You are invited and encouraged to join an Autumn Journey small group to EXPLORE the practice of self-reflection, EXPERIENCE community, and ENGAGE spiritual concepts in discussion with others.

Sundays 10:10-10:50am
Dates: September 13-November 22
Location: Knox Room
Facilitators: Jim DiEgidio, Deb Fritz and Dolly Dolle

Join us on Sunday mornings in a study of one of the major prophets, Isaiah.  This will be a 10 week study beginning on September 13th and concluding on November 15th.  We will be using the Interpretation Bible Studies titled: Isaiah by Gary W. Light.  This book can be ordered through Amazon.  The class will meet following the Fresh Spirit worship service at 10:10 AM in the Knox Room.

Link to book: https://a.co/d/024u7UMs

Sundays 6:30-8:00pm
Dates: September 20 - October 25
Location: Knox Room 
Facilitator: Hugh McKinnon and Angela Erisman (from Church of the Redeemer)
A Hyde Park Church Collective offering 

NOTE: Dr. Ellen Davis, the author, will be speaking in-person at Redeemer Church in Hyde Park on September 9.

DESCRIPTION: 
With sound scholarship and her own vivid translations from the Hebrew, Old Testament professor Ellen Davis teaches us a spiritually engaged method of reading scripture. It is a book about reading the Old Testament as a source of Good News, the Good News being that God is involved with us, deeply and irrevocably so.

Link to book: https://a.co/d/0fx0Tjg5

Tuesdays 10:00-11:30am
Dates: September 8-November 3
Location: Hyde Park Community United Methodist Church, Welcome Center
Facilitator: Rev. Todd Anderson, Senior Pastor HPCUMC
A Hyde Park Church Collective offering

NOTE: Diana Butler Bass, the author, will also be speaking in person at HPCUMC October 3.

DESCRIPTION:
If gratitude is so good for us, why is it so hard? Grateful looks at a familiar spiritual practice in unexpected and provocative ways, including how gratitude is communal – and how it can contribute to healing our divides.

Although most of us know that gratitude is good — and good for us — there is a gap between our desire to be grateful and our ability to behave gratefully. The implications of the gap are bigger than we realize, affecting both our personal and public lives. In Grateful, Bass weaves together social science research, spiritual wisdom, and contemporary issues as she calls for a richer understanding and practice of gratitude. What emerges are surprising insights about the power of thankful living to change how we treat one another, and how we might transform our world.
 
Link to book: https://a.co/d/04Cyl0CB

Tuesdays, 7:00 social, 8:00 conversation starts
Dates: September 22- October 20+
Location:  Home of Scott Bihl. Rotating to other houses afterward.
Facilitator: Bryant Walker

DESCRIPTION: A gathering focused on mid-life men, all men (younger, older) welcome! How do you know where the holy spirit is leading you? Contemplative discussion and exploration of scripture (Romans 8:26, Galatians, first 2 sessions), select passages of “Pursuing God's Will Together” by Ruth Haley Barton, (2 sessions) and individual-led storytelling describing  where one believes the spirit has led them, and what they have learned by following, right or wrong.

Wednesdays, 6:30-8:00 PM
Dates: October 7, 14, 21, 28, Nov 4, 11
Location: Knox Room
Facilitator: Israel Bonnell (Knox Presbyterian) and Diane Chesire (from St. Mary Hyde Park)
A Hyde Park Church Collective offering

DESCRIPTION:
Join us for a discussion of Pope Leo's guidance on the wise use of AI and other technologies in human society while protecting the dignity of all humans, particularly the vulnerable and our planetary home.  Bring your questions, concerns and points of view for thoughtful reflection and discussion.  Israel  Bonnell is a career technologist who retired recently after a long career at Procter & Gamble and Hewlett Packard.  Diane is a research and product development manager who retired recently after a long career at Procter & Gamble.

CLICK HERE for FREE PDF

CLICK HERE for Kindle version.

Wednesdays 6:30-8:30pm 
Dates: Third Wednesday of the month
Location: Sanctuary 
Facilitator: Joe Loechle

"Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.” 1 Timothy 4:13. In ancient times the reading out loud of the Bible and other sacred texts was a common practice while reading the Bible silently was virtually non-existent. During this Autumn Journey, we invite you to more deeply explore Scripture as a breathing, living text by reading out loud together in a group setting. Participants will grow in both Biblical understanding and creative expression by reading Biblical texts out loud in community, and at the same time study and reflect upon the Biblical theme of “non-violence and peace.” Members will meet monthly on the third Wednesday of the month from 6:30 - 8:30 pm at Knox. Additional meetings may be necessary if the group participates in presentations for the Knox congregation. Also, the group will study the practices in Rehearsing Scripture: Discovering God’s Word in Community by Anna Carter Florence.

Thursdays 7-8:30pm 
Dates: Oct. 1, 8, 15 and 22
Location: Knox Room
Facilitator: Chris Bolling 

DESCRIPTION: 
Luke’s famous parable of the prodigal son has inspired many for centuries. The theologian, Henri Nouwen, and the artist, Rembrandt van Rijn, are two who were inspired.  Nouwen, who is an interesting character himself, wrote this slim volume as a meditation of Rembrandt’s famous painting of the parable which hangs in the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia.  
We will explore the parable and the painting through the eyes of theology and art history examining the role of the younger son, the older son and the father in the parable. Along the way, the personal histories of Nouwen and Rembrandt give further depth to this powerful parable and the famous painting it inspired.
Session 1: Nouwen and Rembrandt; Session 2: The younger son; Session 3: The older son; Session 4: The father.

Link to book: https://a.co/d/037zUQdO