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| Previous meetings | Printable Version | Printable Version Fall Only | Printable Version Winter Only | Printable Version Spring Only |
| Note that all meetings are at St Mary's Church (see Our New Home) and start at 11 AM. About once a month, usually on the second Saturday, there is an additional session at 2:15 as noted. |
| Fall 2004 Schedule | |
| 09/11/2004 11:00 & 2:15 St Mary's |
Guest Speaker: Professor Jean Sheldon Theme for Day: The Book of Job for a Postmodern World in Crisis Morning Topic: Can the Book of Job Speak to the Events of 2001-2004? Afternoon Topic: Job: A New Kind of Justice -- for All Bio: Assoc Professor of Religion, Pacific Union College. Jean's PhD from the University of California-Berkeley and the Graduate Theological Union is in Ancient Near Eastern Religions and her dissertation was on the book of Job Notes: It is pertinent that she is speaking to us on the fourth anniversary of the destruction of the Twin Trad Towers. This service will also be serving as St Mary's annual memorial service remembering the deaths on 9/11/2001, so we will have members of the Episcopal congragation as "guests" and before our service, starting a little before 9:00 AM they will be ringing the church bells nearly 3000 times, once for each of those who died that day. Our members are invited to come early and help with the ringing. |
| 9/18/2004 11:00 St Mary's |
Ethics Series: Terry L Anderson Morning Topic: The Ethics of Globalization V: One Law Notes: Continues our subseries by examining issues on the globalization of justice. |
| 9/25/2004 11:00 St Mary's |
Spiritual Series: Ron Lawson Morning Topic: A Relevant Message Bio: President of the Forum and Professor at Queens College, CUNY, who is finishing a book on international Adventism. |
| 10/2/2004 11:00 St Mary's |
Ethics Series: Dr Faiz Khan Morning Topic: Qur'anic Basis for Ethics Notes: A follow-up on his June presentation introducing us to Islam. This will compare Islamic and Christian Ethics. |
| 10/9/2004 11:00 (no 2:30) St Mary's |
SS Lesson Series: Dr Lester Wright Morning Topic: Lessons on Religion from Relationships (based on Sabbath School Lessons from the 3rd Quarter) |
| 10/16/2004 11:00 & 2:30) St Mary's |
Guest Series:
Drs Helen and Michael Pearson Theme for Day: Spirituality–Learning a Foreign Language (Helen will talk in the morning and Michael in the afternoon) Bio: Helen has degrees in journalism and psychodynamic counseling, has been an English teacher and public relations consultant and is now Director of Newbold College (England) Counseling Center and has a regular, religiously-oriented program on BBC TV. Michael is the Vice-Principal of Newbold and author of Millennial Dreams and Moral Dilemmas published in 1990 by Cambridge Univ Press--a study of the evolution of Adventist attitudes to several moral issues. He is convinced that ethics is about people--not issues--and emphasizes the importance of the spiritual available to people who are dealing with difficult life situations |
| 10/23/2004 11:00 St Mary's |
Spiritual Series: Emmanuel Erin Morning Topic: Do you Worship the God of your Fathers? (see Joshua 24:15) Bio: Emmanuel, a member, completed a degree in Theology from Collonges (France) and the coursework for a PhD in Old Testament at Univ of Strassbourg |
| 10/30/2004 11:00 St Mary's |
Spiritual Series: Linn Tonstad Morning Topic: In this World or Not of this World?: Christians and Politics/Social Ethics Bio: A member and doctoral student in theology at Yale |
| 11/6/2004 11:00 St Mary's |
Worship Series: Dr Lester Wright Morning Topic: What, Me Worry?: Thoughts about Christians and Worry, based on Luke 12 |
| 11/13/2004 11:00 & 2:15 St Mary's |
Guest Speaker: Dr Douglas Morgan Theme for Day: Left Behind? Morning Topic: Adventism's Counter-Imperial Story Afternoon Topic: Adventism's Peace-Making Heritage Bio: Professor of History and Political Science, Columbia Union College and Coordinator of Adventists for Peace |
