Events at Church of the Way

The Following events will be taking place at Presbyterian Church of the Way in Shoreview during the month of May:

Sunday Forum AND Family and Faith Class* Sundays, 6:30 p.m., Ling Hall

BEGINNING MAY 4: “Our Marriages and Relationships: Helping Something Good Be Even Better,” A three-week Sunday a.m. combined Adult Forum and Faith and Family Class, led by Anita & Russ Cummings in Ling Hall. This class will explore the challenges and benefits of healthy marriage relationships. How can we let go of the ideal, “And they lived happily ever after,” and instead view our most intimate relationships as the fertile ground for God to enhance both love and growth? What are the expectations that trip us up, and what are healthy patterns to develop that ease the flash points of any intimate relationship? We will be open to any long-term relationship as a place to consider the issues.

Anita and Russ Cummings have been married for 44+ years, some of them a bit rocky (their words)! But they have been blessed with the grace of God, good counseling, faithful family and friends, and insights that have even helped others as Anita worked with couples of all sorts in her years as pastor in several congregations.

Wednesday Forum * Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m., Ling Hall April 9 to May 14: “Human Rights: Past and Present,” led by Dr. Chris Gerhz, Assistant Professor of History, Bethel University. This six-week course surveys the history and theory of human rights, starting with the roots of "rights talk" in the Enlightenment and moving up through the present day.

May 7: Case Study: Genocide in the 20th Century Even as the 20th century saw the explosion of human rights documents and courts, it also witnessed the birth of a new form of "radical evil:" genocide. As we consider events ranging from the slaughter of Armenians during World War I to the Holocaust to the killing fields of Cambodia to ethnic cleansing in the Balkans and Africa, we must ask: can human rights be said to exist if entire populations can be deprived of the right to their very existence?

May 14: Human Rights Today: Issues and Action To close the course, we will introduce several contemporary issues in human rights and consider how individuals can respond. Topics may include Darfur, human trafficking, women's rights, torture, political asylum-seeking, and labor rights. We will also survey the Twin Cities' many human rights organizations. (For this session Dr. Gerhz may invite 2-3 students from my Bethel human rights course to give brief presentations on their ongoing service projects.)

Dr. Chris Gehrz is an Assistant Professor of History at Bethel University where he has taught since 2003. He earned his doctorate from Yale University, with an emphasis on modern European and diplomatic history. In recent years his research and teaching interests have expanded to include church history, human rights, and educational theory. Chris lives in Roseville with his wife Katie, and attends Salem Covenant Church in New Brighton.

Child care is available for the classes marked with asterisks ( * ), so consider this your invitation to join us whenever you can!

SILENT AUCTION & DINNER BENEFITTING MISSION TRIP 2007 Saturday, May 17, 5:30 p.m., PCOTW

Auction items include:

• 2 Ticket Vouchers for 2008 US Women's Open & Christie Kerr Autograph Poster
• Buffalo Wild Wings 50 wing party (min: 6 people)
• Fly Fishing Package
• 4 Hour Bus Shuttle Service
• Kayak Adventure for Two
• Avon Gift Basket
• Dinner for 8… …and much more!

Make your RSVPs today by calling the PCOTW office at (651) 484-3346! Deadline is May 12! $5 / person, $18 / family max. Would you like to donate something for the Silent Auction? Please contact Kathryn Nichols, Pastoral Intern and Youth Coordinator, at (651) 484-3346, ext. 101, or at kathryn@pcow.org.