Sunday, August 3rd from 11:00 AM 'til Noon
University of Missouri Extension Center
260 Brown Road in Saint Peters.   (roadmap)

Sunday Lecture Series

"Eckhart Tolle and The Power of Now"

Eckhart Tolle’s visionary books have captured a large following.  First came The Power of Now, and currently on the bestseller lists is A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose.  His message is a kind of religion, a kind of psychology, and a kind of self-help set of meditative reflections.  How much wisdom is in it?

Bob Greenwell, student of philosophy, psychology, counseling, and religion, and Leader of the Ethical Society, will present his explanation of Tolle’s message and an analysis of where it fits into a common-sense and open-minded worldview.

The general public is invited.
Questions?  Comments?  Contact Mr. Bob Greenwell by email.

Wednesday, 30 July from 7 PM to 9 PM
Host:  Craig

Living Ethics Discussion

the topic is:
    "Politicking and Ethics"

Some people might suppose that to stay ethical a person needs to stay out of politics.  In politics you'll need to make deals with the devil.  How true is this?  Can we automatically distrust politicians?

As a case study, we'll watch a half-hour interview of the author of an article in the New Yorker that looked closely at the years in which Obama became political.  His name is Ryan Lizza.  His article, July 21, is titled "Making It: How Chicago Shaped Obama".  The interview was aired on Democracy Now on LinkTV today, July 28.

Come prepared to talk about your experiences, politicians who have inspired you, politicians who have disillusioned you, and overall your thoughts about ethics and politics.

Invitation open to members of the Society and their guests.
If you wish, you may RSVP Mr. Bob Greenwell by email.

Sunday, 27 July from noontime 'til about 1:00 PM
University of Missouri Extension Center
260 Brown Road in Saint Peters.   (roadmap)

Pot Luck Dinner

It's Pot Luck Sunday!

After the lecture, please stay and join us for lunch.  First-time visitors are invited to attend and bring no food item for the table.  Others: bring a dish, any dish, from soup to salad to sandwich to entree to side dish to dessert.  Bring an item that doesn't require your attention from 11 to noon, since any sound in the kitchen is magnified into the room where our 11:00 a.m. program is in progress.  The oven is available to keep things warm, and a large 'fridge to keep things cool, and there are lots of outlets for crockpots, etc.; and the microwave is available right after the Lecture ends.  Even if you don't bring a dish or beverage, at least bring your appetite!  See you then!

The general public is invited.

Wednesday, 23 July from 7 PM to 9 PM
Host:  Mary

Living Ethics Discussion

the topic is:
    "Mindfullness"

Following up on Sunday's stimulating talk by Randal Blain, let's talk about mindfulness.  More than that, let's do the brief mindfulness exercise we did with him during the lecture, and then talk about our direct experience.

How relaxing is it?  How expanding?  How refreshing?  What would be the place of such a practice in an ethical life?  Do you have some kind of personal practice that relaxes you or re-balances you or elevates you?

Invitation open to members of the Society and their guests.
If you wish, you may RSVP Mr. Bob Greenwell by email.

Saturday, 19 July starting at 4 PM
Convene at 260 Brown Road in Saint Peters for carpool at 4 PM,
arrive at Ronald McDonald House about 5 PM to begin cooking,
serve din-din at 6 PM, & depart at 7:30 PM
4381 West Pine Blvd, STL, MO, 63108

Ronald McDonald House

  "Nothin' Beats Home-Cookin'!"
      ...especially when family must be with hospitalized loved-ones.

Heads UP!!! One or two more volunteers are still needed!
Contact Kathy R. to volunteer and/or if you have questions.

Mark your calendar for these Saturdays:
19 Jul, 16 Aug, 20 Sep, & 18 Oct.

For more information about the Ronald McDonald House Charity, click here.

Wednesday, 16 July from 7 PM to 9 PM
Hosts:  Liz & Chris

Living Ethics Discussion

the topic is:
    "What Is A Hero? What Is a Heroic Act?"

Do we overemphasize/underemphasize heroism in our culture? 

Does heroism reveal virtuous character, or a set of circumstances, or both?

Can heroism be developed as a quality?  Should it be?

What would a person be like who was always trying to act like a hero? Fun to be around?  Annoying to be around?  Annoying to be around but good for us?

This topic was stimulated by an email received by Bill Aul from John McCain.  Our discussion tonight is not about McCain directly, but his example can serve as a good jumping-off point.

Invitation open to members of the Society and their guests.
If you wish, you may RSVP Mr. Bob Greenwell by email.

