10 AM to 3 PM, Daylesford Abbey, 220 South Valley Road, Paoli, PA

Our time will focus on the theme of embracing change and transitions in our lives. Change and transitions are both terrifying and hopeful times. They are also some of the times of our greatest spiritual growth, if we are attentive and respectful of ourselves. We will use Scripture from the Psalms and Ecclesiastes as well as draw on the stories of biblical folks who were called to changes in their lives, and who met that call with grace and courage. We will also pull from the wisdom of some modern poets and spiritual companions, sharing some of their words about transitions as a kind of spiritual sustenance.
 
Dee Dee Risher is a writer and editor, editing the Other Side magazine for 17 years until it closed two years ago. She is currently writing articles, poetry, and working on two books. She lives in Germantown with her husband Will O’Brien and son Luke (7) and daughter Thea (5).

The cost for the retreat is $35 per person, which includes the substantial Sunday lunch offered by Daylesford Abbey. It would be helpful if you sent payment beforehand to one of us: Tricia O’Halloran 12 Booth Lane Haverford 19041; Barbara Matteucci 112 Bleddyn Road Ardmore 19003; Diane Sweeney 417 Berkley Road Haverford 19041

Will O'Brien
Exploring Prayer
 
We will explore the theme of prayer, especially in several passages from the Gospel of Luke. We will talk about what Jesus means by prayer, how we understand intercessory prayer, and how prayer is related to justice and Jesus’ proclamation of the reign of God.

Forum Home Meeting - Matey residence - check your email for directions
10 AM

Let Ann Matey know if you are coming so she can get a count for refreshments. There will be adult, high school and children classes held.

Tricia O'Halloran will lead the adult ed session with a discussion based on the meditations in "The Book of Awakening: Having the Life You Want by Being Present to the Life You Have" by Mark Nepo. (Amazon link)

Opening Ceremonies 8:30 AM Eakins Oval
Walk begins at 9 AM on Kelly Drive. No registration fee, minimum expected fund raising is $35. Much more information on the AIDS Walk web site, http://www.aidswalkphilly.org/AIDSWalkPhilly.aspx

Tony Prete
The Forgotten Commandment--Sabbath Rest

We'll take a close look at the two versions of the Fourth Commandment (Exo. 20:8-10; Deut. 5:12-15) and talk about its contemporary application.

This Sunday the Forum Adult Ed will air a discussion of the topic "On Faith and Reason" by Bill Moyers and Mary Gordon via audio podcast.  Mary Gordon, well known and widely read author (Spending, Joan of Arc, Pearl, The Shadow of Man, Final Payments) was raised Catholic and continues to live her life and approach her writing with a strong faith.  Bill Moyers will explore her perspective and discuss the role of faith and religion in her life and writing. 

10 AM, McPhillips Home, Havertown

The discussion leaders this Sunday will be will be Brian Halloran and his girlfriend Adriana Fernandes. Adriana worked in Angola and Brian worked in Mozambique. Both countries recovering from over a decade of war.  Brian's decision to work there was the result of all that he learned through Margret Roper. The Forum encourages compassionate participation in the world 

Gayle Kerr

Lectio Divina, or Divine Reading, is an ancient Christian practice of praying with the Scriptures.  It is a method of prayer that opens us up to an experience of being in the presence of the living God in a way that allows us to listen more carefully to God's message to us.  In this hour we will explore this prayer method experientially and discover what new insights it may hold for our spiritual life. 

We will meet at the Scout House and prepare Easter centerpieces/goodie bags for St. Vincent's; Patty Smith will be our creative leader, as always!

Please bring brunch items to share! Last names starting with A - L: healthy choices, M - Z: breads and sweets!

Meet in front of the Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul (20th & the Parkway) at 9:15 a.m. SILOAM will have a table set up there where you can turn in your sponsor sheet and donations. We usually begin walking up to the Art Museum area about 9:30 to start a little before 10:00. SILOAM provides water and a little snack bag to take along on the walk. At the end of the walk they have a picnic lunch waiting for us! Look for the SILOAM banner right behind the certificate tables at the end of the walk.

Please make checks payable to AIDS FUND TEAM #389.

Any questions feel free to call Marian McPhillips
610-449-8089, MarMallon@aol.com

God's Economy, Part I

Will O'Brien returns to the Forum and will explore biblical teachings on economics in a two-part series. Among the topics he will address are the notions of the sabbatical year and the Jubilee, which included canceling debts, freeing servants, and redistributing land. The potential to apply these economic values in today's world of globalization will be addressed and incorporated into a group discussion.

God's Economy, Part II

Will O'Brien returns to the Forum and will explore biblical teachings on economics in a two-part series. Among the topics he will address are the notions of the sabbatical year and the Jubilee, which included canceling debts, freeing servants, and redistributing land. The potential to apply these economic values in today's world of globalization will be addressed and incorporated into a group discussion.