| 11/20/2004 11:00 St Mary's |
Worship Recital Special Thanksgiving Celebration: Faith Esham, soprano, with Bob Wilson, piano Notes: This will be our first worship recital using our new piano. As part of our rememberance and thanksgiving, we will celebrate the Lord's Supper. |
| 11/27/2004 11:00 St Mary's |
Ethics Series: Terry L Anderson Morning Topic: "Render unto Caesar...", Matt 22:2; "No one can serve two masters", Matt 6:24: Do we have one or two moral authorities? |
| 12/4/2004 11:00 St Mary's |
SS Lesson Series: Lester Wright Morning Topic: Daniel, Wise Young Man, Statesman, and Prophet (based on SS Lessons for the 4th Quarter) |
| 12/11/2004 11:00 & 2:15 St Mary's |
Guest Speaker: Dr Pedrito Maynard-Reid Theme for Day: 'Present Truth' in History and Theology of the SDA Church: Implications for the Twenty-first Century. Bio: Vice-President for Spiritual Life and Misison and Professor of Biblical Studies and Missiology, Walla Walla College (Washington State). |
| 12/18/2004 11:00 St Mary's |
Christmas Service: A Ceremony of Nine Lessons and Carols Notes: This is our annual special Christmas service. This year will be somewhat different than in years past as we use the traditional Nine Lessons and Carols format. Our guests will be the professional soloists from the choir of St Peter's, Westchester Square where Ron is organist and choir director. This quartet will be offering the music that they have prepared for the Christmas season at St Peters. There will still be room for contributions from the members, so come prepared to share your vocal, instrumental or spoken talent if you can. As always, bring munchies to share after the service. |
| 12/25/2004 |
No Service: |
| Winter 2005 Schedule | |
| 1/1/2005 11:00 St Mary's |
Worship Series: Dr Timothy Amulkele Morning Topic: Some thoughts to take us through the new year Bio: Tim, a member of the Forum, has just completed his PhD and is in his final year of a medical course before beginning his ob/gyn rotation. |
| 1/8/2005 11:00 & 2:15 St Mary's |
Guest Speaker: Dr Larry Herr Theme for Day: The Religions of Ancient Israel Morning Topic: The Gods of the Bible Afternoon Topic: The Religious Practices of Ancient Israel Bio: Dr Herr is Professor of Old Testament and Archaeology at Canadian University College. We heard from friends at PUC that Larry had spoken on these topics there and had really excited the Forum members with new understandings, so we asked him to speak on the same topics here. |
| 1/15/2005 11:00 St Mary's |
Ethics Series: Terry L Anderson Morning Topic: The Ethics of Globalization: One Community Notes: Continuing the subseries on globalization with issues about equality of social relationships -- do we treat our own kind specially. |
| 1/22/2005 11:00 St Mary's |
Spiritual Series: Dr Ed Samuel Morning Topic: Modernity, Myth and Culture: The Bush Election, Architecture and Adventism Bio: Our member, Ed is an architect and philosopher. Notes: Ed will address architecture, including Adventist architecture, as edifying, unifying and elucidating the polarizing political and cultural situation in America today. |
| 1/29/2005 11:00 St Mary's |
Spiritual Series: Rachel Bostic Morning Topic: The Impending Apocalypse: Why hasn't it happened yet? Bio: Rachel, a member, has staffed the Adventist office at the United Nations for the past two years. |
| 2/5/2005 11:00 St Mary's |
SS Lesson Series: Dr Lester Wright Morning Topic: The Story of Redemption: Themes from the current Sabbath School Lessons for the Quarter |
| 2/12/2005 11:00 & 2:15 St Mary's |
Guest Speaker: Dr René Dupertuis Theme for Day: 'Myth' is not a Four-letter Word Morning Topic: Socratizing Jesus Afternoon Topic: Socratizing Paul, Jesusizing Bruce Willis Bio: Assistant Professor of Religion, Centre College, Kentucky Notes: I have heard from several sources that René, a young academic who grew up as the son of professors at Adventist universities in Latin America, is a really interesting speaker. |