Tuesday, 15 July from 7 PM to about 9 PM
Non-Profit Development Center
Spencer Road at Boone Hills Drive
(building is adjacent to, and just East of, Spencer Road library)
Saint Peters

PFLAG

A support group for anyone who has a gay family member or friend
and would like to meet others in the same situation.

Please plan to attend!

Regularly meets the third Tuesday of every month.
The general public is invited
Phone (636) 928-5639 and/or email StCharlesPFLAG@aol.com

Sunday, 13 July from 12:15 PM to ??
University of Missouri Extension Center
260 Brown Road in Saint Peters.   (roadmap)

          Society Council

Please submit reports and
additions to the agenda well in advance.

Council Members, please notify if you will not be attending.

For members of the Society Council.
Other ESMR members may attend as observers.

Sunday, 13 July from 11:00 AM 'til Noon
University of Missouri Extension Center
260 Brown Road in Saint Peters.   (roadmap)

Sunday Lecture Series

"Peace Lessons from Disaster of Northern Ireland"

Terrorism, prisons, sabotage, spying, guerrilla warfare, religious hatreds—not in the Middle East but in northern Ireland.  It was a disaster.

Matt Morrison was in the thick of the action, on the side of the Irish Republicans versus the Irish Loyalists and the British.  Ten years ago, 1998, the "Belfast Agreement" aka "Good Friday Agreement" put an end to the overt conflict, yet the people of Northern Ireland now live in a no man’s land, under a government neither wholly their own nor wholly England’s, and there is still much to do to resolve the old enmities.

Now a St. Louis resident, Matt Morrison works for peace and unity.  He is the national Chair of the Political Action Committee of the Irish American Unity Conference.

The general public is invited.
Questions?  Comments?  Contact Mr. Bob Greenwell by email.

Sunday, 13 July from 10:00 AM 'til 10:30 AM
University of Missouri Extension Center
260 Brown Road in Saint Peters.   (roadmap)

Delicious Pancake & Sausage Breakfast

"A Fun-Raiser Extraordinaire"

This Sunday we will be having another yummy all-you-can-eat pancake & sausage breakfast.  Volunteers who are helping to cook need to be at the Brown Road building at 9:00.  We will serve at 10:00 and stop serving at 10:30 so we can get ready for the meeting at 11:00.

$5 for adults, $1 for kids under 12.

Thanks so much for supporting our last breakfast, and we look forward to seeing you at this one!

The general public is invited.

Friday, 11 July from 7 PM to ?? PM
Hosts:  Ginger, Kevin, & Lenora

KnitWits

Par-Tay !!!

As always, lively conversation obliterates the sound of clicking knitting needles!

And nearby, there's a boisterous game or two, stimulating and challenging your brain-stuff.

Bring appetizer or snack or dessert, and something to drink, and maybe a game to play, and enjoy a warm & festive Summertime evening with Society friends.

Invitation open to members of the Society and their guests.
If you wish, you may RSVP Mr. Bob Greenwell by email.

Wednesday, 09 July from 7 PM to 9 PM
Hosts:  Jill & Bill

Living Ethics Discussion

the topic is:
    to be announced...

 

Invitation open to members of the Society and their guests.
If you wish, you may RSVP Mr. Bob Greenwell by email.

Sunday, 06 July from 11:00 AM 'til Noon
University of Missouri Extension Center
260 Brown Road in Saint Peters.   (roadmap)

Sunday Lecture Series

"Celebration of Independence and Belonging"

No lecture(s) this holiday Sunday morning.  Instead we will celebrate with a variety of readings, poetry, and music to usher us into a deeper meaning of independence and patriotism.

Join us for an uplifting time with friends.

If other activities require your presence elsewhere (it's a holiday weekend afterall), may you be uplifted there as well!

The general public is invited.
Questions?  Comments?  Contact Mr. Bob Greenwell by email.

Wednesday, 02 July from 7 PM to 9 PM
Host:  Hannah

Living Ethics Discussion

the topic is:
"Is the death penalty an ethical punishment for rape of a child?"

The Supreme Court decided death is unconstitutional as a punishment for the rape of a child, but the court was sharply divided.  Here's a link to the New York Times article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/26/washington/26scotuscnd.html

How do we even compare the evil of one crime to another?  Rape compared to murder, murder compared to torture, torture compared to genocide?  How do we choose on what basis to compare?  Is punishment a necessary thing in general?  Is it a good thing?  How do we find a punishment that is proportional to a crime?  Does it have to be as bad as the crime, or does it have to be as good as the crime is bad?

How big a part of morality is punishment?

Invitation open to members of the Society and their guests.
If you wish, you may RSVP Mr. Bob Greenwell by email.