10 AM start, Harcum College

Gratefulness
Lisa and Michael return this Sunday to do a session on Gratefulness.

10:00 coffee, 10:30 start

Celebrant, Dennis McNally, St. Joe's
 
Please bring brunch dishes, fruits and desserts to share. We will provide beverages.

We'll be making centerpieces for St. Vincent's soup kitchen. Come to the Merion Tribute House at 10 AM. Bring empty and washed 2 liter soda bottles, toiletries and individually wrapped candies. Musicians can bring their instruments to practice for the Christmas liturgy.

10:00 coffee, 10:30 start

These classes will explore the foundational belief upon which each of the two Testaments is based, and provide a snapshot for how that belief is reflected in the remainder of the biblical text.

These classes will explore the foundational belief upon which each of the two Testaments is based, and provide a snapshot for how that belief is reflected in the remainder of the biblical text.

Panel discussion led by Peter McGuinness and Tricia O'Halloran

10 AM at the Merion Tribute House (directions here)

This Sunday we will have our annual Lent Event for St. Vincent's where we make centerpieces for the Soup Kitchen Easter Dinner.

For the Centerpiece Craft, please bring:

• full-size bars of soap (Patty will supply washcloths)
• plastic gallon milk or water bottles (dry and clean)
• individually wrapped Easter candy
• and most importantly, lots of hands

We will explore the integrating thought of Jesuit paleontologist Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. With him, we will envision the texture of the cosmic tapestry, experience its flow through its almost 14 billion year history, imagine the power that draws us onward and contemplate the texture of spirit that is being woven in this evolutionary process.

Kathleen Duffy, SSJ, Ph.D. is Professor of Physics at Chestnut Hill College. She has published several articles and book chapters about Teilhard’s thought. She serves on the Board of Directors for the American Teilhard Association and is currently president of the Board of Directors of the Metanexus Institute for Religion and Science.

Adult Speaker: Paul Danove, Ph.D., Villanova University

Paul will discuss how John's story of the Vine and Branches (John 15) fits within the development of the Gospel and then consider the implications of this story for our understanding of the church, discipleship, the communion of saints, and everlasting life.

No formal speaker, so we can set our own agenda. A suggestion would be to visit http://www.friendsjournal.org/contents/2003/11november/feature.htm, a link to an article in the November Friends Journal written by Tony Prete, one  of our regular speakers.  It is timely and timeless, entitled "Shalom: Much More Than Just Peace," and provides a thought provoking discussion of the concept of Shalom and the Old Testament laments. The first part deals with shalom; the lament part begins about half way through. Interesting frame of reference from which to think about our current world situation. Feel Free to bring your own topic. After all, it's a Free Forum.

The Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program was founded by Lori Pompa, and is now in its 18th semester at Temple University. Temple students attend classes behind prison walls alongside incarcerated students. Lori will discuss the potential for this educational program as an agent for social justice and social change

Lori has a BA in Religious Studies and a B.S in Education from Villanova University, and a Masters in Social Work from Rutgers. She is on the faculty of the Department of Criminal Justice at Temple University and is Founder and Director of the Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program, a national model. She has worked with men and women inside prison since 1985.

"Disturbing Where We are Comfortable: Notes from Behind the Walls", two page article by Dr. Pompa - click here

Poetry and Music:  Creative Expressions for Exploring Spirituality - Lisa DeVuono and Michael London

From the Psalms to Gregorian chant, from Robert Frost to Amazing Grace, poetry and music have long been creative expressions for exploring spirituality. Rumi, a 13th century mystic, has written many beautiful poems that are still relevant and inspiring in today’s complex world.  Together we’ll explore themes of creativity, courage and refuge through several Rumi poems, songs, and our own writing. Come join us for a lively and interactive presentation of poetry and song!

Mass at St Malachy’s Church, 11th & Master St, Philadelphia

Click for directions

Yoga and Meditation, Robert Butera, M.Div., Ph.D.

Bob is director of The YogaLife Institute in Devon and trains yoga teachers, leads seminars, and writes on yoga. He publishes "Yoga Living," a popular holistic magazine in the greater Philadelphia area. In his presentation to our adult ed group, Bob will introduce us to Classical Yoga, the ancient philosophy of wholeness. He will discuss the mind, body, spirit connections of yoga, and will focus on yoga and mediation.

To learn more about The YogaLife Institute, visit www.yogalifeinstitute.com

Tony will do two sessions again this year, and he has suggested a slightly different format - offering us two short articles to read in advance, and a discussion session at the Forum. As Tony points out, our reading the articles ahead of time will allow a longer period for questions and reflections during our Sunday morning gatherings. Tony will focus on two Abraham stories, one from the beginning of the tradition, and one from the end. The first is found in Genesis 12: 10-20, the story of Abraham in Egypt, lying about his wife Sarah to save his own skin; the second is in Genesis 22: 1-13, the well-known story of the sacrifice of Isaac. (Copies of the articles were e-mailed to MRF members)

Dee Dee Risher

The gospel of Matthew was a product of the early Christian community in Antioch. There has been some very engaging research on Antioch - the extremely difficult social and historical conditions of that area - that bring parts of the gospel alive and help us see how the early Christian community provided alternatives in clear, lifesaving ways. I’ll first share some of the background and how it changed my own experience of Matthew. Then we can open up to a broader discussion of the role of community in the faith today - including your own Margaret Roper community. What role does community have when we confront failure and when we need hope? What are the gifts of community?

