This Week In Common

Members of both seminaries are invited to attend an informal conversation with Vincent Harding on Wednesday, February 25th at 2 p.m. in the RBC Conference Room. Dr. Harding is well known for his activism and dedication to peace and justice.

This Friday, November 20th, Common Grounds Coffeehouse will welcome Nate Sebens! Nate is a graduate of Guilford College in North Carolina, and studied last year at Earlham School of Religion. He sang the lead role in Richmond Civic Theater's Beauty and the Beast, and was Curly in Oklahoma!. He is currently choir director at West Richmond Friends Meeting.

Take me back to the 60's - this Friday from 7:00 to 10:00, Common Grounds Coffeehouse welcomes back Gene Webb and Margie Stoller, playing light jazz, and every pop and folk song you ever heard from the 60's! West Richmond Friends Meeting, 609 West Main Street, corner of SW 7th and W. Main. Admission free, bring your friends!

On each Sunday of Advent and the Monday of the Winter Solstice there will be a labyrinth walk. Each walk will have a different focus: love, peace, joy, hope, and light.

This Friday Common Grounds Coffeehouse welcomes back Grandpa Joe (known to the rest of the world in his alter ego as Phil Baisley, ESR teacher and Quaker pastor.) October 30th from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m., West Richmond Friends Meeting, 609 W. Main Street, just 2 blocks north of ESR. Admission free, donations welcome -- live entertainment, good food, great company!

Progressive members of the Church of the Brethren have found ourselves at a threshold. Whether we will continue standing in the doorway, go through it, or slam the door shut, the time has come to explore our place, and decide next steps.

The second annual Progressive Brethren Summit will take place November 13-15, 2009 (Friday-Sunday) at Elizabethtown Church of the Brethren in Pennsylvania.

Keynote speaker: Gordon Kaufman, Professor of Divinity Emeritus at Harvard Divinity School.

Dont miss engaging workshops, empowering worship, and wonderful fellowship.

The summit is cosponsored by the Church of the Brethren Womaen's Caucus, Voices for an Open Spirit, and Brethren-Mennonite Council for LGBT Interests.

More info, with registrations info and tentative schedule here.

Are you ready to celebrate this season's harvest? The next 100 mile radius potluck will be at a local farm, where we can properly welcome fall! Meet new people, see friends and eat delicious food!

Common Grounds Coffeehouse welcomes back Brian Dannaker, one of the area's best and most popular guitarists, this Friday, October 16th from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. Brian was the winner of the 2008 "Battle of the Bands" competition. His solo guitar licks will make you wonder how he does them!

Former ESR Dean Alan Kolp will be on campus the week of October 12th as Friend in Residence. He will participate in two public events during that week that we would like to encourage you to attend:

*Common Meal*
October 13, 11:20-1 pm

“Contemplation: A Quaker Pastoral Academic Benedictine Oblate’s Perspective”

ESR will host our annual Ministry of Writing Colloquium on Friday and Saturday, October 30th and 31st in the ESR Center.

Keynote Speaker will be poet and author Julia Kasdorf, who will speak on the topic “Writing as Ruin, Relic, and Resurrection.” A variety of workshops will also be offered.

Only two more opportunities to watch Julia! Take a 1 hour break from studying and join the fun every other Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in the ESR Dining Room. The entire simple event consists of watching 2 old episodes of The French Chef featuring Julia Child. No food; no moving furniture; over in about an hour -- an opportunity for you to take a short break from the books and watch something unrelated to seminary (although we know Julia Pantoga could talk to you all day about the intersections of food and theology). The two dates remaining are: November 18 and December 2.

Earlham's Action Against Sexual Violence (AASV) is holding a yard sale to help them do important work on campus. Come shop from 11:30-1:30 on Sunday on the heart.

Also, donate any items that could be sold in the yard sale by dropping them off at Peace House (Mahala Jay, corner of College and 40, across College from ESR).

On Tuesday, October 13 from 2:45-4:00 pm in the Kendall room of the ESR building, Caroline Fisher, RN, SANE, Coordinator of The Center of Hope at St Francis Hospital in Indianapolis will be making a presentation on sexual assault. You are welcome to join my class for this opportunity to understand better how to respond and minister to victims of rape and other sexual assault.

Come Join us for “Three Types of Christian Meditation”—a three-week series.

Sundays, 11-noon, West Richmond Friends Meeting
Instructor: Jerry Knutsen, ESR student and trained meditation instructor.
September 27 Benson’s Meditation
October 4 Centering Prayer
October 11 Cayce's Meditation

Come early for semi-programmed worship at 9:30 or for coffee hour at

Friday, September 18th is the start of the fall season for Common Grounds Coffeehouse at West Richmond Friends Meeting!