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| Adult Enrichment Archive - 2003 |
Back to Adult Enrichment Main
| Date |
Book |
Speaker |
| September 24 |
Madam Secretary: A Memoir
We are fortunate to host respected diplomat and national leader, former Secretary of State and Ambassador Madeleine Albright. Ms. Albright will be presenting on her book: ”Madam Secretary: A Memoir.”
Tickets for the event need to be picked up at the Book Stall Bookstore for $1. The event is in our sanctuary beginning at 7:30 p.m. Seating is limited.
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Madeleine Albright |
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| October 30 |
What Jesus Meant
What did Jesus intend with the Beatitudes? Was Jesus starting a new religion or reforming an old one?
Erik Kolbell shares from his acclaimed and well-received new book, “What Jesus Meant.” Come here a refreshing interpretation of the most important sermon ever given.
The presentation in Tolman Fellowship hall and begins at 7:00 p.m.
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Erik Kolbell |
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| December 1 |
Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea: Why the Greeks Matter
Thomas Cahill authored an immensely popular series of books: “The Gift of the Jews”, “How the Irish Save Civilization”, and “Unto These Hills” (New Testament and its world). Now he adds to this series: “Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea: Why the Greeks Matter”.
All of these books deepen our understanding and respect of the various cultures in history that have shaped our moral and intellectual world in the present.
The presentation is in the Sanctuary and will begin at 7:00 p.m. |
Thomas Cahill |
| Date |
Topic |
Speaker |
| January 12 |
Faith and the Environment
This week’s program for the adult education hour on Sunday morning will be on “Faith and the Environment,” however, Jim Kenney will not be able to be with us. We will be continuing our discussion from last week with a look at the implications of having faith and being actively involved with caring for the creation. Don Parker and others from Chicago Wilderness magazine will provide the leadership for the program.
One of the issues we will focus on is “reclaiming our connection to God through nature and having a sense of awe for God in creation.” How do we acknowledge in practical ways our vital connection to the creation in a time when we are increasingly isolated from nature? How do we restore our lost sense of appreciation, amazement, and awe in the creation? What is the cost to our relationship with God when a sense of awe and respect has been lost?
Bring your calendars as well; we plan to set a workday for caring for nature in one of our forest preserves.
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Don Parker |
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| January 19, 26 |
Mysticism – Recovering the Tradition that Unites Us
So many people today seem to be put off by overly pietistic and personalized views of God but also find more liberal expressions of faith rather empty and meaningless. The ancient tradition of Christian mysticism fills that void with a vital spirituality which has common elements with the mystical traditions of Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism.
We will have Georgene Wilson, a presenter at Common Ground, share with us some ancient insights of the Christian life from this grand strain of Christian theology. She will also be sharing with us some practical methods of prayer and disciplines of faith.
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Georgene Wilson |
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| February 2 |
What Is the Future of Our World?
Do you every wonder where life, our world – history - are going? What difference does the life and death and resurrection of Christ mean if we seem to be trapped in an endless cycle of violence, division, and human atrocities? Is there an apocalyptic climatic end to history as the book of Revelation seems to suggest?
Dr. Frank Gamwell of the University of Chicago divinity school returns once again to help us struggle with some of the most difficult questions of our faith. He will be helping us to explore the immensely important doctrine of "eschatology" (study of the end times) and the variety of ways Christians have dealt with these concerns (including a look at the bizarre book of Revelation).
He has been one of our favorite presenters, so don’t miss the opportunity to study with him.
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Dr. Franklin Gamwell |
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| February 9 |
World of AIDS, Small Pox, Anthrax
Join us for a session to look at some of the world’s most terrifying epidemics. What are the real threats? What is being done about them? Are there ways we need to be involved as a faith community?
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Dr. John Phair |
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| February 16 |
Environment and Spirituality: Our Journey
Join a panel of WCC members in a discussion of spirituality and personal involvement in environmental matters of a wide variety and scale: from recycling waste, to cleaning Waukegan harbor, to prairie restoration, to geologic-scale disasters.
Chuck Dowding, Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering at Northwestern, Susie Schreiber, former Chair of the Waukegan Harbor Area of Concern, Charlie Shabica, Professor of Geological Science at Northeastern, and Luretta Spiess, Sr. Research Assoc. in Biochemistry and Plant Physiology at Northwestern will make short presentations, followed by questions and answers.
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Membership |
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February 23
March 2,9 |
The Gospel of Luke: The Good News of Liberation and Transformation
The way Jesus begins his ministry in each of four gospels offers a clue as to the unique perspective on who Jesus was and the meaning of a life of faith. In Luke’s gospel, Jesus begins his ministry proclaiming in a synagogue: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.”
It is no wonder then that the Jesus we see in Luke has been the source for liberation theology in Central America, the social gospel of the late 19th century in the U.S., as well as a source of pietistic evangelical theologies throughout the world. But what was Luke’s true perspective on Jesus? We will consider such fascinating themes found in this Gospel, the meaning of repentance, the heavy focus on the Holy Spirit, the role of community, wealth and poverty.
To guide us in this study, we welcome back, by popular demand, Dr. Benny Liew from Chicago Theological Seminary who has an engaging, thought provoking, practical approach to opening up the gospels in new ways.
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Dr. Benny Liew |
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| March 16 |
The Science and Ethics of Human Cloning
Perhaps no new development in science has created such an ethic debate as has developments in human cloning.
Join us as we consider the possibilities for healing and the potential implications of the evolving science of cloning.
Dr. Robert Branigan is Assistant Professor of Urology and Head of the Division of Male Reproductive Medicine and Surgery, North-Western University, Feinberg School of Medicine.
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Dr. Robert Branigan |
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| April 6 |
Center for Wrongful Convictions at Adult Education Hour
One of the big new stories for the past several years has been the number of people on death row who were wrongfully convicted and the subsequent release or commutation of sentences by Gov. George Ryan.
This Sunday, April 6, at 9:00 a.m. we welcome the Center for Wrongful Convictions, School of Law, Northwestern University.
The center will provide a program on current problems with the court system. An individual who was released from prison, based on a review of evidence will be among the presenters. This is a program not to be missed.
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Center for
Wrongful Convictions |
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| April 27 |
Visioning the Organ and Worship Space (VOWS)
Our own Dinny Cosyns will be giving us an opportunity to share what worship means to us, how we came to connect with WCC and an opportunity to think about the future direction of worship and our worship space.
Be sure to look at the other article on this topic in this Messenger.
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Dinny Cosyns |
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| May 4 |
Interfaith House
Michael Cook from Interfaith House will update us on the issues of poverty, housing, and homelessness and the important work being done by Interfaith House and other ministries to the homeless.
Paul Allen helped start this vital organization.
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Michael Cook |
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| May 11 |
What a Year We Have Had in Adult Ed
This is a critical session for those of you who have been to adult education hour this past year.
What worked for you? What would you like more of? How can we offer additional adult education programs, retreats, educational tours (hey, how about a pilgrimage to Rome, Assisi)?
Our adult education panel encourages you to join us as we review the past year and look ahead to planning programs for next year.
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Membership |
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| September 14, 21 |
What Difference Does It Make that Ethics Are Christian?
The Sunday Morning Adult Education Hour starts out the new church year with several fascinating and relevant questions concerning Christian ethics.
What makes Christian ethics unique? How should individual Christians and the Church relate to the larger society and the state? What is the continuing relevance of the Protestant Reformation for today's Church?
We begin with an exceptional presenter, Rev. Dr. Janet Parker, Assistant Professor of Religion and Society at Chicago Theological Seminary.
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Rev. Dr. Janet Parker |
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