Peter McGuinness

Peter McGuinness will lead a discussion about the seder and the Passover celebration.  We had an interesting session last Sunday with Peter and Mamie's former neighbor, Micki Young, and Peter will expand on that theme this week, describing what we celebrated and what it means for Christians. As Peter said, "Amen...Adonai".

Business Meeting

It's important that everyone attend. Our wonderful high school classes will be coordinating special events for the younger children so that all teachers can join the meeting. We will discuss plans for next year and ideas on how to grow our membership.

Mother's Day, no class

Closing Liturgy

Henry Smith

Lakota Sioux Spirituality and Culture

The Forum’s own Henry Smith will lead off this year’s adult education sessions, focusing his presentation on the Lakota Sioux spirituality and culture. Henry will present excerpts from the two award-winning documentaries he created for Public Television.  Wo-Kiksuye (Live and Remember) focuses on the traditions and past of the Lakota, exploring the theme, live now and remember where you came from.  The second work, Fulfilling the Vision, focuses on what the younger generation is doing to address the perpetuation of their cultural heritage.  Henry will discuss aspects of, and rituals from, the Lakota, such as Purification Rites, Sun Dance, Vision Quest and Pipe Fast.

Just recently, Henry's dance company, the highly acclaimed Lakota Dance Theatre performed a wide selection of authentic Plains Indian dances as a special feature of the opening of the American Art Exhibit of the Metropolitan Museum in New York City. The ancient dances executed by performers of the Lakota Dance Theatre have thrilled audiences worldwide for 25 years while drawing top kudos from some of the most highly regarded critics. The Washington Post calls them “Dazzling!” The Village Voice: “Superb!”  Come see and hear MRF's own Henry Smith present some of the rituals and describe the cultural heritage of the Lakota this Sunday.

Part I: Why God Needs Us to Complain

Tony Prete joins us for a two part series on Laments, which Tony points out are erroneously associated with weeping and resignation, when really the issue is complaining!. The psalms of lament demonstrate that God’s intervention seems to be contingent on our bringing problems to God’s attention. In the first of two sessions, Tony will explore with us why God needs us to complain.

Tony Prete has been involved in serious academic biblical studies for more than ten years, has taken courses at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia and pursued a masters in biblical studies at La Salle. He teaches regularly at Pendle Hill, the Quaker retreat and study center, the Alternative Seminary, and local faith communities. He is a member of the Society for Biblical Literature, and the Catholic Biblical Association, and a freelance editor at The Other Side magazine.

Tony Prete - part two of two part series

Part II: How God Needs Us to Complain

Tony continues his topic addressing the psalms of lament. In this session Tony will focus on demonstrating the experiential honesty and directness that evoke God’s response. What does that mean for our own laments? What does it mean for laments we may utter for others?

AIDS Walk

A discussion of "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich, Owl Books; (May 1, 2002) ISBN: 080506389

From the Publisher

Millions of Americans work full-time, year-round, for poverty-level wages. In 1998, Barbara Ehrenreich decided to join them. She was inspired in part by the rhetoric surrounding welfare reform, which promised that a job -- any job -- could be the ticket to a better life. But how does anyone survive, let alone prosper, on six to seven dollars an hour? To find out, Ehrenreich left her home, took the cheapest lodgings she could find, and accepted whatever jobs she was offered as a woefully inexperienced homemaker returning to the workforce. So began a grueling, hair-raising, and darkly funny odyssey through the underside of working America.

Moving from Florida to Maine to Minnesota, Ehrenreich worked as a waitress, a hotel maid, a cleaning woman, a nursing home aide, and a Wal-Mart sales clerk. Very quickly, she discovered that no job is truly "unskilled," that even the lowliest occupations require exhausting mental and muscular effort. She also learned that one job is not enough; you need at least two if you intend to live indoors.

Nickel and Dimed reveals low-wage America in all its tenacity, anxiety, and surprising generosity -- a land of Big Boxes, fast food, and a thousand desperate stratagems for survival. Read it for the smoldering clarity of Ehrenreich's perspective and for a rare view of how "prosperity" looks from the bottom. You will never see anything -- from a motel bathroom to a restaurant meal -- quite the same way again.

