Seventh Avenue Presbyterian Church
Adult Education 2008-2009
November 9, 2008
TITLE: Presbyterian 101 & A Conversation on Marriage vs. Blessings in the Church
Facilitator: Tim Cahn, Jeff Gaines & Ellen Rankin
DESCRIPTION: On May 15, 2008 the California Supreme Court ruled that the California legislative and initiative measures limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples violates the state constitutional rights of same-sex couples and may not be used to preclude same-sex couples from marrying. (In re Marriage Cases, S147999.) The court concluded that permitting opposite-sex couples to marry while affording same-sex couples access only to the novel and less-recognized status of domestic partnership improperly infringes a same-sex couple's constitutional rights to marry and to the equal protection of the laws as guaranteed by the California Constitution.
Whether or not California's courts rule that same-sex marriage is legal, or Hawaii's courts rule that it is not and regardless of how our denomination defines marriage the fact is that the church is still faced with an issue that will not go away. What do we do about marriage and blessing for our people?
For several months the Session of SAPC has been having a conversation around performing blessings instead of marriages for all couples, regardless of gender. There is not consensus on this subject. On November 9 we will explore, with the larger congregation, feelings related to the church's role: that of acting as a functionary of the state vis á vis acting as an instrument of God. What are your thoughts? Come and join the discussion.
November 16, 2008
TITLE: El Camino de Santiago (The Way of St. James) Pilgrimage
November 23, 2008
TITLE: Following in the Footsteps of St. Mary Magdalene-From Vezeley to St. Maximin
Facilitators: Valorie & Leopoldo Villela
DESCRIPTION: November 16th - The Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route crosses the Iberian Pennisula from Roncesvalles in the Pyrennes Mountains to the city fo Santiago de Compostela, where the tomb of Saint James the Apostle, situated in the region known as the Atlantic Finis Terrae. Come and hear the stories and see the images with Valorie and Leopoldo who recently walked 200+ miles of this ancient path. November 23rd - Who is this Mary Magdalene? Disciple and Evangelist? Jesus' wife? the femine face of the divine? Some say that Mary Magdalene brought Christianity to Southern France. The devotion to her is still very strong. Journey with Leo and Valorie to places held sacred by Mary's followers of yesterday and today.
Valorie Villela has been a member of Seventh Avenue Presbyterian Church since 1981. She has been on pilgrimages to Tibet, India, France, and most recently N. Spain. When Valorie is not on a pilgrimage, she works as the director of 30th Street Senior Center's programs helping older adults remain healthy and in their community as long as possible. Leopoldo Villela has been a part of 7th Avenue Church since 1986. He loves to hike and explore the world.
December 6 (Saturday): Advent Retreat — Mercy Center, Burlingame
TITLE: Threshold to Wholeness
Facilitators: Jeff Gaines & Ellen Rankin
DESCRIPTION: Reading through the lectionary texts for Advent, the Worship committee found them full of descriptions of change and calls to change and newness. There is apocalyptic imagery of the sun and moon going out, stars falling, the earth being shaken; John the Baptist's call to repent and change one's manner of life; Mary's song of the lowly being lifted up, and the rich being sent away empty; Mary again, called to participate in birthing life.
During our day together we will ponder the invitations to be attentive to wonder, both in the midst of turbulence, and in ordinary activities. When we do this, the awareness of wonder enables us to listen for and recognize the voice of God, in things small and large. As we respond to that voice, we are part of a slow but real movement towards reconciliation. We are named by God, individually and corporately; as we live into the fullness of our names, we approach and even cross the threshold to wholeness, thus becoming co-creators of the wholeness for which God yearns.
The Rev. Jeffrey Gaines is Pastor of Seventh Avenue Church and has served this community since December 1991. He received his Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ in 1979 and his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA in 1975. From 1979-1991 Jeff served First Presbyterian Church of Monterey. From 1995 - 2003 he was also Executive Director of Spiritual Directors International. The Rev. Ellen Rankin is a graduate of both the Master of Divinity and the Diploma in the Art of Spiritual Direction programs at San Francisco Theological Seminary. Ellen has been associated with Seventh Avenue Church since September 2003, first as our Seminary Intern and now as our Pastoral Associate, providing leadership to our Women's Spirituality Group along with pastoral care and liturgical leadership.
January 11, 18, 25, 2009
TITLE: It is more than scripture: what kind of encounter do we have to have with Jesus in order to see?
Facilitator: Tom Glenn
DESCRIPTION: Using the Gospel of Mark we will attempt to uncover what forms us spiritually. Why do some have the capacity and courage to see and act in the face of injustice? Why do so many in the church — steeped in scripture and doctrine — remain blind to the pain of others’ injustice and exclusivity? During our weeks together we will explore what kind of spiritual formation results with new sight.
The Rev. Tom Glenn is an ‘honorary’ parish associate here at SAPC from teaching adult education classes to preaching to facilitating staff visioning days as well as serving on the Companions on the Inner Way Retreats Advisory Board. Tom also leads pilgrimages to France along with Jeff Gaines and Joan Currey and is a staff member with Jeff and Joan at San Francisco Theological Seminary’s DADS program. When he not in the Bay Area (in his ‘real’ life!) he is Parish Associate for Congregational Ministries at Shadon Presbyterian Church in Columbia, SC where he is also active in their drama group.
