The Contemporary Issues Class looks at a variety of topics relevant to today's lifestyles. Classes vary to include guest speakers, video clips, discussion and more.
Class meets in the fellowship hall, off the front Sanctuary entrance, at 9am every Sunday morning. The setting is casual and laid back. Feel free to bring your coffee!
Class meets in the fellowship hall, off the front Sanctuary entrance, at 9am every Sunday morning. The setting is casual and laid back. Feel free to bring your coffee!
fall 2019
September 8: How to See Truth
Contemporary Issues begins a 3-week series on fact and falsehood in the news. “We're in a paradoxical situation of thinking that we know so much more, and yet not agreeing on what it is we know.” Michael Patrick Lynch argues that living in a common reality demands that we do the work to find out for ourselves and remember that we don't know it all. (April 2017, 14:19)
September 15: Finding Facts in the News
Contemporary Issues continues a 3-week series on fact and falsehood in the news. In the current news environment, what do we do with competing perspectives on the truth? Is there any hope for determining what "the facts" really are? Homework for Sunday: search for news sources that realistically challenge the facts you believe to be true.
September 22: Talking to Our Neighbors About the News
Contemporary Issues wraps up a short series on fact and falsehood in the news. It's not enough to be confident that we know what's going on in the world. We also want to have meaningful, reasonable conversations with our neighbors who get their news from some other source. How can we talk to each other when we don't see our shared reality in the same way?
September 29: Youth Mission Trip presentation
Covenant's youth spent four days in July on an "urban immersion" mission trip to Omaha. They're sharing their photos and experiences with Contemporary Issues. A light breakfast will be served. All are welcome!
October 6: Issues for Faithful Voters - Refugees & Asylum Seekers
Contemporary Issues begins looking at "Issues for Faithful Voters" with a look at refugees and asylum seekers. What do those terms mean? And what could be done to fix the broken global refugee system?
October 13: Issues for Faithful Voters - Global Food Insecurity
Contemporary Issues takes a look at global food insecurity. Josette Sheeran, the head of the UN's World Food Program, talks about why, in a world with enough food for everyone, people still go hungry, still die of starvation, still use food as a weapon of war.
October 20: Issues for Faithful Voters - Healthcare (First in 2 Week Series)
Although Americans disagree about what to do with the health care system, Rebecca Onie shows that we actually agree on what creates health.
Further watching: Health outcomes are based on environment, not just genetics and lifestyle.
And, what if getting older didn't have to mean getting less healthy and more expensive?
October 27: Issues for Faithful Voters - Healthcare (Second in 2 Week Series)
The health insurance system is cumbersome for providers as well as patients. P.J. Parmar runs a clinic that specializes in low-income patients and makes money doing it.
Further watching: The health care system assumes patients can do things many people can't.
November 3 and 10: Love Your Enemies
John Sprole leads a study of Arthur C. Brooks' new book, Love Your Enemies: How Decent People Can Save America from the Culture of Contempt. Brooks blends cutting-edge behavioral research, ancient wisdom, and a decade of experience leading one of America’s top policy think tanks in a work that offers a better way to lead based on bridging divides and mending relationships.
November 17-24: Making a Difference And Keeping Your Friends
December 1: Thanksgiving weekend, no class
December 8: Issues for Faithful Voters - Economics
December 15-29: Advent/Christmas events, no class
