Spiritual Life
SPIRITUAL LIFE COMMITTEE
SENIOR QUEST FOR MEANING
Senior Quest is an annual, themed series of lectures in the fall, winter, and spring on matters involving spiritual considerations. The coming fall and spring programs will concentrate again on the topic of diversity. The 2022-2023 theme is Race, Religion, and Democracy. The fall programs concentrated on How Did We Get Here? The spring programs concentrate on Where Shall We Go? The presentations focus on key areas of American history and basic questions that help understand how we got to the problems of racism today and what we can do about them.
2022-2023 Race, Religion, and Democracy: Where Shall We Go? Panels
| Date |
Panel |
Presenter |
| Jan 9, 2023 |
What Can We Learn from the Black Churches * |
Rev. Dr. J. Lee Hill, Jr. & Dr. Alton S. Wallace |
| Feb 6, 2023 |
Confronting White Nationalism and Hate Crimes |
Rev. Dr. Rob Schenck |
| Mar 13, 2023 |
Communication and the Role of the Media |
Mike McCurry |
| Apr 12, 2023 |
Working Toward Diversity: One Congregation’s Decades of Effort |
Rev. Carol Thomas Cissel & the UUCA Social Justice Ministry Team |
| May 15, 2023 |
ADL- Understanding and Interrupting Hate |
Michelle Magner, Deputy Regional Director & Shelby Gadol, Assistant Regional Director |
*SCHOLARSHIPS FOR LYNCHING VICTIMS
At the January 9 Senior Quest panel, Dr. Alton Wallace mentioned the ASBC Foundation's proposal for scholarships for two lynching victims recently recognized by the City of Alexandria. Click HERE for information and an update on the program.
*SACRED GROUND
Also at the January 9 Senior Quest panel, a visitor mentioned the Episcopal Church's Sacred Ground program. The program is designed to help White people talk to other White people. The link to the program is https://www.episcopalchurch.org/sacred-ground/
BECOMING ANTI-RACIST
The Spiritual Life Committee wants to support the GH mission while helping residents understand the current cultural upheavals over racism. The Committee and its Senior Quest for Meaning subcommittee continue to offer a number of opportunities to explore the topic of becoming an anti-racist.
RESOURCES
Below are lists of information you may find useful as we learn more about systemic racism and consider our own responses.
AS YOU READ AND REFLECT...
- If you are surprised or confused by what you feel or learn, embrace those insights with an open heart. Ask yourself, "What am I able to learn through this?" or "What is my heart telling me?"
- You might feel guilty, discouraged, or angry, if the changes you hope to see in yourself or others are not happening fast enough. Respect yourself and others. Remember we are all learning and growing together, each in our own way.
- Most importantly, remember that this is soul work. Therefore, it can be challenging and heart-breaking, but also inspiring and meaningful. We ask that you remain open to the process and know your community supports you.
Together we can educate, embrace and empower a culture where racism is openly discussed and thoughtfully changed.
