A number of the people who have gone to Holden Village will gather to share their stories and pictures. They hope to give people a broader understanding of the Village as a place of retreat and study AND a family gathering place. There are programs for children of all ages. Summer of 2012 is the last summer Holden will be opening before before closing for two years for copper mine remediation. If anyone has an interest in going - this summer might be the time!
Facilitated by Pastor Margaret

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Forum to be presented in three parts: Oct. 2, 16 and 23: Heaven, Hell, and Eternal Life are all a part of our faith and there are various faith filled ideas as well as conceptions and misunderstandings about “life after death.” On Oct. 2, Dan Bice introduced this series and address the topic of Hell. Pastor Weiskotten will continue the conversation on Oct. 16 as he discusses the Christian view of the afterlife, our Christian hope, life in the here and now and judgment. Pastor Gary will conclude the conversation on Oct. 23 sharing stories of how people respond to life after death, in both good and bad ways, with an emphasis on a healthy faith response.
Facilitated by: Dan Bice, Pastor Ed Weiskotten and Pastor Gary Erickson

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Will Allen, the inspirational leader of Growing Power, one of TIME 100 most influential people (2010) and a 2008 recipient of the $500,000 MacArthur Foundation Genius Award presented information about this facility and program based in Milwaukee. Facilitators: Pastor Margaret Schoewe and Will Allen

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- In 2006 Michele and Michael Wolaver decided to adopt from Ethiopia.  This started a faith journey that led to them bringing home two boys, Mehandis in 2007 and Abera in 2010.  Along the way, they learned about the incredible history of Christianity in Ethiopia.  During this education hour they will discuss the long religious history of the country and share some of their travel and adopting experience in Ethiopia.
Faciliatators: Michele and Michael Wolaver

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A discussion of Islam and beliefs of Muslims with guest speaker Muhammad Isa Sadlon, Executive Director and CEO of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee. The website of the Islamic Society is http://ismonline.org/
Facilitator: Connor Williams

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Our news is filled with disputes and disagreements between adherents  of various faiths, whether it's a fight over the proposed mosque in New York City or the nature of the president's religious beliefs. So how should we think about those of different religious convictions? Are we right and they wrong, as some would have us believe. Or are we all on different paths to the same ultimate place, as others suggest. In this class, we will explore the shortcomings of both approaches and forge a third way of thinking about and living with our neighbors. Facilitator: Dan Bice

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The Traveler: Study of the Book of Ruth, part 2
The second of a two-session study of the Old Testament Book of Ruth, guided by Book of Faith methodology. The first week examined the historical and literary aspects of the scripture, and the second week looked at the devotional and Lutheran theological strands. Participants will consider such questions as: What does this book say about community? What do we learn about God? Where have foreigners blessed us? What scares, confuses or chal­lenges us in this story?
Facilitators: Carl and Petey Lund

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From ‘Is’ to ‘Ought’: How Human Nature Can Inform Christian Ethics
Stepping beyond what many in the modern church call “natural law”, explore some ways in which our shared hu­man nature allows and motivates us to be morally free and responsible creatures. Learn how the human tendency to al­leviate suffering can be developed into both general, univer­sal ethichal norms and specific religious visions of human flourishing, including Christian concepts of salvation. nature. 
Facilitator: Jason Roberts, theology student and member of St. Matthew’s

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Kathy's House provides its guests with privacy and comfort in eighteen individual suites – each with its own bathroom, and large enough to accommodate up to six adults/children. A communal kitchen, dining room and gathering room with fireplace are available, along with a meditation room, media room, computer center, exercise area, offices, laundry facility, recreation area and outdoor parking.

While guests care for their living areas, there are still many duties required to maintain the building and services. The facility depends on community volunteers who generously give an combined total of 400-500 hours each month. Volunteers live on site and provide around the clock on-call house management services. Kathy’s House requires cash and in-kind contributions so that it may offer services to patients and their families facing a financial and medical crisis.  Guests' donations are generous and many continue to support Kathy’s House after they leave.

Since opening the doors of Kathy’s House on July 1, 2001, the families and caregivers of more than 1500 patients have benefited from the services offered at Kathy’s House. Although guests and patients arrive from many locations around the United States and the world, most of the guests served by Kathy’s House are Wisconsin residents.

To learn more and donate to this orgnaization, go to www.kathys-house.org

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Where is God if Darwin was Right? - Have we been created in the image of God, or have we evolved as a species of hyper-intelligent apes? Where is God if Darwin was right? And what happens to the concept of the soul or spirit? If evolutionary biology is right, is Genesis wrong? And, what about the rest of the Bible? In this forum we will apply the lessons of the previous week to two interrelated issues concerning natural science and theology: the origin of species (including our own) and humanity’s spiritual nature. Facilitator:  Jason Roberts

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Natural Science & Theology: How do they Relate? - The conversation between natural science and theology is as old as science itself; and today’s scientific advances seem to raise more theological questions and concerns than ever before. We will explore a few benchmarks in this vast and varied history, examine several models for interfacing science and theology, investigate the merits of these models for promoting the intellectual honesty of both science and religion, and offer principles for evaluating Facilitator:  Jason Roberts

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Project RETURN was started in 1980, sponsored by an ecumenical coalition of 15 inner-city churches and 13 community organizations, to assist ex-prisoners to become healthy members of the community. Through the past 30 years, Project RETURN has walked with ex-offenders, assisting with employment, housing as well as any specific needs from their clients. Together, the clients, staff and volunteers of Project RETURN have indeed changed each others’ lives.
Facilitator:  Wendel Hruska, Executive Director of Project RETURN
and ex-prisoner personal testimony

