This Week In Common

Join the Bethany and ESR communities in the Quigg Room for a worship to mark the 50th Anniversary of Earlham School of Religion. Message by Jay Marshall, Dean of ESR. Special music by Nathan Macy.

All are welcome to attend.

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.

If you've never tried it, contra dancing is a traditional kind of folk dance, very popular in New England (and at Earlham!) All of the dances are taught, so beginners are always welcome. You don't need to come with a partner -- it's customary to change partners after each dance.

This semester is a time of newness for our seminary communities, with students and faculty joining us for the first time, and especially as Bethany Theological Seminary welcomes a new Academic Dean.

Tomorrow, Friday, October 30, at 11:20 during joint chapel, Dr. Steven Schweitzer will be anointed and installed as the Academic Dean of Bethany Theological Seminary.

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!

Aaron Nell will explore the needs of adolescents and what strategies help them creatively engage moral reasoning through play. Aaron has been working with youth, particularly those suspended or expelled, for nearly a decade, and has immense wisdom and hope to share on this subject.

Aaron Nell will explore the needs of adolescents and what strategies help them creatively engage moral reasoning through play. Aaron has been working with youth (particularly those suspended or expelled) for nearly a decade, and has immense wisdom and hope to share on this subject.

Last summer during a production of Annie, a man entered a Unitarian Universalist church and opened fire. Two people were killed, and several others injured. Reverend Chris Buice, ESR alum, will share about the church's healing process.

All are welcome at Peace Forum on Thursdays from noon-1:10pm in the ESR Dining Room. Delicious, nutritious lunch is always provided.

"If you believe and I believe
and we together pray,
the Holy Spirit must come down
and set God's people free."
(from an Iona Community song)

You are invited to experience Testimonies of Transformation--four poetic/dramatic readings from the gospels of people whose lives have been deeply touched and changed by Jesus.

Joint Worship for Friday October 16, will contain songs, readings and prayers from the Iona Community, a dispersed Christian ecumenical community working for peace and social justice, rebuilding of community and the renewal of worship. (Visit http://iona.org.uk/ for more info on the community.)

We will gather in Bethany's Nicarry Chapel at 11:20 am to sing and pray for the coming of the Spirit to set all God's people free.

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!

The joint seminary worship service is in Quigg, and it will focus on prayer for the people in Iran. Patty Willis will read some selections from Rumi. Steve Angell will reflect on his experiences as "A Quaker in Iran."

Jay Marshall will reflect upon the ways international travel has broadened his perspective and influenced his thinking about the value of cross cultural education in the preparation of ministry.

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.

Thursday's Programmed Worship will be the sharing of people's favorite poems or poems that really speak to them.

If you are interested in sharing a poem (or reading someone's poem), contact Kim Hampton at hamptki@earlham.edu by Tuesday, October 6th.