New Adult Study Group Begins April 6

The Biology of Transcendence was the title of 3 Adult formation classes offered last Fall that tied physics, neuroscience, and Gospel teaching teaching together to reveal a humbling glimpse of the phenomenal capacity that our Creator has wired into our physical-spiritual being. The ultimate gift we’ve been given is the fusion of heart’s and brain’s intelligence that St. Paul called “The Mind of Christ”.

Still, nothing much happens when we just know about something. It is only when we take the risk and muster the energy to try these great teachings out in real life situations that we begin to crack out of our anxious, limited ways of living. Nowhere is such an experiment more needed than in the divisive politics of this year’s presidential election.

You are invited to bring Easter’s practice of resurrection living to explore the issues that are dividing our political life in this pre-election year – to take part in Healing The Heart of Democracy by Parker J Palmer. The online journal Democracy & Education calls it “one of the most important books of the early 21st Century”. 

We’ll explore Palmer’s five “habits of the heart” that can help us restore democracy’s foundations when we nurture them in ourselves and each other: (1) An understanding that we are all in this together. (2) An appreciation of the value of “otherness.” (3) An ability to hold tensions in life-giving ways. (4) A sense of personal voice and agency. (5) A capacity to create community.

With the co-leadership of Pat McClure, Karen Teleen-Lawton, and Paul Collins, the classes will begin after Eventide supper from 7:15 to 8:45 on April 6th and run for six weeks to May 18th – with a ‘mid term break’ on April 27th. An optional Saturday Retreat will be offered following the series. The book can be purchased online or at Chaucer’s.

But whether you’re reading the book or not, everyone is invited to join us for this adventure in spiritual and political skill building.

Please sign up on the Heart of Democracy sheet on the Information Table after Sunday’s services, or contact Pat McClure at mcpat@cox.net