| 2/19/2005 11:00 St Mary's |
Ethics Series: Terry L Anderson Morning Topic: Guns, Germs, and Steel or why have a few social groups dominated the world? Notes: Ethical issues from the bestselling book by Jared Diamond |
| 2/26/2005 11:00 St Mary's |
Spiritual Series: Dr Jim Wideman Morning Topic: A Brief Exploration of the Babylonian Talmud Bio: Retired medical school biological science professor with very broad interests. A member, he comes from Philadelphia by train to attend. |
| 3/5/2005 11:00 St Mary's |
Worship Series: Dr Lester Wright Morning Topic: I Remember Paul. Reminiscences of a great Christian leader told in voices from Scripture Bio: Dr Wright, a member, is chief of medical services for the NY State Prison System |
| 3/12/2005 11:00 & 2:15 St Mary's |
Guest Speaker: Dr Gottfried Oösterwal Theme for Day: On Being in the Church Today Morning Topic: Doctrines or Discipleship? Afternoon Topic: Is a Multicultural Church Viable? Bio: Former Head of the Mission Institute and Chair of the Department of Missions, SDA Seminary. Notes: "The biblical answer is unequivocally yes; so why, when we plant churches and develop leadership structures, are they based on social, cultural and ethnic characteristics?" |
| 3/19/2005 11:00 St Mary's |
Spiritual Series: Ed Samuel Morning Topic: Modernity, Myth and Culture: The Bush Election, Architecture and Adventism Postponed from Jan 22 when we were snowed out. Bio: Our member, Ed is an architect and philosopher. Notes: Ed will address architecture, including Adventist architecture, as edifying, unifying and elucidating the polarizing political and cultural situation in America today. |
| 3/26/2005 11:00 St Mary's |
Passiontide & Easter Celebration Worship Recital: Quartet of St Peter's Episcopal Church, Westchester Square Notes: A special worship recital by the professional solo quartet from the church where Ron Lawson is organist and choir director. The quartet will share the music they have prepared for Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter. Bring your friends to this special service. |
| Spring 2005 Schedule | |
| 4/2/2005 11:00 St Mary's |
Guest Speaker: Michael Scofield Morning Topic: Is the World Getting Better or Worse? Bio: Mike is Data Architect on the faculty at Loma Linda University. Notes: A common assumption found in Adventism is a general decline in world conditions until Christ's second coming. That hyposthesis is challenged in this survey of recent data. Hence, culturally-immersed Adventists will interpret all bad events in the world (economic, political or meterological) as "signs of the end". This presentation surveys over 80 mesaures of "quality of life" in economics, health, education, transportation, the natural world, and morality. We will note, for example, the decline of crime in the U.S. and yet the increase in unwed pregnancies. Nearly all measures are depicted as time-series graphs, with the original data drawn from over 20 Federal agencies and 15 non-federal sources. |
| 4/9/2005 11:00 & 2:15 St Mary's |
Guest Speaker: Dr Ron Jolliffe Theme for Day: Jesus' Last Day in Contemporary Media: The Passion of the Christ and The Da Vinci Code. Morning Topic: will focus on Gibson's (and Evangelical Christianity's) misreading of Isaiah 53 and the resultant mistaken endorsement of violence as redemptive. Afternoon Topic: will examine the replacement of wonder and awe with "facts" in evangelical Christian faith, and the resultant popularity of books such as Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code, which base their appeal in mystery. The conversation will include things like The Gospel of Thomas, Q, the origins of the biblical Canon, and the importance of fiction in spiritual life. Bio: Dr Joliffe is Professor of English (and formerly of New Testament) at Walla Walla College. |
| 4/16/2005 11:00 St Mary's |
