Christmas...How'd we do?

So, we did it. We celebrated another Christmas, the big kahuna of Christian holidays. I wondering how it was for everyone. Over the past several decades, my Christmases have gone from morose to meaningful. I'm glad. We seem to be getting a handle on a better celebration. We've all heard the phrase, "the true meaning of Christmas." But what exactly is that? The Wikipedia entry says that is "is a phrase with a long history in American pop culture. It first appears in the mid-19th century, and is often given vaguely religious overtones, suggesting that the "true meaning of Christmas" is the celebration of the Nativity of Christ. But in pop culture usage, overt religious references are mostly avoided, and the "true meaning" is taken to be a sort of introspective and benevolent attitude as opposed to the commercialization of Christmas which has been lamented since at least the 1850s." Please join us for some friendly conversation and exploration. We'll be delighted to see you.

Belief, Faith and Knowledge in the light of Intellectual Honesty

"Belief, Faith and Knowledge in the Light of Intellectual Honesty." Now there's a catchy title. Each of these terms potentially represents volumes of philosophical discourse. This coming Sunday, December 23rd, with the benefit of several on-line experts who provide workable definitions, we'll try to distill each of these down to manageable size and condense them into a coherent epistemological proposition that is meaningful to our spiritual growth. This could be fun, and easier than it sounds. If not, we'll just share some favorite stories.
Please join us. You'll be warmly welcome.

Your verse...

This Sunday we'll talk about Bible verses that have personal meaning to us as individuals.

My pick is Psalms 100 (KJV):

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.² Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. ³ Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. ⁴ Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. ⁵ For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

I was taught to memorize this psalm in my first grade Sunday School class. 

I took some time last week and spent a lot of it outdoors, watching glorious sunsets over a lake, being awestruck by crystal clear starry nights, sharing the break of dawn deep in a remote southern swamp, listening to the sound of nature beyond the human hum, being in the presence of people I love. At times, I felt the close presence of the majesty of the universe, and the reality of the fact that we are stardust become conscious, and Psalms 100 made sense for every one of the planet's children that would have it.

Please be warmly welcome at 9:45 on Sunday morning. Bring your verse. Share your story.

Progressive Dinner

Our annual progressive dinner is tonight. 

Appetizers:  704 Forest Ave., JC, hosted by Bennette Rowan and Julia Rogers

Entrée:  711 West Maple St., JC, hosted by Julie Wade

Desserts:  209 Riverside Dr., Eliz. hosted by Jim and Helen Wilson

People must be signed up to bring a dish in order to attend and for us to know how many folks to expect

Surprize Sunday

Please join us. See what we come up with this time.
We'll be delighted to see you.

Why we struggle and suffer

The Wardeskas and Julie Wade are going to lead the adult forum this Sunday.  The topic is a Ted Talk called “Why We Struggle and Suffer” by Michael Dowd. 

If you'd like to preview the video, just click on this link: http://youtu.be/DDMOF7qtlh8. 

Please join us. We'll be delighted to see you.

Maimonides and beliefs

Two items for our discussion on Sunday morning, November 25. First are two of the tenets of Moses Maimonides, a preeminent Jewish scholar of the 12th century. The one of these tenets is the notion of true beliefs versus necessary beliefs. For example Maimonides held that a true belief is that God is the perfect master of His emotions, never the victim of his own passions, while a necessary belief is that God may become angry if humans sin. This is a belief necessary to prevent people from sinning. While this example is obvious, other of our beliefs are more subtle. The second of Maimonides' tenets we'll consider is seen within his statement, "If you want to know God, seek to understand science and nature." We'll hold this up to the light while we consider a synopsis of recent findings on "Why we don't believe in science." Read a preview by clicking here. The intersection of these topics should be illuminating. Please be warmly welcome, regulars and newcomers alike. And if you attended last week and have more "In heavens..." bring them.

No meeting on November 11

We are making way for 10,000 Villages! But we'll meet next Sunday, November 18. Hope to see you then.

