the Mystery of Evil (Jan. 18), and Being Christian in a World of Many Faiths (Jan. 25). Dick and Lisa will alternate as leaders; you are invited to join as many sessions as you are able.
Life Today in the Middle East: from Iraq to Palestine
Sponsored by the Peacemaking Committee
Sundays, Feb 1 through March 1, 2009 in Fellowship Hall
Recent warring in Gaza prompts this five-week study of living conditions and efforts at peacemaking in the region. Current media releases on the Gaza situation will be provided as available each week and, with the exception of our first week (which features a 57-minute movie), will be discussed as time permits.
February 1
We will view the 2008 film “Jerusalem: the East Side Story” — a current portrayal of the city. Showing life and filled with today’s issues, beautifully photographed, it features interviews with Palestinian and Israeli leaders, human rights activists and political analysts.
February 8
Abdulla Mizead, welcomed to Swarthmore College last summer as journalist-in residence at WNR (War News Radio), an award-winning, student-run campus radio program, will speak about daily life in Iraq and his personal experience as a staff member in NPR’s Baghdad bureau, focusing on the human side of Baghdad’s neighborhoods and rural provinces. He will speak about his native Iraq — its society, the tribal system, ethnic and religious groups, and his own experience at NPR’s Baghdad Bureau. He will discuss conditions under the regime prior to 2003 and changes since the 2003 invasion.
February 15
A Christian Peacemaker in Israel/West Bank Marianne Farrin will share her October 2008 journey with a Christian Peacemaker delegation to Israel and the West Bank: a Bethlehem refugee camp, Hebron, the settlements, olive picking and peace groups from both sides. A pastoral counselor and psychotherapist, Marianne is an MSW and a 2007 graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary.
February 22 - Gaza in the crossfire
Our speaker this week is a political scientist who specializes in the comparative politics of the Middle East and North Africa. Deborah Harrold earned her PhD at the University of Chicago and taught at the University of Pennsylvania, University of Texas at Austin, and Drexel before coming to Bryn Mawr College in 2003.
March 1
Thinking from Inside the Box Rajie Cook, the son of Palestinian parents, is an internationally known graphic designer, photographer, and artist living in Washington Crossing. Now in retirement, he creates box art that expresses his deeply felt concern for human rights and the tragic conditions in the Middle East. His work has been sown in galleries, in colleges, and in museums throughout the country. His talk will feature a powerpoint presentation.
Practicing Our Faith at the Tableled by Lauren McKinney
Sundays, Feb 1 through March 15 in the Hearth Room
This class is intended to help us think about the health of our bodies, the health of the earth that provides our food, the ways we use food to extend hospitality and enrich relationships, and the challenge of hunger. To enrich our experience, class size will be limited to twelve, and participants are asked to commit to attending at least five of the seven sessions.
Mozart's Requiem
led by John Alston, Associate Professor at Swarthmore College
Sunday, March 15 at 7:00pm in Loeffler Chapel
John Alston, Assocaite Professor at Swarthmore College and director of the Swarthmore College Chorus and Chamber Orchestra as well as founder of the Chester Children's Chorus, will share with all who are interested his insights on Mozart's masterpiece. Requiem will be performed by our own chancel choir in worship on Sunday, March 22.
Living With Lossled by Peg McCauley
Sundays, Feb 1 through March 22 in the Study
Loss is a natural part of life and grief is the natural consequence of loving. It is often a time of feeling isolated. Being part of a support group as you work through this process can be a source of healing. If you are interested in being part of such a group, and can be here on Sunday mornings at 9:00 beginning February 1, you will benefit from the leadership of Peg McCauley, a licensed professional counselor with national certification. Peg has been working as a bereavement counselor with the Gift of Life, our region's organ donor program, for several years. Sessions will include both an educational piece and a time for sharing stories.
Seasons of the SpiritHeld periodically
Seasons of the Spirit is a PC (USA) curriculum of lectionary-based Bible study that follows the readings used in worship. Bring your Bible and join us as often as you are able. Weeks when this class in not meeting, materials will be available through the church office for those who wish to continue this study independently.
The Misunderstood Jew
led by Dick Wohlschlaeger
Sundays, March 8 through March 22 in Fellowship Hall
In preparation for Amy-Jill Levine's visit, Dick Wohlschlaeger will lead a book study on her bestselling book, The Misunderstood Jew: The Church and the Scandal of the Jewish Jesus, on three Sundays leading up to her visit. Whether you can attend these sessions or not, the book will be of interest to you. Paperback copies will be available for purchase during coffee hour in Fellowship Hall beginning Sunday, March 1, and in the church office throughout the week, for $12.00. The Swarthmore College bookstore will be selling both the paperback (for the same price) and the hardback edition for $22.00. There is also a copy on the shelves of our church library available to someone interested in borrowing rather than purchasing.