Peter Krok

"Infinitely More Important than the Answers Are the Questions"

Peter Krok returns this year for another session on poetry. The topic is the importance of Questions, and Peter offers the following thoughts on his topic: Oswald Spengler wrote, "infinitely more important than the answer are the questions, the choice of them, the inner form of them." Merton wrote, "a person is known more by his questions than his answers." Rilke advised the young writer, "be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves like locked rooms." Questions are integral to the dynamic of change and growth.

Peter is a poet and Humanities Director of the Manayunk Arts Center.

Mass at St Malachy’s Church, 11th & Master St, Philadelphia

Click for directions

Thanksgiving Liturgy, Immaculate Conception Chapel, Rosemont College at 10 AM

Forum Open House

Project at Merion Tribute House

For directions, click here

625 Hazelhurst
Merion Station, PA 19066

Bring clean and dry 2 liter soda bottles (as many as you can), small sample sized toiletries (including toothpaste and tooth brushes), and individually wrapped candies & goodies.  We'll be meeting at the Carriage House behind the Merion Tribute House at 10 AM.

We will be having a discussion of the film The Bishops Wife (1947). You should see the film BEFORE the adult session on Sunday. The film is available in several Blockbusters.

Click for directions

The film will present interviews with more than 20 experts, all of whom have informed opinions about the reasons we were given for the war and the evidence given to support those reasons. Among those interviewed are former Ambassador Joe Wilson, weapons inspectors Scott Ritter and David Albright, and anti-terrorist expert Rand Beers, former CIA analyst Ray McGovern, former CIA operative Robert Baer, and the Washington editor of The Nation, David Corn.”

Edges, Risks and Connections(or How Poetry Can Help You Stay Balanced & Compassionate in a Crazy World)

Lisa DeVuono will lead a discussion on staying balanced in a crazy world through reading, writing, and listening to, poetry. If a person lives in a way that stands for justice, tolerance and tenderness, that commitment may mean that he or she is called to step outside his or her comfort zone, rise above the popular status quo, reach beyond personal limitation and sometimes, walk a path others may not validate. When we meet life at such edges we face questions and choices. Those choices often ask for the courage to risk living with uncertainty, and the questions challenge us to make each day matter. Here then, is a growing edge. She asks the questions, “How do you connect with what matters? Where is your growing edge?” and offers the following quote from William Stafford, “If you don’t know the kind of person I am, and I don’t know the kind of person you are, a pattern that others made may prevail in the world, and following the wrong god home, we may miss our star.”

Lisa DeVuono has worked in health-related fields for over 15 years and is a designated coach-trainer for the Artist Conference Network, a nationwide coaching community for artists of all kinds. She has also worked as a lay chaplain, was the founding member of a women’s performance group “It Ain’t Pretty” and has conducted numerous workshops at conferences, retreats and workplace settings. She is currently pursing a certification in poetry therapy and is on the Executive Board of the National Association for Poetry Therapy. She was the recipient of an honorable mention in the Allen Ginsberg Contest, and is published in The Patterson Literary Review, Schuylkill Valley Journal, and the Mad Poets Review.

Discussion of the film "Bowling for Columbine"

Part 1: "The Role of the Laity in the Church -- Past to Present." The objective is to provide an understanding of the “roles, rights, and responsibilities of the laity in the governance and direction of the Church.” Jim Plastaras from COR/Philadelphia and Call to Action will give an historical perspective on the Church and laity.

Jim is the author of several guides for scripture study and faith sharing, and was kind enough to share two of the guides with us. The first is, "A Program for Praying and Reflecting on the Gospel According to John." Many of the reflections in this guide are intended for use during the Lenten and Easter seasons. The second is, "A Program for Praying and Reflecting upon the Theme of the Holy Spirit in the Old and New Testaments."

Part 2: "The Role of the Laity in the Church -- Past to Present." The objective is to provide an understanding of the “roles, rights, and responsibilities of the laity in the governance and direction of the Church.” Gaile Pohlhaus, Professor of Theology at Villanova and member of COR/Philadelphia, will discuss the role of the laity in the Church today.

10 AM, Scout House, Merion Tribute House, 625 Hazelhurst Avenue, Merion Station, PA 19066

Conversations of Accountability: Listening to the Voices of Marginalized People

Dr. Resmer will share her reflections about time spent in different communities of people marginalized by the social conditions they bear, and how their voices must be included in our discussions, actions and speaking for justice.

Dr. Resmer previously worked as a registered nurse, taught ethics at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary and was the former Director for the ELCA’s Center for Ethics and Social Ministry. She has studied and written articles on ethics and its impact on the medical profession. As a pastoral minister, Dr. Resmer became intrigued by the disciplines and activities that shape both the preaching and the hearing of the word. In addition to teaching introductory, advanced and topical courses in homiletics, Dr. Resmer also teaches courses in ethics. Her current research is on preaching and social ethics.