Here's what's on tap for November 18th: (not this coming Sunday, but the next one)


Several years ago, I started writing a list of things, small things I imagined would describe conditions in heaven. There was some pleasure in doing this, and I discovered that the smaller the thing I described, the more fun. Here are a couple of examples, some better than others. I'm leaving lost of room for improvement:

"In heaven, your pets all smell good."

"In heaven, when you're sitting on the toilet and you realize late, that the toilet paper roll is empty, there's always another roll within easy reach. And the other roll is the really good stuff."

"In heaven, you never drop your favorite coffee cup unless it's empty, and you always manage to catch it before it hits the floor."

"In heaven, when the phone rings, it's someone you'd forgotten how much you liked."

"In heaven, the remnants of egg-yolks aren't so hard to clean off your plate."

This coming Sunday, I want to share more of this, and I want to collect your "In heavens." If you happen to read this ahead of time, be thinking about it.

Please join us, we'll be delighted to see you, and we should have some fun.

Jane Jacobs on the similarities between economies and nature

This Sunday, Nov. 4, through the magic of the internet, we'll meet the late Jane Jacobs, a home-grown, organic visionary on the systems by which people live together successfully in communities. Though she passed away in 2006, her legacy provides inspiration and wisdom for the ages. Here's a sample: click here.
Please join us for a delightful hour. We welcome you, warmly.

No Adult Forum, but a great Gratitude Dinner after church

We're giving up our space on Sunday morning to make room for the Gratitude Dinner following the church service. Please join us. All you need to bring is an appetite and good thoughts.
Hope to see you there.

The Extraordinary rejuvenating power of music

This week's Adult Forum (October 21st) is based on an incredible piece of video footage from the work of Dr. Oliver Sachs with the power of music and the response it can elicit from otherwise poorly responsive patients. The video speaks for itself. Please take 6 minutes to watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyZQf0p73QM&feature=endscreen&NR=1
Sunday morning, we'll watch it together and then we'll listen to some of your favorite music and talk about its power. This'll be fun! Please join us.
As ever, loving childcare is provided.

The Lost Gospels, Part III

This coming Sunday, October 14th, we'll view and discuss the final part of the Peter Jones' film, "The Lost Gospels." This part covers several topics, including varying views on the identity of Jesus and the nature of Christ and the meaning of Jesus' crucifixion as viewed through the gospel of Peter, and it's potential impact of Christian theology.
Please join us for what is always a lively and intelligent discussion.
As usual, loving childcare is provided.

The Lost Gospels, Part II, Women

This coming Sunday, October 7, we will watch the second part of "The Lost Gospels" (from minute 26 through 43 if you follow the link to the video: here) This portion of the film examines the gospels of Phillip and Mary, both of which indicate a prominent role for women in the leadership of the early Christian church -- a role that was not consistent with that which followed the canonization of the scriptures as we know them.
Please join us for the viewing and the almost certain interesting discussion that follows. We'll be delighted to see you. As ever, loving childcare is provided.

The Lost Gospels

This coming Sunday, September 30, we'll have a look a a portion of a film made by Anglican clergy, Peter Owens Jones.
The film's title is "The Lost Gospels." We'll focus of the section that deals with the Gospel of Thomas. The film does an excellent job of explaining why this non-canonical work can be so powerful, and why it can be seen as so antithetical to modern, mainstream Christian theology. If you'd like a preview, the video and its blurb are given, below.
Please join us. We'll be delighted to see you. Loving childcare is provided.

Here's the video's link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_9MfFewdTo

and the blurb:
Documentary presented by Anglican priest Pete Owen Jones which explores the huge number of ancient Christian texts that didn't make it into the New Testament. Shocking and challenging, these were works in which Jesus didn't die, took revenge on his enemies and kissed Mary Magdalene on the mouth - a Jesus unrecognisable from that found in the traditional books of the New Testament. 

Pete travels through Egypt and the former Roman Empire looking at the emerging evidence of a Christian world that's very different to the one we know, and discovers that aside from the gospels of Mark, Matthew, Luke and John, there were over seventy gospels, acts, letters and apocalypses, all circulating in the early Church. 

