CURRENT CLASSES

January Adult Education Classes

“Be the Good” Kick-off (January 5)
To start off the new year, we will kick off a “Be the Good” event in January. We are all called to “Be the Good” in this world. We are called to be God’s eyes, ears, hands, and feet to do good, to spread God’s love. There will be a class during Adult Education time on January 5 with a panel of church members and an invited guest to talk about things they are doing in the community to show God’s love. Children’s Education classes will be given ideas for some activities and invited to do acts of kindness in January, with “Be the Good” hearts naming each act of kindness they have done. Adults can join in too. Together our small acts of kindness can make a big difference.

Walking El Camino de Santiago (January 5)
The Camino de Santiago is a 500-mile pilgrimage -- a walking path across northern Spain, from the French border to the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. People of all kinds have walked the Camino for several hundred years. In the fall of 2018, I began walking this path with a neighbor and friend, Kathy Gerhardt. In the fall of 2019, we returned and continued our trek. We hope to finish next year. We will be sharing pictures and stories of our journey so far on January
5, and would love to have you join us. Peggy Bugg

Global Health: Community Health and Health Disparity in Nepal (January 12)
Lauren Coons, a “daughter of Covenant,” is a UW-Madison senior, majoring in neurobiology with a minor and certificate in global health, who plans to work for a year after graduation as a CNA and then apply to PA schools. Lauren will talk about what she experienced and learned in a three-week cultural immersion and study abroad program in Nepal as part of the UW-Madison Global Health Field Course in the summer of 2019. Her experiences included discussions with
hospital administrators, health-oriented researchers, local organizations, United Nations and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) representatives, and health workers in both urban and rural areas, a homestay in the district of Lamjung, Nepal, and a trek through the foothills of the Himalayas. In her presentation, she will examine the social determinants of health in Nepal in the context of existing and prospective efforts by Nepal’s healthcare system
and other organizations to address social and economic inequities within the country. She will reflect on “big-picture” questions drawing on the knowledge gained and experiences lived in her three weeks in Nepal: How was privilege manifested in daily interactions and spaces occupied? What are the privileges or lack of privileges that guide a person to where they are today? What
is the pursuit of happiness?

Navigating Difficult Conversations (January 12 and 19)
Participants in these classes led by Judy Von Bergen and Linda Nylund will learn, practice, and apply the following skills that can help with navigating difficult conversations around issues that divide us:

The importance of setting an intention for a conversation, and how our conflict management style guides the intention that underlies our conversations
How to calm reactive emotions and be more present and responsive in difficult conversations
The art of using self-empathy, empathic listening, and empathic expression in the context of difficult conversations

PC(USA) Film “The Genesis of Exodus” (January 19)
Using engaging personal stories and Latinx commentators, this well-crafted film offers insightful perspectives on the reasons why people from Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras risk their lives to come to the United States. It goes beyond the headlines to make history and current events personal. Viewing and discussing the film will provide context for Pastor Charlie’s sermon on the divisive issue of immigration.

Gun Violence: What Can We Do? (January 26)
In July 2019 the Rev. Deanna Hollas was ordained as the first PC(USA) minister of gun violence prevention. She is likely the first person in the country to be given a national ecclesiastical role of this kind. As a native Texan, she knows gun culture and is committed to making sure that all parties to the debate listen to each other: “No matter where you fall on this issue, the important thing is that we remain in conversation with one another.” On January 26, she will both preach and teach on this major issue that divides us: guns.

Adult Education Class Resources

Missed a class you wanted to take part in? Want to review the resources used in a class that you attended? Click here to find a library of resources from past adult education classes.