Worship Series: Dr Kristine Gebbie Morning Topic: Reading Genesis Bio: Professor of Nursing, Columbia University and a member Notes: Kristine will discuss the insights that can be gained through reading the book of Genesis (and, by extension, other Scriptures) as a moral philosopher might. |
| 4/23/2005 11:00 St Mary's |
Spiritual Series: Dr Ron Lawson Morning Topic: Searching and Interpreting the Lessons Bio: Ron is the Forum President and a Sociology Professor at Queens College, CUNY |
| 4/30/2005 11:00 St Mary's |
Spiritual Series: Jan Anderson Morning Topic: When do Cultural Differences become Human Rights Issues? Bio: Jan is a retired High School teacher of Special Education and a member |
| 5/7/2005 11:00 St Mary's |
SS Lesson Series: Dr Lester Wright Morning Topic: Mark, the First Gospel Bio: Dr Wright is the medical director for the NY State prison system and a member Notes: Dr Wright continues his series looking at issues from the Sabbath School Lessons for the current quarter. |
| 5/14/2005 11:00 & 2:15 St Mary's |
Guest Speaker: Elder Fausto Edgar Nunes Morning Topic: Keeping the Day, but Missing its Relevance for Today–the existential implications of the Sabbath for today. Afternoon Topic: will focus on how Adventists in South Africa missed the implications of the Sabbath for human relations during the Apartheid era, and possibly also since then. He will discuss the situation of a largely still separated church in South Africa in the post Apartheid era. Bio: Elder Nunes did his doctoral dissertation at Andrews University. He grew up as the son of Portuguese missionaries in Angola, Africa and then moved to South Africa for his education and some years of pastoring at the height of the Apartheid issue in society and then the Adventist Church there. |
| 5/21/2005 11:00 St Mary's |
Ethics Series:
Terry L Anderson Morning Topic: Can God and Caesar Coexist? Bio: Terry is a Computer Scientist and member Notes: Based on the book by Robert Drinan, we examine how the free exercise of religion conflicts with other human freedoms, ethical values and political and social goals and how various philosophers and nations have attempted to balance these values. Is there an ideal, global principle on freedom of religion? The annual meeting of the Forum will be held immediately after the service. We will elect officers and make plans for next year. We encourage all who care about the Forum to attend. |
| 5/28/2005 11:00 St Mary's |
Spiritual Seriews: Dr Yvonne Valeris Morning Topic: Gratitude Bio: Yvonne is member but has been working this year in a program to train chaplains in a system of hospitals in Arizona. We'll be happy to have her back on a regular basis next year. |
| 6/4/2005 11:00 St Mary's |
Worship Series: Dr Lester Wright Morning Topic: Group Relationships and Religion Bio: Dr Wright is the medical director for the NY State prison system and a member Notes: Dr Wright will consider relationships among groups and how these relationships interrelate with our religious experience. |
| 6/11/2005 11:00 & 2:15 St Mary's |
Guest Speaker: Barry L. Casey Theme for Day: When I Look At The World: Faith and Grace for Real Morning Topic: The Buried Life Afternoon Topic: Constructing Realities Bio: Dr Casey is a professor at Columbia Union College. Notes: Dr Casey will discuss how faith can function in a postmodern world and within a socially constructed reality |
| 6/18/2005 11:00 St Mary's |
Ethics Series: Terry L Anderson Morning Topic: Can God and Caesar Coexist? — Con't Notes: Continues the topic of May 21. |
| 6/25/2005 11:00 St Mary's |
Worship Recital: Esther Wideman Bio: Esther has been the organist at the downtown Arch St Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia for over 30 years. Notes: As is our tradition, we end our academic year with a Worship Recital. Esther will play organ and piano works based on chorales and chants. We will have the opportunity to sing the hymns before hearing what the composers did with them. |