February 15, 22, 2009
TITLE: Encountering Desert Wisdom
Facilitator: Beth Ford
Historian Irénée Hausherr writes, “If you study the history of spirituality or the spiritual life of the Church, you will find that each time that there is a spiritual renewal in the Church, the desert fathers are present.” Why is this so? What “word” might these ancient teachers speak to us today? In this two-week class, we will take a look at the wisdom of the desert fathers and mothers whose one-line sayings and short stories have captured the imagination of spiritual seekers from Thomas Merton to Henri Nouwen. After examining the context out of which the sayings arose, we will consider insights and invitations for our own spiritual lives.
The Rev. Beth Ford Friend is a Presbyterian minister and spiritual director, currently working toward a Ph.D. in Christian Spirituality at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley.
Season of Lent — March 8, 15, 22, 29, 2009
TITLE: The Confession of Balhar
Facilitator: Mark Hamner
DESCRIPTION: In this class we will look at explore The Confession of Balhar written by the Uniting Reformed Church of South Africa as confessional statement against apartheid in the midst of the world-wide struggle against that unjust policy. This Confession is a product of a conversation with the Barmen Declaration (wherein the Confessing German Church proclaimed the evils of National Socialism in Hitler’s Germany). What the confession said to the Church of its age and what it says to us about the ruling principalities and powers of evil in our age will be the focus of this study. The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) at its bi-annual meeting in July 2008 invited the churches of our denomination to study this confession as we partner with our sister denomination from the Reformed tradition, the Dutch Reformed Church of South Africa.
This study will also examine our practices of institutional racism, classism and prejudice with a focus on the dispossessed in our society. We will reflect on our public policy of dealing with the homeless and formerly incarcerated from the perspective of the facilitator who works daily with these population groups.
The Rev. Dr. Mark L. Hamner is an ordained member-at-large of the Presbytery of Great Rivers in Central Illinois. He graduated from Lewis and Clark College in Portland Oregon with a degree in Psychology and Religious Studies. He received his Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary and his Doctor of Ministry Degree from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Hamner has served churches in Oklahoma, Southern California and Illinois. He is currently employed by the Northern California Service League, a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the pre- and post-release population in the San Francisco County Jail system, their families and the community
Season of Easter — April 19, 26, 2009
TITLE: The Fourteenth Station of the Cross
Facilitator: Joan Huff
DESCRIPTION: In November 2008 I am traveling to Palestine and Israel to attend the International Sabeel Conference. We will use the Contemporary Way of the Cross liturgical resources published by Sabeel as we meet Palestinian Christians in Bethlehem, Nazareth, Galilee and East Jerusalem to hear their stories. During the two sessions of this class, I will report on this experience as well as raise questions about the future. At the Fourteenth Station we ask what the death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ means for the land of his birth and the people who now live there.
The Rev. Joan Huff is a Parish Associate here at Seventh Avenue, a spiritual director and an Honorably Retired member of the Presbytery of San Francisco.
Season of Pentecost — May 10, 24, 31, 2009
TITLE: A Look at the Saints
Facilitators: Werner Bachmann, Jeffrey Gaines and Kathy Kramer
Note: 5/17 will be during the 'summer' all church retreat [see description, below]
so this class will skip Sunday, May 17
DESCRIPTION: Over the centuries there has always been a fascination with the Saints: their lives, their history, their spirituality and their prayer. During these three sessions we will look at the lives, faith and theology of Desmond Tutu, Dorothy Day and Bernard of Clairvaux.
Werner Bachmann taught German, Spanish and English in the San Francisco Unified School District at Herbert Hoover Middle School for 25 years. He retired in 1990. Two years ago he became a member of SAPC, having worshipped here since 2003. Werner volunteers at Most Holy Redeemer Catholic and St. Francis Lutheran Churches, loves to travel and is wild about theatre. The Rev. Jeffrey Gaines is Pastor of Seventh Avenue Church and has served this community since December 1991. He received his Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ in 1979 and his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA in 1975. From 1979-1991 Jeff served First Presbyterian Church of Monterey. From 1995 - 2003 he was also Executive Director of Spiritual Directors International. Kathy Kramer grew up in rural Minnesota and was raised in the Lutheran Church. Just after high school, she moved with her family to California's Central Valley. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and a Master of Divinity degree from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. A long time resident of the Inner Sunset, she joined SAPC in June of 2007. Kathy is a document specialist in the law firm of Jeffer, Mangels, Butler & Marmaro LLP and enjoys attending the ballet and theatre.
May 15, 16, 17, 2009
TITLE: A Retreat of Wholeness — The Angela Center, Santa Rosa
Facilitators: Jeffrey Gaines and Ellen Rankin
DESCRIPTION: God's longing for us is wholeness, freedom, shalom. During this weekend we will plumb the depths of what is means to be made in God's image and loved all the way down to our toes by the God who made us. Our 'optic' will be the biblical concept of shalom that will open our understanding of both personal and corporate wholeness.
The Rev. Jeffrey Gaines is Pastor of Seventh Avenue Church and has served this community since December 1991. He received his Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ in 1979 and his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA in 1975. From 1979-1991 Jeff served First Presbyterian Church of Monterey. From 1995 - 2003 he was also Executive Director of Spiritual Directors International. The Rev. Ellen Rankin is a graduate of both the Master of Divinity and the Diploma in the Art of Spiritual Direction programs at San Francisco Theological Seminary. Ellen has been associated with Seventh Avenue Church since September 2003, first as our Seminary Intern and now as our Pastoral Associate, providing leadership to our Women's Spirituality Group along with pastoral care and liturgical leadership.