11/14-19

Monday, 11/14, 8 pm: Information Night, Wilder 101, 135 W. Lorain St. Learn about the plight of poverty in our area, along with our special guest who will discuss his personal experience with homelessness.

Wednesday, 11/16, 8 pm: A Pursuit of Happiness, King 106,  135 W. Lorain St. See this dramatic film based on Chris Gardner's nearly one-year struggle with homelessness. Free to the public. PG-13. Popcorn sales to benefit Family Promise (which supports homeless families in Lorain County to help them get back on their feet).

Thursday, 11/17, 5-7 pm: Simply Soup, First United Methodist Church of Oberlin, 45 S. Professor St. (next to the Conservatory). Join us as we become aware of what it is like for those who have little. This simply soup dinner will benefit the work of Family Promise and its Interfaith Hospitality Network. Free-will donations will be accepted at the door. All are welcome!

Friday, 11/18, 4-7 pm: Interfaith Hospitality Network Training, Wilder 101, 135 W. Lorain St. To work with clients, volunteers must go through a training and have a criminal background check. Several local churches house homeless families for a week at a time during the year, and there are needs for volunteers to help with the children, sit with clients during dinner, and/or spend the night while people sleep. More trained volunteers are always helpful. 

The events of the week are co-sponsored by Family Promise of Lorain County and OhioPIRG.  

Thursday, 11/17, 6:30 pm, West Lecture Hall

Professors Amir Mahallati and Jim and Tracy Swan-Tuite will be holding a panel on forgiveness in Christianity and Islam, including discussions of doing comparative work in the study of religion, an overview of forgiveness in both traditions, and some concrete points for dialogue. For more information please contact Prof. Tracy Swan Tuite.

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

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.

11/19 Aramaic Words of Jesus

12/3 The Divine Feminine/Earth-Based Spiritualities

12/10 Synthesis, Integration and 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.

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.

Sunday, December 11, 7-9 pm, Warner Concert Hall

Featuring vocal soloists and string players from the Oberlin Conservatory. Admission is free; donations will be accepted to benefit Lorian County Interfaith Hospitality Network. 

For more information please contact Prof. Peter Slowik.

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.

I'm excited to offer your students a chance to fight domestic poverty next year by joining AVODAH: The Jewish Service Corps.

 Our next conference call for interested students is this Wednesday, November 16th at 9pm EST. Can you send information about the call to those who might want to apply to AVODAH? We're looking for applicants who are:

• Between the ages of 21-26

• Passionate about exploring social justice and Judaism

• Looking to make change in the world around them 

From Jules Wellinghoff:  There is a possible Tai Chi and Chi Gung intensive course being offered on campus over winter term. At the moment there isn't enough interest for the class to run but if you're interested in participating, you'll need to turn in the $50 fee by this coming Friday to Deborah Vogel directly at Warner 106 or to her mailbox as well as notify Eli Gerstenlauer about your interest in participating.

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.

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.

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.

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: bbanerjee@dalailamafellows.org.

Oberlin Application Link:

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