The Misunderstood Jew: Understanding the Jewishness of Jesus
led by Amy-Jill Levine
Friday, March 27 at 7:30pm in Fellowship Hall
The Passion of Christ
led by Kit Crissey
Sunday, April 5 in Fellowship Hall - starting at 9:10 am
The stories of Holy Week have for centuries captured the minds, hearts, and hands of some of the world’s greatest artists. This year, on Palm Sunday, Kit Crissey will present images and reflections on some of the masterpieces found in Russian and Ukranian museums. We will also, thanks to Marsh and Mary Ellen Nelsen, use the preceeding 20 minutes, from 8:50 to 9:10 am to brush up on Händel’s Hallelujah Chorus, which will be offered once again as a triumphant and grateful benediction response on Easter Sunday.
Inquirers' Class
Sundays, April 19 to May 10 in the Study
Our Inquirers' Class is an opportunity for non-members to find out about Swarthmore Presbyterian Church – who we are, what we believe, how we serve and how one can become a member. To learn more, please visit our Inquirers' Class page.
The 12 Minor Prophets
Sundays, April 26 to May 10 in the Hearth Room
led by Reinhard Schweitzer-Stenner
If we talk about the prophets of the Hebrew Bible we often refer to the "Big Three" -- Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel. And certainly they are of utmost importance, but they do not constitute the entire corpus propheticum. There are also, in fact, books from 12 so-called minor prophets (dodeca-prophets). Their prophecy covers a span of time from the era before Isaiah (Amos) to the post-exile period (Haggai, Zechariah, etc.). Most of them address specific problems of their time, but their critical attitude, which did not please the authorities of their time, is likely relevant for our own faith.
The first class, on April 26, will be an overview of all twelve prophets, including the book of Daniel, which, strictly speaking, is not a prophetic book. In the second class, May 3, we will focus on the only prophet from the Northern Kingdom of Israel, Hosea. The third Sunday, May 10, will be dedicated to two other important early prophets, Amos and Micah. Amos, though born in the Southern Kingdom, preached predominantly in the North, whereas Micah was active in Judea.
You are invitied to join Reinhard Schweitzer-Stenner in the Hearth Room on Sunday mornings beginning April 26 for some lively discussion and a heathly dose of education on this subject.
New Green Christianity
coordinated by Virginia Thompson
Sundays, April 19 (in the Hearth Room) to May 17 in Fellowship Hall
On April 19, just before Earth Day, we begin a four week adult education series that will focus on the environment. In these classes we will explore the Biblical and theological foundations for stewardship of the Earth; learn about what other churches have been doing to reduce their carbon footprints; discuss the significant progress our own church has made and think about future steps to further reduce our environmental impact; and learn what incentives and tools are available within our own community and from the state and federal governments to help us conserve natural resources as individuals. Speakers will include several of our own members — Mark Wallace, Jeff Darlin, and Virginia Thompson — as well as some recruited from the wider community. Terms like “climate change,” “sustainability,” and “greening” have become part of our everyday language; this team of speakers hopes to begin a dialogue about the role that environmental stewardship can and should have in our church community.
Carbon Footprints at SPC - led by Jeff Darlin, April 19 in the Hearth Room
In this first session we will learn what another church has done to reduce its environmental impact and will also hear from Jeff Darlin, SPC facilities manager, about some of the steps SPC has already taken and envisions we take in the future to leave gentler footprints on the earth.
Biblical Foundations - led by Mark Wallace, April 26 in Fellowship Hall
The second session of this timely series will be led by Mark Wallace, SPC member and Professor of Religious Studies at Swarthmore College. What does the Bible look like when read with “green” eyes? What defines Christian life when re-imagined from a creation-based rather than salvation-based worldview? What is the gospel message of the “green” Jesus when heard from this perspective? Please join Mark on Sunday in Fellowship Hall for some answers to these questions. And feel free to bring some questions of your own.
Individual Responsibility - led by Jeff Darlin, May 3 in Fellowship Hall
During the third session of examining how environmental protection fits into our Christian faith, we will consider how we as individuals can reduce our own environmental footprints. The process can seem overwhelming, so we will break it down into manageable pieces. We will also discuss how we can help one another as members of the same community. And there will be some helpful “show and tell” collateral to help us navigate this “greenfield.”
