Upcoming Classes:

Spring 2022

Dates: January 9, 16 & 23 

Title: The Childhood of the Christ: An Epiphany journey with the music of Hector Berlioz

Description: In this 3-part series, we will go on a great Epiphany journey with Jesus, Mary, and Joseph through the music and words of Hector Berlioz. His concert work: L’ennfence du christ,” (The Childhood of the Christ) explores the Holy Family’s flight to Egypt to avoid Herod’s persecution. Berlioz also interpolates several colorful characters into the narrative who do not appear in Scripture. This work also contains a moving example of interfaith goodwill lacking in much traditional Christian thought. Berlioz uses everthing from operatic music to angelic choruses to evocations of French folk song. Come join us for this glorious musical Epiphany adventure. 

Facilitator: Facilitator John Prescott holds a PH.D. in musicology from U.C. Berkeley. He is also a spiritual director, having completed training at the Spiritual Direction Institute at the Mercy Center Burlingame. John is an Episcopalian and a Third Order Franciscan. He has led retreats on music and spirituality since 2002.

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Dates: February 13 & 20

Title: Preparing for Death 

Description: Although these Perspectives classes are unusual for the “spiritual” nature of Perspectives classes, generally, they are being offered as a response to concerns of the congregation raised during the COVID-19 pandemic and the many recent health issues and deaths of congregants and their family and friends. We hope they will inspire everyone to get their affairs in order to the extent possible to prepare and protect one’s loved ones.

February 13: What Happens to Your Estate When You Die (and what the Probate Court does in
California)
Helen Yune Trowbridge will describe what California law dictates regarding one’s estate whether one has a will or not, why trusts are not always successful “Probate avoidance” tools, and how one could become the subject of a
court-supervised protective proceeding during life.

Facilitator: Helen Yune Trowbridge, besides being Clerk of our Leadership Council and a Ruling Elder, has been aProbate Examiner in San Francisco for over 18 years.

February 20: How to Avoid Probate (why you need an estate plan whether you think you have an
“estate” or not)
Mary Jane Gordon  will describe the various kinds of estate plans, their pros and cons, and other pertinent documents everyone should have in place for possible incapacity.

Facilitator: Mary Jane Gordon, besides being a Co-Moderator of the San Francisco Presbytery, is a retired Estate Planning and Probate attorney, who had a successful private practice for over 25 years.

Recent Offerings:

 Fall 2021

Dates: December 12 & 19

Topic: Do You See What I See? Perspectives on Shame and Silencing in our Anti-racism Work

Description: This class will examine the impact of internalized shame (for everyone); how shame stops our conversations on race, how we might confront our feelings introspectively; and how silencing works in shame avoidance. We will also discuss the relationship between self-awareness (identifying the shame within us) and resilience (healing and moving on).

Facilitator: Ruth T. West is an ordained PC(USA) Minister of the Word & Sacrament. In addition to a Masters of Divinity (MDiv), Ruth holds an MBA, Diploma in the Art of Spiritual Direction and a Certificate in Trauma & Spiritual Care. She is currently Associate Director of Advanced Pastoral Studies at San Francisco Theological Seminary (University of Redlands) and is herself at the dissertation stage of her doctoral education. Ruth is also a contributing author for the spiritual direction textbook, Kaleidoscope: Broadening the Palette in the Art of Spiritual Direction (chapter 2).  A recent excerpt from this chapter was included in Richard Rohr’s Daily Meditation (June 23, 2021), and can be accessed here or go to cac.org.

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Dates: November 7, 14 & 21

Topic: Seeing Differently – the Good News of Creation

Description: During our three sessions I will draw from a recently published book: “Seeing Differently – Franciscans and Creation,” authored by three Anglican Franciscans.   While drawing from the entire book, I will focus on Part Three: “Franciscans and Creation Today.”   How can we keep drawing from the Gospel message to find Good News to sustain hope and motivate good actions in our present world situation?   

The authors invite us to live four spiritual practices of seeing differently:  

• Attending
• Inhabiting
• Valuing
• Gazing

Attending helps us pay attention to when and where we are.   “[Saint Francis’] delight in what he observed led him to see in the natural world around him, both animate and inanimate, the “footprint” of the Creator, the maker’s mark, a sign of God’s mercy, generosity, love and glory.”

Inhabiting “requires an emotional and moral commitment to the specific, immediate place where we live …  Such indwelling can open to us the recognition that the place, wherever we are, is sacred.”

Valuing is “recognizing the inherent dignity and value of all God’s creation and not merely what we humans determine is useful to us.”

Gazing isds seeing differently as we go about the world.   “What do we see differently now?  What needs to change?  What prophetic challenge is God calling us to proclaim?”

Facilitator: The Rev. Fr. Dale Trunk was a Capuchin Franciscan Friar for 25 years.  After ordination, the Order sent him to Rome for graduate study in Franciscan Spirituality.  Returning to California, he served as seminary director, hospital chaplain, and associate pastor.  In 1998, after cycles of burn-out, he “retired” from the Order and the priesthood.  Currently, Dale ministers as a Flight Attendant, spiritual director, and gardener.

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Dates: October 3, 10, & 17

Title: Facing Upheaval and Uncertainty: Biblical Stories + Our Stories

Description: Since March 2020 (and perhaps before), life has looked very different than anything we had known before. How have we reacted? What have we learned about ourselves, others, and the role of faith in our lives? How do biblical stories speak to and shed light on our stories from this time?

Sunday, 3 October: Murmuring and complaining – Wandering in exile with the Israelites

Sunday, 10 October: Faithful yet questioning – Facing great loss with Job

Sunday, 17 October: Seeing and making the most of the opportunity this time presents – Singing in prison with Paul

Facilitator: The Rev. Dr. Leslie Veen is the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs for Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, an ordained pastor in the PC(USA), and a Parish Associate here at Seventh Avenue Presbyterian Church. Leslie has a deep desire to help people discern and follow God’s calling for their lives and to deepen their connection with the Divine as they do so. She has been a resident of San Francisco for over 25 years and loves finding new ways to appreciate the beauty and creativity of the area every day.

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Dates: September 12 & 19

Title: Seventh Avenue, A Glimpse at Its History

Description: Founded in 1903 as the first Protestant church in the Sunset, Seventh Avenue’s beginnings and history are fascinating to explore. Its start in the Haight, move to the Inner Sunset, its growth and struggles, its movement into the new millennium with a new vitality, and the development of a new Design for Ministry gave us a sense of what Church could be.

We can answer questions such as: What do the windows mean? Where are there traces of the first church building? Who were the founders mentioned on the marble plaque in the sanctuary? Where does the name for Cumberland Hall come from?  Let’s explore the church building, early documents and photos. As we pull back the pages of our unique history, we will see how, as a congregation “we listen for God’s word for us today, model the radically inclusive welcome of God, tend the Holy in ourselves, one another and creation… always striving to be the Christ in the world.” Join in, it will be fun!

Facilitator: Gail De Bellis has been a member of Seventh Avenue since 1972. She has served on Session and Council many times, written numerous Mission Studies, taught and coordinated Church School and child care over countless years, and currently serves on the Building and Personnel Groups. With an abiding interest in Seventh Avenue history, she and Ruth McCreight presented an historical perspective for the 100th Anniversary. Gail looks forward to revealing Seventh Avenue’s fascinating history in our 118th year.

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