ADULT EDUCATION

SPRING 2010
ADULT EDUCATION CLASS SCHEDULE
REGISTER FOR CLASSES DURING COFFEE HOUR

Adult Education classes are open to all adults. Participation means a commitment to (1) attendance; (2) any assigned preparation (3) notification to the convener when an absence will be unavoidable. For additional information about the offerings, please come to sign-up tables during registration at Family Hour on Sundays, January 24 and 31 and later. The church will provide childcare if requested (Please contact Margaretha Derasary at (510) 339-2282 or mderasary@sbcglobal.net). Different classes were presented last Fall and may be presented again.   Spring 2010 Classes at a Glance.
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EMBRACING OUR BODIES TO DRAW NEAR TO GOD - Molly Dowell Baum
Using wisdom from medieval mystics to mystical pioneers of movement, this class aims to break down some of the stereotype that Christianity is anti-body and offer embodied experiences of individual and communal prayer. Through music, the written word, simple movement, personal reflection and sharing with one another, we aim to draw closer to God and to one another. The class will introduce students to Angela of Foligno, Mechthild of Magdeburg, Isadora Duncan, Ruth St. Denis (with additional incorporation of pieces and work from Teresa of Avila and Hildegard of Bingen). Please dress in comfortable clothing. Activities will be adaptable for all ability levels.
Dates: Tuesdays, March 30, April 6, 13, 20, 27 Time: 7:30 to 9:00 pm
Place: Thornhill Room (Room 2 on April 6) Class Size: 6-12
Convener: Molly Dowell Baum (917-664-9824) Fee: $15
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A COURSE IN MIRACLES - Phil Reagan
"Peace of mind is our only goal." A step-by-step guide to achieving the inner peace that will make outer peace possible. Based on principles from A Course in Miracles®. A simple daily exercise and a weekly discussion. There will be a continuation in the summer. Phil Reagan is a member of MPC.
Dates: Saturdays, March 20, 27, April 10, 17, and 24 Time: 9:00-10:00 AM
Location: Thornhill Room Class limit: 6-12    more info
Convener: Tracy Livezey (510-654-3512) Fee: $10 + $4 for book
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CORE Training - Oakland Firefighters
For self help following any community disaster - fire, earthquake, broken dikes, locusts, etc. Adult Education sponsors an introduction to the Communities of Oakland Respond to Emergencies (CORE) to be given on Sunday, April 18 11:30 - 1:30. Please bring food, and advise if you need babysitting.
Jeanne Dunn 834-7559.
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FLOOD STORIES - Jeffrey Kuan
The flood story in Genesis is not unique to ancient Israel. Stories and mythologies of the flood abound and may be found throughout the world. In this series on The Flood, we will look at some of these stories and read the Genesis flood story in relation to them. Jeffrey Kuan is Associate Professor of Old Testament at the Pacific School of Religion.
Dates: Sundays, Feb. 7, 14, 21 Time: 8:30 to 9:45 am
Place: Room 10 Class Size: No Limit
Convener: Sloan White, 510-339-8728 Fee: $15
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SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN A CULTURE OF LIES - Marilyn McEntyre
Caring for language is a matter of stewardship in a way that is similar to caring for other precious resources. A faith tradition that proclaims “In the beginning was the Word…” places a high premium on the word—spoken, written, and lifted into liturgy and symbol. In this series, we will consider some pathologies of contemporary public discourse and some strategies of stewardship we can take on in conscious gratitude for the gift of language.
Dates: Wednesdays, Feb, 10, 17, 24 Time: 7:00-8:30 pm
Location: Room 10 Class Size: 10 minimum
Convener: Fee: $15
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BIONEERS Jean Gregory
Bioneers, a growing community of concerned and inspired people, seek practical environmental solutions and innovative social strategies for restoring the earth and communities. They feel that when you restore nature, you restore people and when you take care of people, you take care of nature. We will be introduced to their work through tapes, stories and discussion by Jean Gregory and Sari Kulberg who were inspired by attending a Bioneers Conference.
Dates: Wednesdays, March 3, 10, 17, 24 Time: 7:30-9:00 pm
Location: Room 10 Class Size: 5-20
Convener: Sari Kulberg, 510- 653-6432 Fee: $10
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YOGA Diane Bessette
Starting in March for four consecutive Saturdays at 9 am, Diane Bessette will guide you in a 60 minute yoga class. Classes will be suitable for all levels of yoga practitioners, including absolute beginners. We will focus on alignment, breath work, balance and building physical strength. Diane Bessette finished the Advanced Studies program at Piedmont Yoga Studio last year and is a certified yoga teacher. The PYS program is Iyengar based but incorporates concepts from other yoga schools. Please bring a mat, if possible.
Dates: Saturdays, March 6, 13, 20, 27 Time: 9:00-10:00 am
Location: Sanctuary Class Size: No limit
Convener: Fee: $12
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THE MEANING OF THE FAITH TRIO’S FUTURE John Hadsell, Jean Mudge
From Harvest Dinners to poetry and prose readings, parallel Scripture studies, and discussions of the economic meltdown, our “Faith Trio” events have been great moments of meeting for the three ancient Abrahamic traditions as represented by Montclair Presbyterian Church, the Kehilla Synagogue and the Islamic Cultural Center. What would it mean for the future of faith that we and others are doing such things together? John Hadsell and Jean Mudge will lead discussions of these issues based on Lew Mudge’s recent book, “The Gift of Responsibility: The Promise of Dialogue Among Christians, Jews and Muslims”. Members of Kehilla Synagogue and the Islamic Center are invited to participate.
