MATURE MINISTRIES
Lunch & Learn
The Lunch and Learn program offers an engaging opportunity for participants to enjoy a meal while gaining valuable knowledge on a variety of topics. Each session features expert speakers who share insights and practical tips, fostering discussion and community learning. It’s a perfect chance to connect with others while expanding your understanding in a relaxed setting.
What in the Wordle?
Thursday, December 5
12:00pm | Social Hall
Speaker: Tracey Bennett, New York Times puzzle editor
Explore Tracy Bennett's fascinating journey to becoming a full-time puzzle professional and her role on The New York Times games team, where she edits the daily crossword, Wordle, and Strands. Discover what it's like to work behind the scenes of some of the world's most popular puzzles!
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ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Tracy Bennett is a puzzle editor for the New York Times and a co-founding editor for Inkubator, a publisher of puzzles by women and nonbinary creators. Before changing careers in 2020, Tracy spent decades as a managing copy editor at Mathematical Reviews/MathSciNet in Ann Arbor. Tracy now edits the popular games Wordle and Strands.
VIRTUAL GATHERING
In Search of Anne: A Virtual Visit to Green Gables Heritage Place
Thursday, January 9
12:00pm | ZOOM
Speaker: Sarah Conrad Gothie
Join us for a virtual tour of Green Gables Heritage Place, a National Historic Site that interprets the early life and literary contributions of one of Canada’s most beloved authors, Lucy Maud Montgomery. Discover why thousands of fans are drawn to Canada’s smallest province every year in search of the iconic red-haired heroine of Montgomery’s acclaimed first novel, Anne of Green Gables (1908).
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ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Sarah Conrad Gothie holds a PhD in American Culture, with a Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies, from the University of Michigan. She is currently writing a book about literary pilgrimages inspired by Lucy Maud Montgomery, Canadian author of Anne of Green Gables (1908). She teaches academic and creative writing at Moore College of Art & Design in Philadelphia, PA.
The Parisian Art of the Belle Époque Tour
VIRTUAL GATHERING
Thursday, February 6
12:00pm | ZOOM
Speaker: Julie Averbach
Immerse yourself in the arts and culture of Paris during the “Golden Age” of the Belle Époque (1870-1914). Tour key landmarks of the period, from the Eiffel Tower to the Moulin Rouge, and explore the birth of artistic movements including Impressionism and Art Nouveau.
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ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Julie Averbach holds a B.A. in History of Art and Psychology from Yale University. She is the Founder and CEO of smARTee, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that fosters arts access, enrichment, and positive well-being. To date, Julie has led art tours for 5,000+ people from 21 countries.
A Chaplain’s Experience of the Cross of Christ and Grace Among VA Combat Vets
Thursday, March 6
12:00pm | Social Hall
Speaker: Rev. Roland Schaedig
The Cross of Christ, symbolizing grace and presence in marginal spaces, shaped Rev. Schaedig's ministry. During 22 years at the Ann Arbor VA, he served combat veterans, often considered society's marginalized, seeing them as among the "least of Jesus’ brothers and sisters." In these encounters, he sought, celebrated, and offered grace, even when it felt fragile. Grateful for the opportunity, he reflects on serving both the veterans and his Lord through this meaningful work.
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ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Roland grew up in northeast Michigan along Lake Huron near Alpena. He received a B.A. in German Literature from the U of M and an M.Div. from Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa. He was ordained to the Lutheran ministry in 1969, served four years as a parish pastor, then did two years of Clinical Pastoral Education at Central Prison in Raleigh and at the Hartford Hospital.
As Certified in the Association of Professional Chaplains, he served as staff and adjunct chaplain at several Detroit Hospitals before coming to the Ann Arbor VA for twenty-two years.
Exploring the Art of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church
Thursday, April 3
12:00pm | Social Hall
Speaker: Ray Silverman
Ethiopia is one of the first nations to adopt Christianity in the early 4th century. Since that time, painted images of Biblical narratives, presented in icons, parchment manuscripts and mural paintings, have played a crucial role in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. This lecture offers a brief introduction to these distinctive visual practices and how this imagery continues to sustain the spiritual well-being of the faithful in Ethiopia and the Ethiopian diaspora.
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ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Raymond Silverman, a historian of the visual cultures of Africa, is professor emeritus of History of Art, African Studies and Museum Studies at University of Michigan. He is the founding Director of University of Michigan's Museum Studies Program. His research and writing explore historical and contemporary visual practices in Ethiopia and Ghana, and museum and heritage discourse in Africa. Silverman’s most recent publication, Ethiopian Church Art: Painters, Patrons, Purveyors (2022), focuses on the visual culture of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
Edifices of Faith
Thursday, May 1
12:00pm | Social Hall
Speaker: Mark Borst
It is estimated that over 100,000 U.S. mainline protestant churches will close by 2030. In his prescient book, Gone for Good?, Presbyterian minister Mark Elsdon states, “The days of ‘revitalizing’ churches are over.” What will happen to these cherished buildings? What is the significance of “place” for churches today? Join us for an exploration of “redemptive placemaking” – hope for churches in a post-Christian era.
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ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Mark spent much of his career as a workplace consultant in the corporate furniture industry, later transitioning to client experience strategy using design-thinking methodologies. A lifelong member of the Reformed/Presbyterian tradition, he has served in numerous leadership roles and led workshops for various denominations. Mark is passionate about the intersection of faith, architecture, and art, having lectured on contemporary church design and launched art initiatives. He resides in Savannah, Georgia, with his wife Marilyn and their two playful cats, Cleopatra and Ignatius.
Leap of Faith: How a Local
Non-Profit Prepares Disabled Teens and Adults for Lives of Purpose
Thursday, June 12
12:00pm | Social Hall
Speaker: Rachelle Vartanian
Since 2015, the Living and Learning Enrichment Center in Northville has played a unique role in transforming the lives of mentally and physically challenged individuals. Focusing specifically on teens and adults, they pick up where elementary school support ends. Through therapeutic, social, work-based, and community engagement, the Living and Learning Enrichment Center supports, enriches, inspires, and emboldens participants and their families so they can achieve their goals.
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ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Rachelle Vartanian brings over 20 years of experience as a special education teacher, specializing in supporting students with severe emotional challenges. She holds a Master of Education in Psychology, a Master’s in Autism Spectrum Disorder, and a Bachelor’s in Teaching. Inspired by her journey as a mother to an adult with autism, Rachelle is dedicated to creating inclusive spaces that empower individuals with diverse needs. Her leadership reflects a deep commitment to fostering understanding, acceptance, and meaningful opportunities for all.