Community and Hope

The gospel of Matthew was a product of the early Christian community in Antioch. There has been some very engaging research on Antioch—the extremely difficult social and historical conditions of that area—that bring parts of the gospel alive and help us see how the early Christian community provided alternatives in clear, lifesaving ways. Dee Dee will share some of the background and how it changed her own experience of Matthew. Then we'll move to a broader discussion of the role of community in the faith today—including our Margaret Roper community. What role does community have when we confront failure and when we need hope? What are the gifts of community?

"Let's talk about the DaVinci Code"

Not the book, but the implications behind the novel in the Gnostic underworld of post modern human life!  People hunger and thirst to know more about the deep well of scripture, its background, scholarly research, and hidden esoteric meanings. We are also culturally indebted to conspiracy theories where churches and states hide and conceal truths for the sake of power and controll. It all makes for good conversation, and even faithful insights!

Jesus' Healings: Liberation, Protest and Compassion

Will O'Brien is returning to the Forum, and his presentation this year will focus on a Bible study that explores the social/cultural contexts of Jesus' healings and sees them as acts of liberation and prophetic protest, as well as acts of compassion.  In addition to his work on political advocacy with Project H.O.M.E. (a program working on issues of housing and homelessness) Will is also the coordinator of the Alternative Seminary in Philadelphia and serves on the editorial staff of The Other Side magazine.

A Forum on the Forum - Harcum College meeting room, 10 AM

A discussion of the current status and future direction of the Margaret Roper Forum. There will be no children's classes this Sunday.

Joe Aronson

"Wit and Humor of Modern Jewish History,"

Joe is a folksinger and lecturer who has been presenting to multicultural groups for 40 years. His presentation on the 15th during the Jewish High Holy Days will use traditional Jewish humor to trace the history of the Jewish people from the early 1800's through the mid 1940's. Joe was referred to us by MRF group member Bernadette NcNulty.

"Living Our Values – The Journey"

Using the story of the Shunamite woman and the prophet Elisha (2 Kings 4:8-37), Dee Dee Risher will talk about the hard choices we face when we really begin to try to live out the values we are called to. Using her experience concerning three of her own strong faith commitments (racism, sustainable lifestyle, balance of gender roles in her family), she will talk about the role of failure and grief in our journeys toward discipleship and social transformation. Dee Dee is coeditor of "The Other Side" magazine, where she has worked for 15 years.

Kambeze Etemad, M.D.

"History, Teachings and Spirituality of the Baha’i Faith"

Though still quite young and small, and despite suffering intense persecution in the land of its birth, the Baha'i Faith has become the second most widespread religion in the world after Christianity. But it remains obscure and strange to many. We will demystify the Baha'i Faith by taking a brief look at the history of its Central Figures, its sacred scripture and basic teachings, its emphasis on spirituality and social change, and its community life and administration. After this overview and some personal comments by the speaker, there will be time for questions.

Kambeze Etemad is a 5th generation Baha'i who was born in Philadelphia and raised in Lower Merion Township. He is a physician by training and practiced psychiatry in the Philadelphia area until he and his wife of 13 years moved to Switzerland where they both worked at an international school for three years. They have just returned to the area and he is now starting a private educational and consulting practice.

Regina Bannen
Voice of the Faithful

Regina Bannen, Professor of American Studies and Director of the Organizational Studies program at Temple University, will give us an update on the Catholic Church Reform movement. Regina will discuss both national and local reform organizations, and "Voice of the Faithful," the Boston-based group that formed in response to the crisis in the Archdiocese of Boston. Also, she will provide information about an upcoming Church Renewal Conference entitled, "Envisioning a Renewed Church." The October 19 conference is sponsored by Call to Action/Philadelphia and Catholic Organizations for Renewal (COR/Philadelphia).

Click here for more church reform links

The New Dance of Christ - Discovering Our Spiritual Self in a New, Evolving World

Tony Massimini will be joining the group this Sunday to talk about his new book,"The New Dance of Christ - Discovering Our Spiritual Self in a New, Evolving World".  Tony was referred to us by Lucille Larkin, and presented to the Forum in the past.  He is an active member of Voice of the Faithful.  He has a doctorate in spiritual theology from the Gregorian University in Rome.  He attended the first session of the Second Vatican Council and taught humanities and theology at Philadelphia's St. Charles Seminary. He has a Certificate in Psychiatry from Hahnemann Medical College, and was on the staff and faculty of Thomas Jefferson Medical College. Dr. Massimini taught philosophy and spirituality at several colleges, and has lectured widely in contemporary spirituality. Please join Tony this Sunday for a thought-provoking conversation. 

AIDS Walk

Mass at St. Malachy's with Fr. John McNamee - the feast day of St. Malachy

Forum Open House

Current Topics of Interest in the Science Religion Dialogue

The Metanexus Institute on Religion and Science is an online forum at the Philadelphia Center for Religion and Science. Metanexus is intent on exploring the relationship between science and religion, and is open to all religions and sciences. Stacy’s presentation will include an overview of the work of the Metanexus Institute and the opportunities it presents as well as an open discussion about current topics of interest in the science religion dialogue such as cloning, cosmology, ethics, and evolution. The discussion, however, is not limited to these topics alone, and any and all queries are welcome.