Theological Foundations - led by Mark Wallace, May 10 in Fellowship Hall
What does Christian theology and spirituality look like when read with “green eyes”? What is Christian life when reimagined from a creation-based, rather than a salvationbased worldview? What is the gospel message of the “green Jesus” when reunderstood from the perspective of the Earth? Please join Mark on Sunday in Fellowship Hall for some engaging discussion around answers to these questions.
Individuals as God’s Stewards - led by Joe Coyle and Michael Matotek, May 17 in Fellowship Hall
In this, the final week of our series, we consider the roles of both the church and the individual in reducing our carbon
footprint. We'll hear from Open Sky Energy of Swarthmore about solar installations on individual homes, considerations for installing solar energy systems on our church, and federal and state incentives that help defray the costs. We will also view a short video segment about another church that has taken significant steps to reduce its environmental footprint. The session highlights how the actions we take as individuals and as members of our church can have a significantly positive effect on God's Earth.
Spirituality 101
led by Janet Olshewsky and Joyce VanRavenswaay
Sunday, May 17 in the Hearth Room
Throughout the centuries, committed Christians who have been interested in deepening their relationship with God have turned to spiritual disciplines for guidance and encouragement. But what are spiritual disciplines? And of what relevance are they for twenty-first-century Christians? We talk about this on Sunday! Janet and Joyce will introduce and help participants to explore several spiritual disciplines, speak to the origins and evolution of each practice, and do their best to correct common misperceptions. If you are then interested in practicing one or several such disciplines for your own spiritual growth, you will have some tools to do so.
Music of a Country Under God
led by Dorrie McGrath
Sunday, May 24 in Fellowship Hall
On this national holiday weekend, we will gather as a large family to honor the music that recognizes God’s providence in times of war and strife. This will include singing many familiar patriotic hymns, hearing the circumstances under which they were written, and perhaps learning a few new ones. Younger members will be encouraged to be part of a fife and drum corps! Childcare for infants and toddlers will be available in the nursery; all others are invited to make music together.
Religious Words and Their Roots
led by Kit Crissey
Sunday, May 31, 2009
An appropriate class for Pentecost Sunday, when we celebrate, among other things, the many languages in which we speak and hear the Word of God. Kit Crissey, a linguist who readily shares his clear sense of humor, will discuss "religious words and their roots in the classic languages."
How Does the Bible Mean?led by Rev. Lisa DaySundays, September 13, 20, & 27, 2009 in Fellowship HallThe Bible is the source book of our Christian faith. It rightly occupies a central place in our study and devotional practice. Yet, it is a challenge to those of us who try to read its words and grasp its message. It can be both familiar and foreign, both helpful and puzzling-all at the same time. How can we use and understand the Bible with more confidence? Join Associate Pastor Lisa Day as we gain tools and experience interpreting the Bible. This will be an interactive class; please bring your questions, your ideas, and your Bibles. If you would like an advance copy of the participant guide, please e-mail Lisa.
Joining Children on the Spiritual Journeyled by Doug Gaston and Lauren McKinneySundays, September 13, 20, & 27, 2009 in the Study Parents and all caregivers of children are invited to participate in a three-week discussion of Catherine Stonehouse's Joining Children on the Spiritual Journey -- Nurturing a Life of Faith. How can faith in God begin early in a child's life? Dr. Stonehouse's book describes how the spiritual life of a child develops and how caring parents and teachers can enhance this development. It is not necessary to have read the book prior to class meetings. You may purchase a paperback copy of the book at class on Sunday morning or in the church office throughout the week. The cost will be $20, payable in cash or by check. SPC members Doug Gaston and Lauren McKinney will lead using a small group discussion format.
2009 Peacemaking SeriesSundays, October 4 through 18 9:00 in Fellowship Hallsponsored by the Peacemaking Committee
Sunday, October 4: Steadfast Hope: The Palestinian Quest for Just Peace Rev. Dr. Christian IossoThe Rev. Dr. Christian “Chris” Iosso, coordinator of the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy (ACSWP) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), will be our guest preacher at this year’s World Communion/Peacemaking Sunday service on October 4. In our 9:00 class, using a fabulous resource recently published by the Israel/Palestine Mission Network of the Presbyterian Church (USA), Rev. Iosso will address the ongoing challenges of finding peace in the Middle East. Copies of the resource he will be using, "Steadfast Hope: The Palestinian Quest for Just Peace," will be offered for sale during coffee hour on Sundays through October 4. Please visit our
Peacemaking Committee page for more information about Rev. Iosso.