Through these lost Gospels, Pete reconstructs the intense intellectual and political struggles for orthodoxy that was fought in the early centuries of Christianity, a battle involving different Christian sects, each convinced that their gospels were true and sacred.

Obama and Romney respond to: "What is your plan to address poverty?"

The group, "The Circle of Protection" asked the presidential candidates to offer formal, planned responses to the question of poverty in America. Both candidates submitted video replies. You can hear and see the videos by clicking here, and then clicking on the video images: Click 

According the Jim Walis' blog at Sojourner's

"The Circle of Protection, composed of Christian leaders from across the religious spectrum, released President Barack Obama's and GOP nominee Mitt Romney's video responses today at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
"'For years Christians have been separated by elections, but finally, we have a common ground moral issue: poverty,' said Jim Wallis, president and CEO of Sojourners. '… It’s because of this unprecedented unity around those whom Jesus called the least of these that the Presidential candidates felt they had to respond.”' 


"'Christian leaders asked, and the presidential nominees answered. The poverty rate in America is still at a staggering 15 percent and 46.2 million Americans remain in poverty — what is your plan to address the problem?'

Please join us this Sunday morning for a thoughtful discussion of what the candidates had to say. We'll be delighted to see you, and as ever, loving childcare is provided.

Buffalo Mountain and Frank Knisley

Sunday, our own Frank Knisley will share his views of Buffalo Mountain. We all see the mountain as it stands over our community, but traffic in the park is light how often do we really look at it. Frank Knisley is a careful and astute observer and he's been looking closely at our mountain for a number of years. Please be warmly welcome to join us at 9:45 as Frank shares his photographic perspectives.
As ever, loving childcare is provided.

Nothing planned....

We don't have a planned program for this coming Sunday. We may have a lot of flow-thru traffic as preparations are made for the Dinner on the Grounds. Please join us for that.
Loving childcare is provided

What does the Bible say about money, wealth, generosity and our duty to the poor?

This coming Sunday we are going to have a look at some Biblical references that speak to money, wealth, generosity and obligation. This topic follows our previous discussion on the social destructiveness that inherently arises from disparities in income and wealth. In the previous session we saw a strong correlation between countries in which wealth was unevenly distributed and the incidence of a multitude of social ills. The United States is in poor shape for wealth disparity and it seems to be getting worse. This week, we'll have a look at Biblical references that might provide insight and/or wisdom on what sort of decisions we might consider in the future. I doubt, as a country, we would ever accept the prospect of a Jubilee, but it might be an indicator of how we might proceed. (Lev 25:17; NIV "Dont take advantage of each other...")
Please be warmly welcome. Loving childcare is provided.

Dr. Kip Elolia, Water for Kenya Success!!

This coming Sunday, August 19th,  we'll once again host Dr. Kip Elolia from the faculty at Emanuel Christian Academy. He'll speak on the success of the water project for his home village in Kenya. Local folks funded this project, and once given the funds, Dr. Elolia made it happen.
Kip's bio states that he was "born and reared in Kenya, became a Christian during his teenage years. He received his Diploma from Scott Theological College in Kenya, the B.Th. from Ontario Bible College, the M.A. from Acadia University in Nova Scotia, and the Ph.D. from Trinity College, University of Toronto. His doctoral dissertation was entitled “Christianity and African Religions and Culture in Kenya: An Encounter Between the Africa Inland Mission and Marakwet Belief Systems and Culture.”
Please join us. We'll be happy to see you.
Loving childcare is provided

Grief and Loss II

Carol McElwee will direct a second session on grief and loss this coming Sunday. Carol is trained in thanatology and grief counseling and her expertise is thorough. Her first session was excellent. Please join us.
As ever, loving childcare is provided.

Income inequality....WWJD?