Stacy Ake has been Editor of Metanexus since May 2001, having just completed a semester as Visiting Assistant Professor in the Philosophy Department at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. In 1996, Stacy received a PhD stipendium from the Danish Basic Research Foundation to study at the Søren Kierkegaard Research Center at the University of Copenhagen, where she was later employed as a guest researcher, lecturer, and translator from 1997-2000.She also worked with the Spontaneous Order of Life group at the Niels Bohr Institute and the Biosemiotics group at the Institute for Molecular Biology. Stacy has a PhD in Biology (1994) as well as an MA (1994) and a PhD (1999) in Philosophy from the Pennsylvania State University.

In her philosophical work, Stacy reports that she is attempting to show continuity from the biological to the spiritual in the evolution of human consciousness while simultaneously trying to keep the tension of discontinuity. She says, “The relationship between language and consciousness, with its moral or ethical implications and its religious ramifications, is my preferred playground, for I find that the interstitial areas are the richest and most inviting.”

Thanksgiving Weekend

Advent project for St. Vincent's

"Praying with Popcorn: Finding God in Hollywood Movies."

Fr. Malloy is at Holy Name parish in Camden and is a professor at St. Joseph University.

[Gift collection for the SW Community Center. Bring an unwrapped gift for a child from birth to 18]

References

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/01/opinion

http://www.willingness.com/article3.html

Spiritual Director at the Middleton Center for Pastoral Care and Counseling at the Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church

Building a Spiritual Life

Gayle Kerr joins us again this year and her presentation will involve taking a look at the various roles we play in our lives and what is at the center of those roles. We will also take a look at what we mean by the "spiritual life" and how we find a balance between what we consider to be our spiritual life and the "rest of our life". Take a moment to think about how you would describe your "spiritual life." Also ask yourself how balanced you feel your spiritual life is with the rest of your life. Bring your thoughts with you on Sunday and join in an interesting discussion

Gayle Kerr has been involved in the ministry of Spiritual Direction and retreat leadership for the past ten years. A recent graduate of Chestnut Hill College, Gayle received her Masters Degree in Holistic Spirituality and Spiritual Direction in May of 2000. She is currently a Spiritual Director at the Middleton Center for Pastoral Care and Counseling at the Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church. Prior to joining the Middleton Center, Gayle served for eight years as the Director of Christian Education at the First Presbyterian Church of Lansdowne, PA where she has also served as both an Elder and a Deacon.

New Beginnings: The Biblical Flood as a Story of God’s Starting Over

The notion of "new beginnings" seems appropriate to the New Year. The biblical flood, long thought to be the result of human sinfulness, is really the result of divine disappointment and sadness. It is the story of an experiment that didn't pan out, and of what God learned in the process--a story of new beginnings, of God starting over again with a new creation. (We'll also see early indications of how God views violence, and responds to it with non-violence.) The text we'll use is Genesis 6: 5– 9:17. Copies will be distributed, but having a Bible with you will also be helpful. In the first class, Tony will explore the flood itself. We'll see what it tells us about how ancient people thought the world was constructed, and what God saw as going wrong in this world. We'll find out why Noah changed God's plans, and why the flood story in the Bible contradicts itself (it’s really two stories, lumped together).

Tony has been involved in serious academic biblical studies for more than ten years, has taken courses at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia and pursued a masters in biblical studies at La Salle. He teaches regularly at Pendle Hill, the Quaker retreat and study center, the Alternative Seminary, and local faith communities. He is a member of the Society for Biblical Literature, and the Catholic Biblical Association, and a freelance editor at The Other Side magazine.

Tony Prete - part two of two part series

New Beginnings: The Biblical Flood as a Story of God’s Starting Over – (con’t)

February 2 is Groundhog’s Day, and it is also "the hinge of the year," the time when we start noticing the increasing light. In this continuation of Tony’s discussion of the flood, we'll look closely at the aftermath of the flood. We'll see the significance of why the waters receded. We'll look at what God learned and how God changed as a result of the flood. Then we’ll unpack the promises God made to all creatures, humans and otherwise, because of God's experience of the flood and the new understanding that it produced.

John Hoffmeyer, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Lutheran Theological Seminar

Why You Can't Buy the Reign of God at the Mall

Consumerism presents a great challenge to Christianity. Consumerism's basic values are anti-Christian. Yet consumerism is in its own way, like Christianity, a religion of hope. Christianity lives from hope in the promised Reign of God. Consumerism lives from the continually disappointing yet continually renewed hope that "if only we buy this, then our lives will be better." How can Christianity make its own message clear as a life-giving alternative to consumerism?

The Rev. Dr. John F. Hoffmeyer is Associate Professor of Systematic Theology at The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. He has been a parish pastor, served in a street chaplaincy and worked with the Lutheran Church in El Salvador.

