Oberlin College
Office of Religious & Spiritual Life news
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A weekly update of opportunities related to spirituality, ethics, culture & social justiceNovember 7, 2011
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Today: Islamic & Iranian Studies Scholar Roy Mottahedeh

 

Roy Mottahedeh, Professor of Islamic History and Director of the Islamic Studies Program at Harvard University, and author of "The Mantle of the Prophet: Religion and Politics in Iran", will speak on "Friendship in Islamic Ethical Thought" on Monday 11/7 at 4:30 pm in West Lecture Hall. He will also deliver a visual presentation on "Felines in Islamic Art and Culture" on Tuesday 11/8 at 1 pm in King 106. Sponsored by the Mead-Swing Lectureship Committee and the Muslim Students Association. For more information please contact Professor Jafar Mahallati.

A Death Row Journey

 

Wednesday, 11/9, 7 pm, First Church in Oberlin (UCC)

Father Neil  Kookoother and Joe D'Ambrosio will speak about Joe's journey on Death Row, and Father Neil's intervention and assistance in securing not only his freedom but also having his record expunged and his innocence proven. They have an exciting story to tell.  
Sponsored by the First Church in Oberlin (UCC) Outreach Committee. Everyone is invited to First Church's Wednesday night supper at 5:45 pm and then to stay for the talk. For more information please contact Rev. John Elder.

Veterans Day Service of Remembrance & Respect

 

Thursday, 11/10, 7 pm, First United Methodist Church

To honor those serving in the armed services and veterans. Refreshments and fellowship following. All are welcome. Sponsored by First United Methodist Church and Veterans for Peace. For more information please contact Rev. Jim Ellison.

Peace Potluck: Bahrain: An Overview

 

Friday, 11/11, Potluck Dinner 5:30 pm, Program 6:45 pm, Peace Community Church (44 E Lorain St.)

All are welcome. Sponsored by Peace Community Church. For more information please contact Rev. Mary Hamond.

Baha'i Celebration of the Birth of Baha'u'llah

 

Saturday, 11/12, 11:15 am, The Sco

With festive guitar and vocal music; All are welcome

Sponsored by the Oberlin Baha'i Club and ORSL.

For more information please contact Amanda Schmidt.

Sacred Dance Classes

 

Saturdays, 1:30-3:30 pm, Asia House Multipurpose Room (Basement)

Experience the gifts of different cultures and spiritual traditions. Explore the integration of mind, body, and spirit. Grow in wholeness and celebrate being fully alive. Sacred Dance: Pathway to Wellbeing is designed to open you to this experience. remaining session topics are listed below. All are invited. All are welcome. For more information please contact Jessie Ferriols.

 

11/12 Hinduism

11/19 Aramaic Words of Jesus

12/3 The Divine Feminine/Earth-Based Spiritualities

12/10 Synthesis, Integration and Celebration

Religion and Arts Field Trip

 

Saturday, 11/19, 10 am-4:30 pm, Departs from the Multifaith Center (68 S Professor Street)

Cleveland Museum of Art and the Matlz Museum of Jewish Heritage

Transportation and admission is covered by ORSL; please bring money for lunch at CMA

Space is limited; please register with Rev. Greg McGonigle by 11/14

Sponsored by the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life and the Newman Catholic Campus Ministry

Multifaith Thanksgiving Celebration

 

Sunday, 11/20, 7:30 pm, Linda Gates Lounge, Kahn Residence Hall

Sponsored by the Religious Pluralism and Interfaith Engagement ExCo, Oberlin Area Cooperating Ministries, and ORSL.

For more information please contact Allison Lundblad or Rachel Davidson.

Meaningful Holidays Workshop

 

Tuesday, 11/29, 7:30-8:30 pm, Multifaith Center

Spiritual teacher Mary Grigolia will lead a workshop on making whatever winter holidays you celebrate more meaningful by interacting with Cal Jung's 12 stages of individuation, one stage per day, from the winter solstice December 21 through New Year's Day. For all spiritual paths.

Sponsored by the Oberlin Unitarian Universalist Fellowship and ORSL.

For more information please contact Rev. Mary Grigolia.

An Alternative Vision for Public Education

 

Wednesdays, November 30 and December 7, 6:45-7:45 pm, First Church JFO Room 

Come early and join us for supper at 5:45 pm ($3 for adults, students eat free)

A two-session adult education study exploring serious concerns raised in the Pastoral Letter by the National Council of Churches Governing Board about today's federal public education policy. Each session will include viewing short video conversations by Dr. John Jackson and Dr. Diane Ravitch followed by discussion. Co-sponsored by Oberlin Young Educators. For more information please contact Rev. David Hill.

Campus-Community Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration

 

Sunday, January 15, 5-6 pm, Finney Chapel

Planning meeting being held December 1, 4:30-5:30 pm. To get involved please contact Sandra Hodge.

Do Your Winter Term with ORSL!

 

How do you want to spend your winter term? Would you like to spend time on retreat in a Christian or Buddhist monastery, travel to sacred sites around the world, intern with a religious leader or a faith-based social justice organization, or just take time to read and explore your own spiritual and ethical beliefs? Each year the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life sponsors a number of students undertaking winter term projects in these and other relevant areas. We invite you to consider doing you winter term with us. Please visit our Winter Term website and for more information please contact Rev. Greg McGonigle.