Bryan Miller - October 11, 2009
"Heeding God's Call - A New Faith-Based Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence"
Bryan Miller, a member of Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church and executive of Cease Fire New Jersey, will speak on the need for gun control and the thorny issues of creating appropriate legislation. Heeding God's Call - A New Faith-Based Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence" is a campaign of participating churches, synagogues, and mosques to reduce the illegal trade in handguns in Pennsylvania. Bryan Miller, who left a 25-year career in international business to lead Ceasefire after his only brother, an FBI special agent, was shot and killed in a 1994 massacre in Washington, DC, has become a driving force in the effort to strengthen Pennsylvania's gun laws.
Sarah Rohrer - October 18, 2009
Bread for the World
Sarah Rohrer, Field organizer for Bread for the World, a Christian advocacy organization, will speak about the global food crisis. Her emphasis will be on the causes and effects of hunger, particularly in developing countries.
The Spiritual Development of Tweens
Sundays, October 4,11, and 18 in the Study
led by Rev. John Weicher
What exactly are "tweens"? you may ask. Well, there is little exactitude about it. For parents and other adults who interact with children from 8 to 13 years old, John Weicher will lead a discussion group for the next few weeks. The main focus will be on understanding children and helping them to grow in faith. The areas of concentration by week will be: October 4, identity; October 11, spirituality; October 18, culture. No preparation needed; please join John for as many sessions as you are able.
Forum Series featuring SPC's Mission Co-WorkersSundays, October 25 through November 15, 2009 in Fellowship Hall
Sponsored by SPC's World Mission Task Force
Please visit our World Mission page to learn about the co-workers mentioned below and SPC's involvement around the world.
Keith Pacheko, Zimbabwe - October 25, 2009
In a segue from the speaker series sponsored by our Peacemaking Committee to a series featuring presentations from three of our mission co-workers, we welcome a guest who has practiced nonviolent conflict resolution in Zimbabwe. Keith Pacheco, a member of the Langhorne Presbyterian Church, has spent the last twenty years learning, reading, practicing and studying the field of peaceful conflict resolution. He has served for ten years on the board of The Bucks County Peace Center, spent two weeks in Israel/Palestine listening to the voices of the Middle East, and currently shares the practice of nonviolent communication in various workshops. In the summer of 2008 Pacheco traveled to Zimbabwe to teach conflict resolution at a church with which his congregation has had a decade-long partnership. On Sunday morning he will share some of the events leading up to his trip, the outcome of the mediation, and a brief description of the process used.
Dr. Sue Makin, Malawi - November 1, 2009
On Sunday, November 1, we welcome one who we have come to know not only through her visits here, but through colorful and informative letters, a picture and fact-filled quarterly newsletter, and through the stories told in word and watercolor by Martha Huggins, who visited Malawi on our behalf 2 summers ago. Dr. Makin's latest letter, received just a few weeks ago, chronicles the bittersweet news that,after 11 years of service in the Mulanje Mission Hospital, she is auctioning off her earthly belongings, saying goodbye to friends and colleagues, and coming home. Dr. Makin will also lead "A Time with Children" during this day's 10:15 am worship service.
Rev. Douglas Orbaker, Nicaragua - November 8, 2009
On Sunday, November 8 we welcome one whom quite a number of SPC members have come to know personally. In efforts led and coordinated by Tom Stephenson, youth and adults from SPC, the local community, and Swarthmore College have
traveled in recent years to work alongside Doug Orbaker with our partner communities surrounding Matagalpa in Nicaragua. Most recently (June, 2009) Tom escorted a group that worked in the fields of small farmers who had received microloans made possible by SPC outreach and hunger funds. Appointed in January, 2004 to serve in Nicaragua with CEPAD (The Council of Protestant Churches of Nicaragua) as delegations coordinator, Rev. Doug Orbaker develops programs carried out by the many “mission teams” that go to Nicaragua to work with and learn from Nicaraguans. Doug holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Grove City College, a master of divinity from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and a doctor of divinity from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago. Rev. Orbaker will also serve as our guest preacher at this day's 10:15 worship service.
