Fall Days Coming | Greek Course Postponed

September 17, 2014

Dear Friends,

As the daylight lessens day by day now, and autumn is soon to officially begin, more and more people are here at Mercer School each day - as courses begin,  as yearlong programs for clergy in transition commence, as we ready for the opening of our School for Ministry preparing men and women for ordained ministry in the church for the world.  Fall is a time of fresh air, new beginnings, and excitement.  We are already at work on our Spring 2015 catalogue as well.  The days and the seasons fly by - and through them all we are under the watchful care of the One who calls us to being and calls us to love.

I want to let you know today that our course on Ancient and New Testament Greek, scheduled to open on September 30th, will not be taught this year.  This is due to a number of other responsibilities in the life of instructor Thomas Gimbel.  It is our sincere hope that another course featuring his talents will grace Mercer classrooms before long.

The following fall offerings are coming up:

Beginning September 25, 2014 | 7:00 – 8:30 pm
Course
Befriending Grief
Mercer School of Theology
Open to the public

Befriending Grief is an eight-week exploration through grief. We will explore grief at its core, how we deal with it, why we avoid it, and how it affects our health, our relationships, and our life decisions. We will look at loss in our own lives our society, and our church.  We will explore the place of religion and spirituality in the grieving process. 
Instructor: Joseph Diele
Joseph Diele has been a certified hospital chaplain since 1982. He has ministered in hospitals, nursing homes, and hospices. He has trained and supervised chaplains in Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan. At present he is the Bereavement Coordinator for Caring Hospice of New York.
The course will meet Thursday evenings beginning Thursday, September 25 and continue for eight (8) sessions.  Fee: $30.00.  Register online @ http://tinyurl.com/FriendGrief.  Registration closes on September 18.

On October 4, 2014 | 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Symposium
Ecumenical Sunday School Symposium
Mercer School of Theology
Open to Christian Educators

Presented by the Diocese of Long Island in cooperation with the Parish Resource Center

A day for all Christian Educators to gather for workshops, training, networking, and retooling for the upcoming year.  Topics will address the interests and concerns of today's Sunday School teachers, Christian Education Directors, and Youth Ministry volunteers.

Workshop topics include:
building programs that include people with developmental disabilities
spiritual renewal for Sunday School teachers
introduction to Godly Play
using web resources in Christian Education
teacher training 101 – where to begin
Reset 2014 – faith formation with today's youth

Fee: $25 per person includes continental breakfast and lunch.
Register online at www.CPR4Church.org, or contact either:
·      The Parish Resource Center by email at Consultantliw@prctr.org or by phone 516.285.0919, or
·      Myra Garnes Shuler at the Diocese of Long Island by email at mgarnesshuler@dioceseli.org or by phone 516.248.4800

You can access an up-to-date listing of Mercer fall theological/spirituality events today at:
tinyurl.com/MercerFall14

Blessings,
John McGinty+

Dean
Canon for Formation