Class

Liturgy

Lenten liturgy, Fr. Shawn Tracy

The Sacrament of the Eucharist

Peter will present a brief historical look at the sacrament of the Eucharist and will also address current pastoral and liturgical considerations.  The group will have an opportunity to offer your thoughts:  spiritual reflections on this sacrament, its relevance to you, and how you approach the sacrament today.

Bulls, Bears & Golden Calves: Applying Christian Ethics in Economics

Dr. Stapleford will discuss his recently published book, Bulls, Bears & Golden Calves: Applying Christian Ethics in Economics and focus on the integration of Christian ethics with economic life, ranging from the social responsibility of corporations to the pornography industry. John has a Ph.D. in urban and regional economics from the University of Delaware, an M.A. in government and planning from Southern Illinois University and a B.S. in chemistry from Denison University. He is currently professor of Economic Development at Eastern University and director of faculty and student research for the Campolo School for Social Change. He was formerly the Director of the Bureau of Economic Research at the University of Delaware. In addition, he was the co-founder and served as the acting Director of the Delaware Small Business Development Center. Over the past two decades, Dr. Stapleford has completed more than 50 applied research projects involving various aspects of regional, state and local economies.  His current research focus is on the integration of Christian ethics and economics and urban community development and his most recent book is Bulls, Bears & Golden Calves: Applying Christian Ethics in Economics published by InterVarsity Press.

Mass at St. Malachy's Church, 11th & Master St, Philadelphia

Click for directions

Class

Fr. Riley's presentation will start promptly at 10:30

Lent: From Exile to Homeland

"There are times in our lives when we feel we are in exile, that is, we are aware of the inconsistency between who we are and what we value and the life we are living.  This inconsistency or disconnection can be our spirit calling us to homeland; that space in our lives which remembers when we were whole."

Project at Merion Tribute House

For directions, click here

625 Hazelhurst
Merion Station, PA 19066

First Annual Easter Project

Bring gallon milk jugs (as many as you can), small sample sized toiletries (including toothpaste and tooth brushes), and individually wrapped candies & goodies.  We'll be meeting at the Carriage House behind the Merion Tribute House and making Easter Baskets full of goodies for St. Vincent's.

No Forum

Liturgy

Class

St. Joseph's Prep

The Concept of God after Darwin

Poetry and Healing and the Importance of Questions

Peter's topic is Poetry and Healing and the Importance of Questions. His discussion will focus on why creative individuals continue to ask questions in order to renew their inner resources in a search for larger meanings and wholeness. Peter will explore how this activity is linked with writing as a cathartic process, and how poetry, which can start as a source of solace, can further lead to a healing and self-discovery - a dialectic of growth. Peter is a poet and Humanities Director of the Manayunk Arts Center.

Douglas V. Porpora, Ph.D. Drexel University

Landscapes of the Soul: The Loss of Moral Meaning in American Life

Dr. Porpora, author of, Landscapes of the Soul: The Loss of Moral Meaning in American Life, will address some of life’s most fundamental questions and why no one seems to be asking them anymore. He believes that the emotional withdrawal, confusion, and moral numbness prevalent in our society can be counteracted by the development of a moral purpose focusing on the common good rather than individual accomplishment, and community rather than the individual. Dr. Porpora is a sociologist, and chair of the Culture and Communications department at Drexel University.

Suzanne Cassidy

PFLAG - Parents and Families of Lesbians and Gays

Fr. Don Riley, 9:30 start

AIDS Walk

Tony Prete

The Psalms: An Exploration of Poetic Form and Hebrew Language

These two classes will emphasize the forms and words of the psalms in their original language. The first of Tony’s two classes will explore Psalm 23 "The Lord is my shepherd" which he will use to illustrate how the poetic form and the richness of the Hebrew words lend deeper meaning to this already-familiar work.

Tony has been involved in serious academic biblical studies for more than ten years, has taken courses at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia and pursued a masters in biblical studies at La Salle. He teaches regularly at Pendle Hill, the Quaker retreat and study center, the Alternative Seminary, and local faith communities. He is a member of the Society for Biblical Literature, and the Catholic Biblical Association, and a freelance editor at The Other Side magazine.

Tony Prete

In the second of Tony’s two sessions he will discuss Psalm 13, “A Prayer for Help” (How much longer will you forget me, Lord…). Tony will use this Psalm as an illustration of a classic example of the lament, a way of addressing God that is common in the Psalter but not reflective of our "respectful" prayers.