Dates: Sundays, March. 7, 14, 21, 28 Time: 8:30 to 9:45 am
Place: Room 10 Class Size: No Limit
Convener: David Siegenthaler, 510-482-9311 Fee: $20 incl. book
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DIGITAL CAMERAS (single 2-hour session) Phil Reagan
After you have taken the pictures, how to: get (download) your photos from the camera, edit them, print them, create slideshows on your computer or online, e-mail photos, troubleshooting, and more. Instruction sheets provided for all of these items. Bring your camera and a laptop if you have one. All questions answered. Phil Reagan is a member of MPC.       Online materials
Date: Monday, March 8 Time: 7:00-9:00 pm
Location: Thornhill Room Class limit: 6-12
Convener: Fee: $5
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COMPUTERS AND THE INTERNET Phil Reagan
The course will improve your knowledge, skills, and confidence in using computers and the Internet. We will cover the basics of computer and Internet use: computers, e-mail, finding and accessing information on the Internet, writing with a computer, working with and emailing photos, and other subjects. Bring your questions; we will answer them all! There will be handouts for each session. We will post a detailed outline; come to any or all sessions. Phil Reagan is a member of MPC.      Online materials
Dates: Wednesdays, May 5, 12, and 19 Time: 3:30-5:00 pm
Location: Thornhill Room Class limit: 6-12
Convener: Fee: $10
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GOD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT - Carol Miles
Who is God….Really? The Bible, written across many centuries, portrays a many sided God: creative…destructive…loving…jealous…humorous…punitive...
forgiving….So, who is God, really? We will study particular texts in the Old Testament for three weeks to address this question. Carol Miles is Presbyterian Campus Minister at UC Berkeley. She will join Hugh Wire on May 23 for a look at God in the OT and NT.
Dates: Sundays, April 11, 18, 25, May 23 Time: 8:30-9:45 am
Location: Room 10 Class Size: No limit
Convener: Minda Lucero, 510 523-3619 Fee: $15
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HEART OF CHRISTIANITY - John Hadsell
With the growth in our time of inter-religious dialogue, along with the “new atheism”, we Christians need a wise guide to help us re-understand and re-new our faith and there is none better than Biblical scholar Marcus Borg. In this course we'll read his book “The Heart of Christianity” to see how authentic Christian faith can speak directly to our hearts, minds and spirit. We'll use the very helpful Great Books “Interpretive Question” methodology. Our leader will be colleague John Hadsell, Theologian in Residence at Montclair Presbyterian Church for many years.
Dates: Mondays, April 12, 19, 26, May 3, 10 Time: 7:30-9:00 pm
Location: Room 10 Class Size: No limit
Convener: Jeanne Dunn, 510-834-7559 Fee: $15
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GARDEN TOUR Helga Mok
Come and visit the gardens of Dot Cudaback, Jeanne Dunn, Bonnie and Earl Hamlin, Gretchen Hayes, Jan Kidd and Marc Rieffel. (The date will depend on the rain and the sun.)
Tentative Date: Saturday, April 24 Time: 1:00-4:30 pm
Location: directions provided Class Size: No limit
Convener: Helga Mok, 510-339-0122 Fee: $5
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GOD IN THE NEW TESTAMENT Hugh Wire
Who is God….Really? The Bible, written across many centuries, portrays a many sided God: creative…destructive…loving…jealous…humorous…punitive...
forgiving….So, who is God, really? We will study particular texts in the New Testament for three weeks to address this question. Hugh Wire is a retired Presbyterian minister and teacher. Carol Miles will join him on May 23 for a look at God in the OT and NT.
Dates: Sundays, May, 2, 9, 16, and 23 Time: 8:30-9:45 am
Location: Room 10 Class Size: No limit
Convener: Minda Lucero, 510 523-3619 Fee: $15
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JUNG'S PSYCHOLOGICAL TYPES: PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS Virginia Abascal
Like a compass helps one understand where one is in the physical world, Jung’s typology is a tool for psychological orientation; it is a way of understanding both oneself and the interpersonal difficulties that arise between people. We will make clear the complexity of his principles and discuss how they relate to our lives as we age. Virginia Abascal is a teacher and theater director and a member of MPC.
Dates: Wednesdays, May 5, 12, and 19 Time: 7:00-8:30 pm
Location: Room 10 Class Size: No limit
Convener: Fee: $10
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BEHIND THE SCENES ZOO TOUR Joel Parrott
Oakland Zoo Executive Director Joel Parrott will lead a select group on a behind-the-scenes tour of the zoo. Sorry, no children.
Date: Sunday, May 9 Time: 3:00 pm
Location: Oakland Zoo Class Size: 8-15, no children
Convener: Sloan White, 510-339-8728 Fee: parking and admission
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GET A HEAD, A MONSTER OR . . .
Ann Fisher, Jane VanderVeer, Dot Cudaback
You are invited to create something wonderful out of almost nothing, just a lump of clay. Try a human head or a beast. This is a wonderful and popular opportunity. Ann, Dot and Jane have lots of experience sculpting with clay.
Dates: Saturday, May 15, 22, and 29 Time: 10:00 am to noon
Location: Dot’s Studio, 6639 Longwalk Drive, Oak. Class Size: 10
Convener: Dot Cudaback 510-531-0757 Fee: $25 for clay
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CONTINUING CLASSES