This coming Sunday we're going to view Richard Wilkinson's TED Talk, "How income inequality harms societies." We watched this a few months ago, but it is worth another viewing.. The data Wilkinson presents is based on his book, "The Spirit Level" which shows the correlations between income disparity within countries and the magnitude of those countries' social ills. It's an amzing set of data. Guess which of world's developed nations is at the top of income inequality, and tops in proportion of its population in prison, and a leader in the rate mental illness among its citizens. Here's a hint: you live there.
The subject of income inequality, together with last week's look at why liberals and conservatives value the things they do, will serve to set up the following week's topic on what Jesus taught about social and economic justice. Hmmm...sounds ambitious, but I bet we can manage it.
Please join us. We'll be delighted to see you.
Loving childcare is joyfully provided.

Politics and the Sacred

Last week we watched half of Bill Moyers' interview with social psychologist Jonathan Haidt. The topic is on differences in worldview between the political right and left. The video clip led to some stimulating discussion. This Sunday we'll watch the remainder, where the focus is on the notion that our passion for politics is a direct reflection of what we hold as sacred truths. Please join us.
Loving childcare is provided.

No Plans, but something will turn up

I don't have anything planned for Sunday. But we'll visit with each other and find something interesting to talk about. We always do. Please join us for some easy friendship, and good conversation.
As ever, excellent childcare is provided.

Loss, grief and mourning

This coming Sunday we will have an open discussion on personal loss, grieving and mourning. Carol Ann McElwee will give us some guidance and structure through the benefit of her compassionate experience and knowledge.
Please join us. We sincerely appreciate your participation and support.
As ever, loving childcare is provided.

A More Light Sunday Panel Discussion

In recognition of "more light Sunday"on July 8, the Adult Forum will have a four-person panel of FPC-e members and friends sharing their personal experience of LGBT issues in relation to their faith . There will be opportunity for questions from the floor. Please plan to attend  and bring friends from the community...lots of them! 


Refreshments will be served after the "more light Sunday "worship service. 

Please join us. We'll be delighted to see you. As always, loving childcare is provided.

Delay gratification and the Mischel Marshmellow Test

This coming Sunday, Leonore Simon will lead the Adult Forum in a discussion on the findings of the well-known Mischel Marshmellow test. In 1972 Stanford psychologist Walter Mischell tested 4-year olds and their ability to delay eating a marshmellow for 15-minutes. Follow up studies on the subjects 15 years later showed that those children who did delay eating the marshmellow were significantly more successful in several measures than those who did not. This test, used as an indicator of delayed gratification, has been repeated in other, non-US cultures and found to be an effective predictor of academic and other measures success.  It is intriguing to imagine the extent to which delayed gratification  can be taught and learned, and why it might be worthwhile to do so.


Dr. Leonore Simon earned her J.D. from Case Western Reserve School of Law in 1978, practiced criminal law in Ohio and in California for five years, and obtained her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of  Arizona Department of Psychology in 1991. She has taught criminal justice at Temple University, Washington State University, and East Tennessee State University. Dr. Simon has published over 35 journal articles, and presented over 75 conference papers in criminal justice, law, and psychology and taught over 20 different courses.


Please join us. Loving childcare is provided.

Will our kids be a different species?

In an excellent TED talk, Juan Enriquez asks whether we've developed to the point that access to a wealth of resources will allow our next generations to direct their own evolution. Could this be what the star dust that comprises us and all of our world does? Recent discoveries in technical and biological sciences are abruptly posing questions that we're not ready to answer, but yet, the questions are upon us. Please join us as we watch the talk and share our thoughts and opinions.
Loving childcare is provided.

Something from nothing...Lawrence Krauss

ASU Physist Lawrence Krauss recently published the title "Something From Nothing" in which he posits the theory that empty space is unstable and spontaneously gives rise to matter. This is an astonishing proposal in that it potentially answers Mortimer J. Adler's time-tested question, "Why is there something instead of nothing?" This question has been the bulwark of religious apologists who have used the question as an argument for the necessary existence of God. So, if the question is answered, where are we? How affected are sacred and precious tendrils of our hearts.
Please join us as we explore.
Loving childcare is provided.