Will O’Brien

[Will has asked that you bring a Bible with you if possible]

The Politics of Christmas

Will O’Brien , who presented to us last year on Project H.O.M.E., will discuss the Politics of the nativity narratives found in Matthew and Luke (Texts: Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2) and explore how they express core biblical themes of justice and liberation. Modern descriptions of the celebration of Christmas are often wrapped in innocent, feel-good, Hallmark-card imagery. This session will explore the biblical texts describing the coming of Jesus which make powerful assertions about the politics of the Bible and speak very much to our contemporary global crises. Will’s perspective will include discussion of how these texts are tamed by the church and the culture. In addition to his work on political advocacy with Project H.O.M.E. (a program working on issues of housing and homelessness) Will is also the coordinator of the Alternative Seminary in Philadelphia and serves on the editorial staff of The Other Side magazine.

Holiday Gifts for the Southwest Community Enrichment Center are due today. See the full announcement here.

Margaret Roper Forum member, Wayne Worrell, will present the second session in our MRF Film Festival: the video "Author of Reform: Cardinal Suenens Story." The film is a biography of the cardinal and the story of the Second Vatican Council. Archival footage, newsreels, inteviews with international experts and original footage of Rome provide a compelling portrait of Suenens and document his crucial role in shaping the modern Catholic church.

After the video, Wayne will facilitate group discussion. This session has something for everyone: older participants could share their experience of worship or any other remembrances of their church life during the 1950's or before, as well as their experience of the changes that have occured. The entire group can discuss their attitudes towards those of other faith traditions and how those attitudes may have changed over the years.

Fr. Don Riley

The Struggle To Keep Religion Alive: Is It Worth The Effort?

Father Don Riley will present a session discussing his observations about the common, modern struggle to keep religion alive. Something is shifting within those who believe, which often calls into question familiar ways of expressing faith. Where does that leave us? What new manner of being part of an assembly or community is emerging? What are your thoughts and feelings about these issues and the changes within our faith communities? Join Father Don at MRF to discuss these most timely and relevant issues.

Alan Glass, MSW, GKSW and Crystal Group Associates

Alan will address the group on issues of sadness, grief/mourning, depression and anxiety. These can often be confusing and mysterious. How can we tell the difference between "normal" sadness and/or grief, and when do we really have to be concerned about what might be going on? During Alan’s interactive presentation we will explore and define the differences between normal and not-so-normal moods. We will talk about when and/or if one should seek professional help and how to find the help that will be most appropriate. Alan has more than 25 years’ experience as a therapist and as a principal in the consulting firm, GKSW which provides consulting and training to not-for-profit and for-profit groups and businesses.

Class

Experiencing Prayer

So, how's your prayer life these days? This is certainly a question we don't often ask one another. But, it is one that needs to be asked if we are to be serious about growing in our faith. The fabric of prayer is made up of many threads: What is prayer? What is our image of this God we pray to and what does that have to do with our prayer? How do we actually pray? What can we expect from prayer? Gayle Kerr will address these and other questions during her presentation.
Gayle has been involved in the ministry of Spiritual Direction and retreat leadership for the past ten years. A recent graduate of Chestnut Hill College, Gayle received her Masters Degree in Holistic Spirituality and Spiritual Direction in May of 2000. She is currently a Spiritual Director at the Middleton Center for Pastoral Care and Counseling at the Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church. Prior to joining the Middleton Center, Gayle served for eight years as the Director of Christian Education at the First Presbyterian Church of Lansdowne, PA where she has also served as both an Elder and a Deacon.

Liturgy

9:30 start

Fr. Riley had a last minute emergency, so this liturgy will be replaced by a prayer service at the same time.

The Agony in the Garden of Gethsemene: Suffering and Prayer

Tony Prete joins us again for a Lenten topic. We will explore the three synoptic accounts of the Agony in the Garden of Gethsemene (Mk. 14:32-42; Matt. 26:36-46; Lk. 22:40-46) from the perspective of how they express the suffering and the prayer of Jesus, and what this says about our own sufferings and the way we pray out of that suffering. We will reflect on Jesus' forthright expression of his own fears and desires, and his attitude of trust and commitment to his Father. We will also look at how the foundations for the Agony in the Garden narrative may lie in the prayer Jesus taught his disciples, the "Our Father" (Matt. 6:9-15; Lk. 11:2-4).

Tony suggests that we read the gospel texts of the Agony in the Garden, looking for similarities and differences among the three accounts (note: Lk. 22:43-44 is missing from many early copies of the gospel and is generally considered a much later insertion). Look also at the "Our Father" text for connections with the Gethsemene narrative (not just Jesus' prayer), especially in terms of how the narrative and the prayer express present needs and future hopes.

The Politics of the Cross

The crucifixion of Jesus is a core symbol in Christian theology. But it has been largely removed from the social context in the Gospels as an instrument of political execution by Roman imperial power. How can we correct the theological abstraction of the cross by re-grasping its historical meaning? What does it mean for Christians to believe that Jesus didn't just "die for our sins," but he was executed by the state as a political rebel? What are the implications of this for our discipleship today?

Palm Sunday

Liturgy

Class

Messiah Dance Works - a dance troup led by Rev Duane Wilkins and Stacy Williams will demonstrate liturgical/devotional dance

Class

Class

Class