Online Adult Education  –  October 2020

“One Nation Under God”

In a day of increasing divisiveness, polarity and anger in our country, how can the message of the church, the gospel of grace in Jesus Christ, contribute to the building of unity, inclusivity and harmony?  Is it possible for us to rise above partisanship to give expression to a common vision for the future wellbeing of a land that is the home of our valued past and our common future?

We will gather (via Zoom) in the name of the Triune God and in the spirit of Abraham Lincoln’s prayer at Gettysburg, “that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” 

To guide our five week discussion, we will follow the outline of the new ELCA social statement which was unanimously adopted by the Church Council on June 24, 2020,

Government and Civic Engagement in the United States: Discipleship in a Democracy.  Please read through the statement and note any questions you might want to raise.

For all participants, here is a link to a helpful Study Guide,

Pastor Molly will open each of the following five sessions. Facilitators noted.

This outline follows that of the ELCA social statement

7 October                 Introduction:  Government as a gift of God  (Paul Wee)

14 October               God’s two ways of governing. (Melody Young)

21 October               Government’s role – Is the neighbor being served? (Paul Lundborg)

28 October               Called to civic engagement: What can I do? (Randy Faro)

4 November            “For the healing of the Nations” (Bob Delastrada & Planning Team)

All are welcome, young and old.  Discussions will be open, respectful of differences

and non-partisan.  Should be informative, geared to healing our country – also fun.