Forgiveness

This Sunday we'll talk about forgiveness -- who gets it, who gives it, and who doesn't.
Please join us. Loving childcare is provided.

Potpourri

We don't have a specific topic for this coming Sunday...but don't be surprised if we find something interesting.
Please join us. Loving childcare is provided.

Dr. Kip Elolia: Water for Kenya

This coming Sunday we'll host Dr. Kip Elolia from the faculty at Emanuel Christian Academy. He'll speak on the planned water project for his home village in Kenya.
Kip's bio states that he was "born and reared in Kenya, became a Christian during his teenage years. He received his Diploma from Scott Theological College in Kenya, the B.Th. from Ontario Bible College, the M.A. from Acadia University in Nova Scotia, and the Ph.D. from Trinity College, University of Toronto. His doctoral dissertation was entitled “Christianity and African Religions and Culture in Kenya: An Encounter Between the Africa Inland Mission and Marakwet Belief Systems and Culture.”


Please join us. We'll be delighted to see you. Loving childcare is provided

Starving amid abundance -- we consider feeding our souls

When I dream about sudden, unexpected lucky wealth, I revel in how my life might change. I'd transcend the ever-present gnawing concern that I don't have enough. I'd be transformed to an unfettered state, free of my mortgage and retirement woes. I'd be united with the world of plenty. Sounds attractive! But it's unlikely, and lottery winners are not known for long-term happiness. Yet, I ask myself, aren't transcendence, transformation and unity states of being, and aren't they freely available? Are these connected to gratitude, and removed from poverty? Are they derived from feeding our souls.

Please join us as we consider these questions.

As ever, loving childcare is provided.

Living with ambiguity

Last week fear, this week ambiguity. From "What Matters Most" by James Hollis, three quotes:
"We don't know a millionth of one percent about anything." Thomas Edison
"I would never die for my beliefs because I might be wrong." Bertrand Russell
"All great truths begin as blasphemies." George Bernard Shaw.

The connecting theme is ambiguity, the lack of clear definition, permanence and certainty.
Our need for for certainty subverts our vulnerability and challenges our spontaneity, playfulness, creativity and openness to experience. A recent study suggest that one of the hallmark differences between liberals and conservatives is the tolerance of ambiguity. But, ambiguity can be annoying, it challenges our sense of security and identity, and it fosters indecision. Please join us as we explore our own tolerances of ambiguity.
Loving childcare is provided.

Our greatest fear

Presumably, each of us has our own, personal, greatest fear. And there may be a common thread, some Jungian archetypy, around our greatest fear, if we give it some consideration. I'd like to share thoughts about whether there is value in knowing, articulating and examining our greatest fear. It seems there could be deep comfort in identifying our greatest fear and having a realistic sense of assurance that the events upon which that fear is predicated, will never come to pass.
Please join us for what may be an interesting discussion. Loving childcare is provided.

Opening with Memes

This coming Sunday we will watch a short video of Daniel Dennett introducing the concept of memes, and then will open it up for broad discussion, and we'll see where it goes.

Please join us.

Loving childcare is provided.
http://thesciencenetwork.org/programs/the-science-studio/daniel-dennet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H1td-_SKEQ&feature=endscreen&NR=1

The Origin of Guilt

This coming Sunday, Jerry Nagel will present "The Origin of Guilt". There has to be some sort of evolutionary adaptive advantage.

Many know Jerry from his active involvement in ecological initiatives, water resources, and his role of the faculty in ETSU's Department of Biological Sciences.

Please be warmly welcome at the fascinating presentation.

As ever, excellent childcare is provided.

Build Your Own Theology, Part 2

This week Sandy Westin will continue leading us on the course, Build You Own Theology. Please join us. Superb Childcare is provided.

Build Your Own Theology

For the next three Sundays (March 25, April 2 and 9), Sandy Westin will be leading us in an exploration of our individual religious and spiritual belief systems and how we arrived at our personal credo. Loosely drawn from the Unitarian course titled "Building Your Own Theology", the series will be both interactive and optionally confidential. Participants are invited to bring a tablet or personal journal to use in the course of the workshop series, both on Sundays and between the sessions.

