Sundays, 9:40–10:40 a.m. in Commons I
November 1–15: Avodah – Exploring the Christian View
What is our calling from God and how do we discern it? In what ways do all kinds of work—paid, unpaid, pre-retirement, post-retirement—provide us with the opportunity to serve the world? Led by Dr. Tracy Brower, Global VP of Workplace Vitality for Mars, Inc., and author of Bring Work to Life by Bringing Life to Work, and Rev. Keith Derrick, recently retired Director of Journey: Center for Continual Learning at Western Theological Seminary, we will explore this intersection in our session.
- Nov 1: Creating God – We will explore how God as the creator also calls us to create in the world and how we discern all that God intends for us.
- Nov 8: Relating Christ – We will discuss how Christ sets an example for our relationships with each other and the ways in which relationships offer precious opportunities for contribution and impact in the world.
- Nov 15: Transforming Spirit – Week three will be focused on how the spirit works within us and the ways that we manifest our giftedness in the world – honoring the spirit in ourselves and in others.
November 22–29: The RCA and Us: Is There Room for Hope?
- Nov 22: Don Luidens, retired professor of sociology at Hope College, will present the current state of the RCA. He will show membership trends and discuss their implications.
- Nov 29: A panel, moderated by Milt Nieuwsma, will discuss Hope Church’s relationship to the RCA. Judy Parr and Lynn Japinga will discuss the history of our congregation’s relationship with the denomination. Larry Schuyler and Marlin VanderWilt will discuss the present status and speculations about the future.