Winter Term Opportunity: Interfaith Appalachia

 

In a tight cohort of 3-5 students, participants will study and discuss theories of interreligious engagement and pluralism while collaborating on an intensive group project: developing the curriculum, media and publications, and professional network for Interfaith Appalachia, a new interfaith education and service program that seeks to build interreligious relationships through learning and service in Appalachia. Working with the directors of the Bonner Center for Service and Learning (Beth Blissman), the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life (Greg McGonigle), and Interfaith Appalachia (David Fisher), participants will engage in three modules, including seminar study in Oberlin, an interfaith networking trip to New York City, and time working on individual portfolios. Participants will have the opportunity to help launch Interfaith Appalachia, a new interfaith service learning project with great potential for transforming religious, cultural, political, socioeconomic, and environmental relations, while also deepening their understandings of interfaith leadership and meeting key leaders in the world of interfaith engagement. For more information please contact David Fisher.

Winter Term Trip to Study Buddhism in Thailand

 

In conjunction with students and faculty from Amherst College, six Oberlin students will travel throughout Thailand on a Buddhist-oriented trip from January 4-20. The trip aims to immerse American Buddhist scholars and/or practitioners in a society built largely around Buddhism. We will visit important Buddhist sites, attend a three-day silent retreat, spend five days at a monastery, and engage in various service projects. Through the process of fundraising, preparation, and travel the Oberlin students will develop a strong, cooperative micro-community through their shared commitment to spiritual exploration. No level of experience is required. The trip will cost approximately $3536 per student including airfare. For more information please contact Max Zahn.

Dalai Lama Fellowship Opportunities

 

Be The Change You Wish To See - Become a Dalai Lama Fellow (apply by 11/15/11)

 

Do you have a new idea about how to approach an emerging or persistent challenge in your community? Do you thrive on audacious opportunities? Do you want to join a community of outstanding changemakers deeply engaged with the universal values that define the life and work of the Dalai Lama? If so, apply to become a 2012 - 2013 Dalai Lama Fellow.

 

Dalai Lama Fellows has the unprecedented authorization of the 14th Dalai Lama to award highly-selective year-long fellowships in his name and a project grant of up to $10,000 to exceptional undergraduate and graduate students who want to design and launch ambitious "compassion-in-action" projects in one or more of four areas:

 

a) advancing intercultural and inter-religious cooperation;

b) diminishing violence;

c) mitigating the impact of wealth inequities; and,

d) protecting the environment.

 

As a Dalai Lama Fellow, you will: Take the lead in designing and launching a project about which you are passionate; Directly impact a significant challenge in your community; Shape your project through ongoing personalized support from Dalai Lama Fellows Program Directors, as well as seasoned professionals from the private and citizen sectors; Take part in a year-long curriculum on reflective and values-based leadership and service; Travel to Northern California for an intensive, week-long meeting at the beginning and end of your fellowship to engage with other Fellows, reflect on your work, enhance your skills and perspectives, and broaden your networks.

 

To find out if you qualify, what we look for, and how to apply, click on the link below. You can send additional questions to: [email protected].

 

Oberlin Application Link:

https://fs4.formsite.com/dalailamafellowsorg/form13/secure_index.html

Weekly Gatherings
  • Christ Episcopal Church Student Lunch: Mondays, Noon, The Rectory (158 Elm Street)
  • Hillel Meeting: Tuesdays, 12:15 pm, Wilder 216
  • Queers and Allies of Faith: Tuesdays, 8 pm, Multifaith Center 
  • A Cappella Chapel Service (led by CREDO): Wednesdays, 12:10 pm, Fairchild Chapel
  • First Church in Oberlin (UCC) Wednesdays: Free Student Dinner 5:45 pm, and Adult Education 6:45 pm, First Church
  • Taize Service (led by Ecumenical Christians of Oberlin): Wednesdays, 7 pm, Fairchild Chapel
  • Oberlin Buddhist Fellowship Meetings: Thursdays, 7 pm, Wilder 215
  • Liberated Unitarian Universalist Voices: Thursdays, 8 pm, Multifaith Center
  • ECO Lunch: Fridays, Noon, Wilder DeCafe
  • Muslim Students Association Jumah Prayer: Fridays, 12:45 pm, Wilder 222
  • Campus Shabbat: Fridays, Services 5:30 pm, Dinner 7 pm, Kosher-Halal Co-op (Talcott Hall)
  • Chabad Shabbat: Fridays, Services 6:30 pm, Dinner 7 pm, 111 N. Pleasant
  • Oberlin Orthodox Christian Fellowship Morning Prayer and Divine Liturgy: Sundays, Leaving at 8:20 am, Please contact the OOCF Advisor
  • Oberlin Buddhist Fellowship Meditation: Sundays, 11 am, Warner Dance Studio
  • Oberlin Friends Meeting: Sundays, 11 am, Multifaith Center
  • Voices for Christ: Sundays, 3:30 pm, Bibbins 334
  • Newman Mass: Sundays, 5 pm, Fairchild Chapel
  • ECO Dinner and Discussion: Sundays, 6 pm, Multifaith Center
  • Oberlin Bhakti Yoga Society Kirtan: Sundays, 7 pm, Fairchild Chapel
  • Oberlin Meditators: Sundays-Thursdays, 8 pm, Wilder 325
  • Oberlin Baha'i Club Dinner and Devotions: Third Fridays, 6:30 pm, Please contact OBC Advisor
  • Oberlin Christian Fellowship (InterVarsity) Small and Large Groups: Please see the OCF website
 
Meditation of the Week

 

Sometimes a prayer to center you helps. --Anonymous
Rev. Greg McGonigle

Contact Us

Rev. Greg McGonigle
Director | Office of Religious & Spiritual Life
(440) 935-4629

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