upcoming classes and events
Faith & Facts | Sunday and Wednesdays, starting Sept. 10 - Nov. 26 | 12:30 - 2p (Sun.), 6:30 - 8p (Wed.)
Starting in the Fall of 2023, Manchester UMC will offer a series of classes that will have curriculum centered around Church & Society’s Faith & Facts. Led by Trish Gunby, John Heskett and Moe Parisien.
Finding Sanctuary in the Midst of Alzheimer's | Sept. 11 - Oct. 7
A five-week class designed to offer encouragement to those caring for a loved one with dementia and equip our congregation with ideas and tools to better support caregivers.
Road back to you | Thursdays, Sept. 14 - Oct. 19
An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery A interactive six-week series that introduces the Enneagram, explores each type, introduces mindfulness practices, and encourages self-reflection. Includes breakout discussion. Goal is to understand ourselves better and to have compassion for others who see the world differently than we do.
Lunch & Learn: Gun Sense | Tues, Oct. 2 | Noon - 12:45p
Join us on October 3rd at noon to talk about gun violence prevention with Representative Barbara Phifer. .
Bring your lunch and spend forty-five minutes in community as we learn about Phifer’s legislative and advocacy work.
Walk Justly 2023 (Re) Inhabit | October 20-21, 2023
The (re)inhabit conference is for those leaning into our calling to tend the wellbeing of the earth, our communities, and our own very flesh…and for those wondering how the church can best take on this task.
Lunch & Learns
On the first Tuesday of the month, the Social Justice Ministry will host monthly Lunch & Learns in Fellowship Hall (and via Facebook Live). These events will be from noon to 12:45 pm and will cover topics related to root causes of injustice.
Bring your lunch and surround yourself with community as we learn about important social justice issues impacting our community
Our Lunch and Learns for the 2022-2023 season have concluded. Please join us on Tuesday, October 3, 2023 for our next season of learning.
lgbtq+ Inclusion and the umc
As part of a “Live in Love” sermon series, Pastor Andy Bryan delivered a compelling sermon laying out interpretations of the “clobber verses.” These are verses in the Bible that have been used to harm or “clobber” members of the LGBTQ+ community. The interpretations are rooted in Biblical scholarship, linguistic analysis, historical context, and other ancient sources.
Pastor Andy asked, “Knowing there is an interpretation of these verses that does harm to your neighbor, and knowing now that there is another interpretation of these verses that doesn’t do harm to your neighbor, why do you believe what you believe?”
Why do we believe what we believe? It is a provocative and necessary question. After Pastor Andy’s sermon people wanted to know more and to better understand the different interpretations. Using a resource created by Nick Mundwiller, and Pastor Andy’s sermon, Ali Fields drafted a summary of the interpretations. Click here to read the summary.
The UMC and Homosexuality –
Homosexuality in the Bible
The Future of the UMC
Eating disorder and disordered eating resources
Information and resources related to eating disorders and disordered eating
The Missouri Eating Disorders Association
Educational information as well as local treatment resources
Radical Self-Love for Everybody and Every Body
Social justice centered eating disorder and disordered eating recovery resources
Road to Recovered
One woman’s experience of letting go of a long-term eating disorder by healing from the inside out
Committed to Size Diversity in Health and HAES
Association for size diversity and health
Books
- Reclaiming Body Trust: A Path to Healing & Liberation by Hilary Kinavey and Dana Sturtevant (releasing in August 2022)
- The Body is Not an Apology by Sonja Renee Taylor
- 8 Keys to Recovery From an Eating Disorder by Carolyn Costin and Gwen Schubert Grabb
- Hunger by Roxane Gay
- Intuitive Eating, 4th Edition: A Revolutionary Anti-Diet Approach by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch
- How to Raise an Intuitive Eater: Raising the Next Generation with Food and Body Confidence by Sumner Brooks and Amee Severson
- Decolonizing Wellness by Dalia Kinsey
- Belly of the Beast: The Politics of Anti-Fatness as Anti-Blackness by Da’Shaun L. Harrison
If questions or to learn how to get involved, please email the Director of Social Justice, Ali Fields.
