I title the course “Damaged Goods” because many of the characters in these stories are flawed; they are damaged, and as they attempt to act in the world they find that the “good” they wish to give or receive is itself often damaged, harming themselves and others as much as it nurtures them or gives them life. And yet, each of these...
Come along on a trip through Amish country and step off the
bus at various Amish businesses: possible stops are a leather
shop, an Amish school, a home ready for an Amish wedding,
rug maker, and a buggy maker. We’ll have a Thresher meal
at Yoder Homestyle Cooking. Orley Miller is part of the
Amish church and will...
Come dance with us! Recreational dancing stimulates the brain, exercises the body, and enhances social connections. Drawn from American, British, Irish, and European traditions, these dances use simple steps and patterns, and take the form of circles, lines, or around-the-room pairs. Learning old-time dances means learning about cultures as...
Join this class for a lively exploration of big questions: What is real? How do we know? What is good? What does it mean to be human? We’ll examine questions about God, morality, consciousness, and more —in an accessible and engaging format. Jim, a philosopher and author, taught at Bethel University and works at BioLogos exploring the...
The difference between white and Black wealth and power has been present since before the founding of the United States. Slavery was a financial institution and a farm labor prison production system. Jim Crow, redlining, mass incarceration, segregated neighborhoods and schools, interstate highways, urban renewal, and appraisal discrimination...
On this trip, we will be exploring the Merry Lea Teaching Farm and observing students on a field trip. After a boxed lunch, Merry Lea will demonstrate making apple cider, and we’ll each get to taste a little!
There is a 20 person limit.
As we age, we may acknowledge the Bible’s importance, we may even love it. But we may also carry memories of conflict and fear, of scripture being used against us. We may find ourselves increasingly uncomfortable in a world that condoned slavery, patriarchy, and genocide. How can we face these realities and still find meaning in the ancient...
Enjoy a trip to 1920s Provence — the sunny south of France — in a two-part story of loss and love. Then, experience a drive around Paris as Madeleine recounts her life to a taxi driver
on her way to a final destination, a nursing home. Complete your visit to France by savoring its cuisine in a love story between a cook and the gourmet...
In this class, we’ll explore the history, traditions, past and present, and talk with directors and production staff about the music and staging of the Festival of Carols. You will gain a behind-the-scenes look at this year’s Festival and learn about the creative path to production. You can attend the dress rehearsal. Marcia Yost, director...
This is a follow up on the course that was taught three years ago. Some of the fascinating questions we’ll explore include: How does a dentist’s injection numb your teeth? How do humans tan? How do COVID vaccines work? How do fingernails grow? What is peripheral neuropathy? These and many other questions will be answered as retired anatomist...