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Immigration is one of the issues that will continue to challenge them. Join us to learn the very clear position of the ELCA and to hear from immigrants in our community as to why the immigration issue is so important and what you can do about it.
Facilitator: Sister Barbara Pfarr, Organizer, Civil Rights of Immigrants Initiative

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Repairers of the Breach - Repairers of the Breach(ROTB) is a nationally recognized grassroots organization for the homeless.  Their mission is as stated; “To bring forth homeless people to act collectively to change the present conditions under which they live, through advocacy/education and direct action.  Each individual will have adequate food, a home, health care, a support system, literacy and an empowered voice.”  We will have an open dialogue about the state of  the homeless in Milwaukee with the executive director and founder.
Facilitator:  MacCanon Brown, Executive Director of ROTB

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“Is God a Packer-Backer?” - Dan Bice presented an Adult Forum on religious expression by athletes in basketball, baseball and football. The Forum also discussed the history of modern religious expression, the three athlete-based religious organizations, and a brief history of religion in sports.

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“A Historical Look at St. Matthew’s” -- During the Adult Education time, several members of St. Matt's shared remembrances. There was also a display of artifacts from our history.

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Israel and Palestine: An Insider View
Sister Sylvia Countess, a Lutheran Deaconess, lived for three years in Jerusalem on the Mount of Olives and worked as the Assistant to the Director of Education for the Evangelical Lutheran schools for Palestine and Jordan. Sister Sylvia will share reflections from her time in Israel and Jordan.
Facilitator: Sister Sylvia Countess

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Fondy Food Center
Fondy Food Center is a nonprofit hunger prevention organization dedicated to creating new and lasting solutions to food and economic inequalities on Milwaukee’s near north-side through the development of a sustainable, local food system. Guest Facilitator: Margaret Avery, Fondy Food Market

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Bringing the Dead Sea Scrolls to Life
In this first of three special adult education presentations, Dan Bice explores the Dead Sea Scrolls. The discovery of these scrolls in late 1946 have been widely hailed as the greatest archaeological find of modern times. This workshop, will tell the amazing story of the discovery and then discussed their importance for understanding ancient Judaism, the origins of Christianity and our modern Bibles. The presentation was accompanied by more than 100 photos of Qumran, the various texts discovered in the caves there and the individuals responsible for finding and translating the 900 texts of the Dead Sea Scrolls. The session serves as an introduction for those who want to visit the current exhibit at the Milwaukee Public Museum. Presenter: Dan Bice

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Has God Forsaken Us? The Problem of Pain & Suffering, part 2
God and suffering: How do we reconcile the two? How does a loving and almighty God allow the atrocities of the last century—or even the pain and suffering that many of us personally experience? This second of a two-part series will continue as we look to the Bible, the work of leading scholars, and to one another to better understand how faith can grow in the face of suffering. Facilitators: Dan Bice & Britt Peterson

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Has God Forsaken Us? - The Problem of Pain & Suffering, part 1
God and suffering: How do we reconcile the two? How does a loving and almighty God allow the atrocities of the last century—or even the pain and suffering that many of us personally experience? This first of a two-part series will look to the Bible, the work of leading scholars, and to one another to better understand how faith can grow in the face of suffering. Facilitators: Dan Bice & Britt Peterson

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Christianity and Pop Culture - Part 3: The Shack by William Paul Young, continued
This Adult Forum will continue the lively and interesting discussion of this popular book by William Paul Young. The Shack, the fictional account of a broken man's encounter with God, spent more than a year on the New York Times best seller list, obviously striking a cord with many readers. This session will continue the discussion -- examining the book's theological premises and universal themes. Facilitators: Carl and Petey Lund

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Christianity and Pop Culture - Part 2: "Lights, Camera, Action!"
On Sunday, March 7, all of Hollywood gathered for the 82nd Annual Academy Awards. Ten movies were nominated for best picture this year. How are these films seen from the Christian perspective? Was your faith challenged or awakened as you viewed these movies?
Guest Facilitator: Jack Murtaugh

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Christianity and Pop Culture - Part 1: The Shack by William Paul Young
The fictional account of a broken man's encounter with God spent more than a year on the New York Times best seller list, obviously striking a cord with many readers. This session examined the book's theological premises and universal themes in an attempt to explain its popular appeal.
Facilitated by Carl and Petey Lund

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"Opening the Book of Faith: Four Methods for Bible Study" - Part 2
Moderated by Dan Bice, with speakers Doug Kreckling, Jason Roberts, Pastor Margaret Schoewe, and Pastor Gary Erickson.
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This lively panel discussion on four ways to approach reading the Bible was moderated by Dan Bice. Each approach has its strengths and will be beneficial to all readers of the Bible.
The four methods explored are: Devotional (Doug K.), Historical (Jason R.), Literary (Pastor Gary) and Lutheran Theological (Pastor Margaret). The handouts for the session includes the scripture reading and outlines of the four approaches to Bible reading." The documents are in one file, available to read, download or print [here]. (Some of the handouts are identical to those from the Jan. 17 session, but are included in the document for this week.)

Social Ministry Focus: Establishing Affordable Dental Care
Our special guest was Gene Shoemaker, president-elect of the Wisconsin Dental Association. Information about the WDA Mission of Mercy event last summer and upcoming events is on the WDA website [here].

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