Cobbie and Dessa Palm, Philippines - November 15, 2009
On Sunday, November 15 we welcome Cobbie and Dessa Quesada Palm, our mission co-workers from the Philippines, who will share the podium with our own David Morse to talk about their work and David’s August visit with them in Dumaguete. At the request of the World Mission Task Force, David extended his time in Asia by a several days and extra flights to meet with Cobbie and Dessa and to tour Silliman University. Several of his pictures are now featured on the Philippines mission bulletin board in Fellowship Hall. Included in their talk will be some news about Sarah Jean Cuyag, a young seminary student at Silliman whose education this year is made possible by the $1000 scholarship SPC provides from the Pitts Seminary Scholarship Fund. You are also invited to lunch. The World Mission Task Force encourages anyone interested in further conversation with our guests to join them following fellowship hour at the Swarthmore College dining hall in Sharples; simply bring enough money to cover the cost of your own lunch.
Inquirers' Classes
led by Dick Wohlschlaeger
Sundays, November 1 through 22, 2009, in the Study
Twice each year — in the spring and in the Fall — Dick Wohlschlaeger, with the support of our membership committee and a number of our elders, leads a four-week class for those interested in exploring membership. We call it an Inquirers’ Class because it creates opportunities for questions to be asked and answers thoughtfully given as well as the dissemination of some practical information and discussion about just what it really means to be Presbyterian and how the infrastructure of our church and its many committees is organized. If you would like to be part of this group, or know of anyone who has been attending recently and might, please contact the church office 610-543-4712 or spcparish@swarthmorepres.org.
Giving Thanks in Many Faiths
led by Kit Crissey
Sunday, November 22, 2009, in Fellowship Hall
On this, the Sunday before Thanksgiving, Kit Crissey will share with us the traditions of giving thanks as they are observed in religious communities. In many cases these observances center around with giving thanks to the Almighty for enough food to nourish our bodies; they exist in Islam, Judaism, Taoism, Hindu, and Japanese Buddhism among others. In the Thanksgiving proclamation issued by President George Washington in 1789, which declared this to be a national holiday, we are reminded “to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and to humbly implore his protection and favor.” Copies of the entire Thanksgiving Proclamation are available on the shelf outside the church office.
Finding Peace: Introduction to Spiritual Disciplines
led by Joyce VanRavenswaay
Sunday, November 29, in Fellowship Hall
On this first Sunday in Advent, a season characterized by the high energy and activity levels that so readily go hand in hand with stress, we will use our time this morning to explore and discuss spiritual disciplines. Joyce will help us to think about the regular practices and actions that, if we we choose to take, facilitate spiritual growth and ultimately bring about transformation. One of the goals of this discussion is to equip each of us to write "rules of life" that might help us find a path to selecting and commiting to spiritual disciplines that make sense for our individual lives and the individual challenges we have to spiritual growth.
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
led by David Gelzer
Sunday, December 6, 2009, in the Study
So many of our Advent traditions and memories are associated with music! And for good reason: the many familiar hymns that we sing on Sunday mornings and hear throughout the season have changed little throughout the years. So for several Sundays in Advent, we are invited to stop and reflect on the words and music that we know so well. David Gelzer will lead a discussion and provide some background that encourages us to think about theological context and to understand the time in history that these words were penned. This morning's words are among the oldest that we sing today: O Come, O Come Emmanuel.
Silent Night, Holy Night
led by David Gelzer
Sunday, December 13, 2009 in the Study
There are few not moved by the gentle yet soaring meoldy and evocative words of Silent NIght, Holy NIght. This morning we consider them all, as leader David Gelzer is firm in his conviction that we do a disservice to any hymn in not singing all the stanzas! Bring your coffee and join him in the Study.
A New Look at the Old, Old Story
led by Jim Lappen
Sundays, December 6 through 20, 2009, in Fellowship Hall
Each year at Christmas we read the story of Jesus' birth from the Gospel of Luke. We know the characters: Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, the angel Gabriel, Elizabeth and Zechariah, John the Baptist, and, of course, "baby Jesus." In this 3-week class, we will try to see the old story through new eyes. We will learn how this story connects with the people and stories that were the "old, old stories" these many centuries ago. We will listen to songs that were sung in anticipation of His coming. We will look to see what we can discover about the "virgin birth" and its place in the New Testament teachings about Jesus. Bring your coffee --- and your Bible.
"Hark, the Herald Angels Sing" -- a Drama of the Mind?
led by Ken Wells
Sunday, December 20, 2009 in the Study
Is this soaring carol too familiar? the rhetoric overused? Does it really answer any of today's questions - ones not straw fabrications to be knocked down by smug "Christian" answers? What theology do you bring to it? What does it ask of us? Bring your coffee and your willingness to engage in the conversation. Ken Wells will facilitate discussion as we take a closer look at these familiar words.
Holiday Break Sundays, December 27 and January 3
9:00 classes resume Sunday, January 10