Sandy's Bio:

"Sandy Westin has had an active interest in interreligious studies her entire adult life, both personally and professionally. As the North American Regional Coordinator of United Religions Initiative from 2009 through 2011, she had personal encounters with people of a variety of faiths both in the US and abroad. When not providing commercial writing services as The Village Wordsmith (www.VillageWordsmith.net), Sandy attends graduate courses at East Tennessee State University."

Please be warmly welcome. Loving childcare is provided.

A Garden of Restorative Justice at the Carter County Jail

This Sunday, Brenda Warner will talk with us about how the Carter County jail is onto something progressive that falls in line with restorative, as opposed to punitive, justice. The project is a vegetable garden, maintained, and harvested by inmates for use by the prison system. The project is the brainchild of the combined efforts of the Carter County Commissioners, the City of Elizabethton, the Waste Water Treatment Department, UT Extension Office, State of TN Rehabilitative Services, State of TN Health Department, Carter County Tomorrow, and volunteers.

Three-quarters of an acre was planted in 2011 with a resounding success, yielding approximately $15,000.00 worth of vegetables. 2012 looks to be even bigger. Approximately 3 acres will be planted. Although the prison system is indeed saving money there are a lot of additional benefits to this project. The inmates learn new marketable skills, gain a sense of self-confidence in themselves, contribute to the betterment of the County.

Brenda was born and raised in rural Northeast Ohio on a farm. She graduated from Kent State University with a Bachelors in Natural resources - an interdisciplinary degree in Matural Resources. She spent two years in Tunisia as a Peace Corps Volunteer, and she's worked numerous public agencies in several states on projects related to environment, enforcement and justice. Brenda says that "A lot of this project is personal, and as is so often, events play themselves out and only later do we realize why things happened as they did."

Please join us. We'll be happy to see you. Loving childcare is provided.

What does being a mystic mean?

Rebecca Nunley will lead the discussion on what it means to be a mystic. Please join us. Loving childcare is provided.

Kip Elolia and Bread and Water in Kenya

This coming Sunday Kip Elolia will make a presentation to the Adult Forum on Bread and Water: A water furrow and irrigation system in Kerio Valley, Kenya.

Kip was born in Kerio Valley. He studied theology in Kenya. He is a professor of Theology and World Christianity at Emmanuel Christian Seminary.

Some of you may remember him from a sermon he gave at our church last year.

Please join us for this important session. We'll be happy to see you. Excellent childcare is provided.

Travels to India

Rebecca Nunley recently returned from her trip to India. This coming Sunday Rebecca will share her experience. She writes,

" I traveled to India with Russill Paul and his wife Asha (http://www.russillpaul.com/pilgrimage.html). I am happy to share information about the trip and as much of my experience as I can describe! We lived in an Ashram in India where Bede Griffiths and others worked to glean the gems of the world's spiritual traditions. It was a rich and rewarding journey."

Please join us.

Excellent childcare is provided.

Evolution Sunday! Continues

This Sunday, Dr. Julie Wade will pick up where she left off, giving us more to the story of the underlying means that have supported our evolution to our present day condition. Please join us at 9:45. and as ever, loving childcare is provided.

Evolution Sunday!

Once again, our favorite Biology Professor, Dr. Julia Wade will lead our Forum's celebration of Evolution Sunday, falling this year, precisely on Charles Darwin's 203rd birthday.

Dr. Wade's synopsis reads:

"Evolution via natural selection was first introduced by Charles Darwin in 1859 with the publication of his book “The Origin of Species.” His research became the foundation on which generations of biologists have continued to build. In this talk we shall examine four major areas of research in the last 150 years that have strengthened his theory in ways he never dreamed possible. These areas include:

1. Darwin’s original theory of natural selection

2. The Modern Synthesis of the 1930’s and 1940’s that combined genetics with evolution

3. The discovery of DNA structure and the sequencing of several genomes, including our own

4. The role of evolutionary embryology and development which is referred to as Evo-Devo

Evo-Devo has revolutionized our understanding of the origin of species because it has explained how animals have evolved from the Cambrian Period (over 500 million years ago) to the present using many of the same basic “tool kit” genes!! Such an understanding of life on earth is critical if we are to be intelligent stewards of our planet."

