The Holy Invitation of Growing Older
Sundays, April 27 - May 18 | 9:45 am | Parlor
Sunday Morning Class with Pastor Stacy Ikard concerning the joys and possibilities of growing older and mellowing our souls.
Week 1
Discover new ways to understand and embrace the journey of growing older in "The Holy Invitation of Growing Older." In this introductory session, Stacy will introduce you to different frameworks for viewing life's seasons and highlight the work of several insightful authors who focus specifically on the unique challenges and blessings of elderhood. Gain a deeper appreciation for this stage of life and the holy invitation it holds.
Week 2: The Deep Work of Forgiveness
In class # 2 of 'The Holy Invitation of Growing Older'; titled "The Deep Work of Forgiveness," pastor Stacy delves into the complexities of forgiveness, moving beyond simplistic notions to explore different degrees and types of forgiveness in various relationships, including forgiving those close, enemies, and even oneself. Including insights from authors like Tim Keller, C.S. Lewis, Henry Nouwen, and Ira Byock, Stacy unpacks the profound and often costly nature of true forgiveness. Through biblical examples like Joseph's reconciliation with his brothers and Peter's restoration by Jesus, it reveals forgiveness not just as an emotional release but as a transformative act rooted in God's own forgiveness, ultimately leading to healing, restored relationships, and a deeper connection to God's purpose.
Week 3
In week 3 of The Holy Invitation of Growing Older, "Blessing As Spiritual Maturity," Stacy explores the idea that the hallmark of profound spiritual maturity is the act of blessing others and the world, mirroring God's and Jesus's examples. She draws from the Fruits of the Spirit, the love chapter of Corinthians, and Jesus's teachings to illustrate this, defining blessing not merely as words but as the intentional projection of good into another's life, even when it seems unrequested. Through the insights of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Dallas Willard, and Bob Goff, alongside biblical examples from creation to Jesus's ministry, Stacy unpacks the characteristics of a blessing – seeing someone, speaking well of them, and giving of oneself – ultimately challenging us to embrace this "bighearted maturity" as a core expression of our faith.
Week 4
In this final installment of The Holy Invitation of Growing Older, Stacy welcomes as co-speaker Janis Claflin from the Contemplative Christianity class to add her perspective to this week's class: "Growing Through Loss". Covered are the various types of loss one can experience in life; how loss can facilitate spiritual growth; Elizabeth Kubler-Ross' Five Stages of Grief; and finally, wisdom (and even poetry) from the author Parker J. Palmer's book "On the Brink of Everything: Grace, Gravity and Getting Old". Join us for a very enlightening class.
