“What is Norman doing to be a welcoming community? How do international students experience our community? Those two questions will be addressed during Challenges and Choices this week by Sandy Moore-Furneaux and Lisa Schmidt, a member and former chair of Norman’s Human Rights Commission. Sandy is active with Friends to International Students, and Lisa has been leading Norman’s efforts to build a more inclusive community.”

The class will meet from 9:45-10:40 in the Community Hall, August 22—September 26. Rev. Amy Venable, Kay Antinoro, and lay leaders from St. Stephen’s Adult Education Committee are leading the experience. A renewed Christianity needs people on an intentional journey of exploring the mysteries of faith
and life. Won’t you come?

“The Power of Forgiveness"

Moving from Northern Ireland to Beirut to Ground Zero, this documentary film looks comprehensively at the challenges of forgiveness. It includes feature stories on the Amish, the 9/11 tragedy, peace-building in Northern Ireland and recent research into the psychological and physical effects of forgiveness on individuals and within relationships. Stories and research are interspersed with interviews with renowned Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh, Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel, best-sellling authors Thomas Moore and Marianne Williamson, the Rev. James Forbes and others. The film explores the role forgiveness holds in various faith traditions and provides an honest look at the intensity of anger and grief that human nature is heir to. The class is viewing segments of the DVD and entering into conversation.

Where do you listen for God? Through selected stories and essays from contemporary literature, this class has found a way to find God in surprising places and talk about their experiences of the Divine. Each week, a different story frames the conversations. Call the church office if you would like to have a copy of the story in advance.