Please join us for an enlightening meeting. Loving childcare is provided.

Evolutionarily speaking, Jesus was right.

In advance of Evolution Sunday (Feb 12th) we're going to look at evidence of the origins of altruism and generosity. In our traditional view of evolution we think of survival of the fittest model, and we envision this model with a strong bias for individualism and self-interest. It is difficult to reconcile the surviving fittest with generosity, charity, forgiveness and other behaviors that fall under the moral umbrella created by the values of Jesus. ("how many times should I forgive...")

Early work by game theorists in the 1970's and 80's gave us the validity of the "tit-for-tat" or "eye for an eye" theory of reciprocity and cooperation. More recent work by evolutionary psychologists Leda Cosmides and John Tooby suggests that altruism and a certain amount of self-sacrifice can help make for a healthier, more prosperous world.

Please join us Sunday morning at 9:45 for what will hopefully be an interesting session. Loving childcare is provided.

Advocacy 101

This coming Sunday, Joe Rhymer will present "Advocacy 101." This presentation will provide citizen advocates with the tools and best practices for communicating with legislators to maximize the impact. Topics include legislative process, bill tracking as well as tips and tricks on how to get your message noticed. Joe promises to keep the session interesting with light conversation and examples from his experiences with local legislators. He will also provide a legislative update on LGBT issues at the conclusion of Advocacy 101.

About the speaker: Joe was born and raised in Bristol. He serves as the Tricities committee chair for the Tennessee Equality Project (TEP). The Tennessee Equality Project is a statewide organization dedicated to promote and sustain the equality of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons.

Please be warmly welcome to join us for an interesting and informative session. We'll be happy to see you. Generous, loving childcare is provided

The Atlantic Meets the Pacific: War of the Worldviews

Thanks to a tip from our astute member, Nancy Barrigar I watched the dialog entitled "The Atlantic Meets the Pacific: War of the Worldviews: Exploring Science vs. Spirituality with Deepak Chopra and Leonard Mlodinow." This is an excellent, thoughtful debate between two very well-spoken proponents of divergent perspectives. Each presents convincing arguments. Neither wins or loses in their always-respectful discussion. Preview the video, here: http://www.uctv.tv/search-details.aspx?showID=22484

Please join us on Sunday morning as we view and discuss the video. We'll be happy to see you. Generously loving childcare is provided.

Jerry Coyne and the Lack of Comity between Science and Religion

Last Sunday we heard John Haught's presentation on the common ground between science and religion--it was his side of the debate at the Gaines Center at UKY. This coming Sunday we'll hear from the other side in the person of Jerry Coyne, professor of Biology at the U. Chicago. Coyne pulls no punches in what amounts to an aggressive and unbalanced attack on religion. My interest in Coyne's argument is that he is fairly representative of the positions taken by scientists against religion. Coyne say little that is not accurate, but his points are not particularly germane to the argument. This is a common theme, and one that we should be alert to.

Please join us for an interesting session. We'll be happy to see you. As ever, loving childcare is provided.

John Haught and the Comity of Science and Religion

John F. Haught is professor of theology at Georgetown University and is considered the preeminent authority on the compatibility of science and religion. This past fall Haught was called on the debate his topic with University of Chicago biologist Jerry Coyne in the Bale-Boone seminar series at the U. of Kentucky. The debate sparked an interesting dialog that continued for several months. This Sunday we will view Haught's side of the debate, which, in my humble opinion amounted to a well-articulated, lofty and expansive view of Christianity and a warmingly loving God. We'll discuss the validity of Haught's argument of science's compatibility with religion. Please join us. We need your views.

As ever, superb childcare is provided.