Instructor: Jeff Speaks

There are few more loaded words in our language than that of God.  Everyone who hears the word brings assumptions about its meaning, experiences both positive and negative, and (for religious people) a conception of what God means for their life of faith.  Yet many of us have never taken the time to reflect on what it is we mean when we say God.  What is God?  How does God interact with the world and with people?  What does our reason, experience, the Bible, and our religious tradition teach us about the nature of God?  How do we make sense of the reality of evil and suffering in a world created by God?  How do we speak of God in a religiously plural world?

Over the course of seven weeks, participants in this class will be given the opportunity to explore these and other questions in a manner that is accessible to intellectually and spiritually curious lay persons.  Through short presentations by theological educator Jeffrey Speaks and group discussions, we will explore how we think about the reality of God and the questions that God raises in our lives as people of faith.  

Bring your questions and your curiosity!

[Instructor Jeffrey Speaks is a Ph.D. candidate in Theology and Philosophy at Boston University’s School of Theology and an Adjunct Professor at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities.  He is a proud member of Lake Harriet United Methodist Church.]

Don McClung, Chris Dozier, and Paul Glewwe
Zoom only

This 12-week study continues our reading of the anthology Belief: Readings on the Reason for Faith. In this book renowned physician and geneticist, Francis S. Collins, has collected essays addressing the reason for faith. It is a brilliant, wide ranging and powerful series of readings on the possibilities, problems, and mysteries of faith. 

Each essay in the collection stands on its own. So you do not need to have participated in the spring session of this study group to join this fall.

Some of the essays we will be covering include pieces by Elie Weisel, Desmond Tutu, C.S. Lewis, and Thomas Merton.

Sponsored by ALSET and the Reconciliation Team
SUNDAYS, SEPT 24 – DEC 17, 5:30-7PM
Facilitators: Bill Konrardy, Julie Konrardy, Lauren Braswell, and Joe Kennedy
Book cost: $20.00

Participants should acquire a copy of the book Faithful Antiracism by Christina Barland Edmondson and Chad Brennan (LHUMC has a few copies). The book we will use in this study provides a broad overview of how racism works and what people of faith can do to confront it. The authors use scripture, personal narrative, and data to examine the church and racism, and how we can move forward to a more just world.

Faithful Anti-Racism – It’s time to move past talk.

It’s no longer news to most of us that our society has a deep-seated racism problem. Christians of all ethnic and economic backgrounds are tired of seeing the ugly legacy of racism play out before their eyes and feeling you’ll be ill-equipped to respond. They watch as friends and family members leave the visible church over this issue or fall prey to a gospel of white nationalism that is an affront to the cross of Christ.

In Faithful Antiracism Christina Barland Edmondson and Chad Brennan take confidence from the truth that Christ has overcome the world, including racism, and offer clear analysis and interventions to challenge its pernicious power. Drawing on brand-new research from the landmark Race, Religion and Justice Project lead by Michael Emerson and others, this book represents the most comprehensive study on Christians and race since in Emerson’s own book Divided by Faith (2001). It invites readers to put this data to immediate practical use, applying it to their own specific context.

October 4 – Sampler Night (check it out – no commitment)

Have you been afraid to try art? This is your opportunity to participate in a fun, non-threatening, non-judgmental art experience.  

This class is open to every ability.  Enjoy the opportunity to be present in the moment as you create alongside others.