Current Events

You must have an annual membership to register for any of our classes. The annual membership runs from August 1-June 30. If are not a member yet, click here and add a membership to your shopping cart. Once you do that you can begin to add classes to your shopping cart. If you are only interested in our Special Events or our Lunch and Learn series you do not have to be an annual member to register for those offerings.

Please be aware that classes and events may be canceled or schedules may change at any time. You will be notified if you are registered and changes are made.

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America's Love Affair with the Horseless Carriage
Course Fee: $21.00
Dates: 1/7/2025 - 1/28/2025
Times: 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Days: Tu
Sessions: 4
Location: Central United Methodist Church Upper Room
Instructor: Olin Sansbury

There are nearly 300 million motor vehicles in America. Americans spend over an hour daily driving those vehicles. The number of vehicles continues to grow even as the cost of buying and operating them increases. Only New Zealand has more vehicles per 1000 inhabitants and the difference is small-- -869 to 860. How did this obsession with the “horseless carriage" develop? In four sessions, we’ll examine the automobile’s history; its early impact on social and economic life; its ongoing relationship to where we live, how we work and play, how we travel; and, finally, to whether our future is either bright or dark. Readings will be provided and discussion encouraged—a joint venture in learning.

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ONLINE COURSE Breads of the World...and Some Philosophy
Fee: $21.00
Dates: 1/6/2025 - 1/27/2025
Times: 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Days: M
Sessions: 4
Location: ONLINE
Instructor: Dennis Wiseman

It is sometimes said, and very much in error, that philosophy bakes no bread. Some beg to differ. Bread baking is a process that requires patience and attention to detail. It also allows for creative and quick thinking that is both satisfying and suggestive of new horizons of exploration. In the cold and dark of winter, come join us in baking hearty breads that warm the house and nourish the body. We will bake four breads from around the world including Sephardic Challah and Swedish Bergen Bread (both yeast breads), and then Japanese Milk Bread and Swedish Limpa (both pre-ferment breads). Come Zoom with us online from the comfort of your own kitchen - bake, warm the house, feed the family, and philosophize.

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Current Affairs Cheat Sheet with a Twist
This class is FULL and is not accepting any more registrations.

Instructor: Natasha Cimoszewicz-Harlan
Dates: 1/8/2025 - 1/29/2025
Times: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Divided We Stand: The Puzzling State of American Religion Today
Course Fee: $21.00
Dates: 1/8/2025 - 1/29/2025
Times: 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Days: W
Sessions: 4
Location: Central United Methodist Church Shepherd Room
Instructor: Gerald Thurmond

Some commentators bemoan what they see as the decline of religious life in the United States and see it as the cause of a host of social problems. Others regret that the decline isn't faster and blame religion for divisive political and social effects on society. In this class, we will examine American religion from a sociological point of view using Robert D. Putman's and David E. Campbell's excellent book American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us. Sociology views religion as a product of historical and social influences. It does not deal with theology. The instructor will explain some of the sociological theories of religion, and the research methods used in American Grace, update some of its data, and lead discussion on the book.

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Talkin' Trash with Jes: Why Trash Matters
Course Fee: $21.00
Dates: 1/7/2025 - 1/28/2025
Times: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Days: Tu
Sessions: 4
Location: Central United Methodist Church Garrett Room
Instructor: Jes Sdao

Everything you've always wanted to know about recycling and a lot you didn't want to know. Talkin' Trash With Jes is designed to take the guesswork out of what goes in the recycling bin, and explain the science, politics, and emotional elements of "saving the planet." This course involves a mix of interactive discussions, visual demonstrations, and hands-on crafts, plus ends with a customized and easy-to-implement plan to live more sustainably in your daily life using knowledge gained from each session. While focused on waste reduction, we'll also talk about the economics of trash, the environmental benefits of recycling, and what it means to live sustainably and guilt-free in the real world.

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The Middle East
Course Fee: $21.00
Dates: 1/6/2025 - 1/27/2025
Times: 11:15 AM - 12:45 PM
Days: M
Sessions: 4
Location: Central United Methodist Church Upper Room
Instructor: Joe Dunn

We will examine various current topics on the Middle East such as the Hamas-Israeli Gaza War, Islam, and Saudi Arabia, to name just a few. Our discussion will be based on newsworthy events.

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