Membership runs from 7/1/2024 through 6/30/2025 and must be current in order to register for a class.

This class will meet on Zoom on the second Wednesday of each month from September 11, 2024 to June 10, 2025. The instructor will lead discussions of books and authors. The books are from various genres and should all stimulate interesting discussion.

September 11        Small Mercies by Dennis LeHane

October 9              The Women by Kristen Hannah

November 13         My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok

December 11         Long Island by Colin Tobin

January 8              Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson

February 12           How to Read a Book by Monica Wood

March 12               Travels with George by Nathaniel Philbrick

April 9                   Heaven and Earth by James McBride

May 14                  Book to be determined

June 11                 Discussion about book selection for the next year

This class will be a survey of individuals who could not stand by but took action for their moral beliefs.  Americans, Brits, Poles, Belgians, Dutch, Italian, etc.  The instructor will look at the many ways people found to thwart and fight the Nazis and fascist ideology.

Watercolor for Beginners is an introduction to watercolor materials and techniques designed for beginners.  No prior art experience is required.  A detailed list of required materials will be emailed to students before the first class.

There will be no class on April 23rd.

Beginners and experienced artists in the group creat art according to individual choice and exchange ideas.  Artists must bring their own materials.

In a world of uncertainty, many of you may be contemplating the powers of meditation.  This is a group that practices meditation after discussing the basic principles.  Readings will be provided via email.

Pat Scammon and Bob Dunn will instruct this class.

Whether you are a beginner, intermediate or experienced painter, come join us with your favoite medium (water colors, acrylic, pastel, oil pastels).  Create your own work of art, develop your skills in a friendly, learning and sharing environment with other painters.  Bring your own materials, together with a snack or a bag lunch.

Required materials:  Choice of art medium and painting surface material (such as watercolor paper, canvas, canvas board, panel or similar art work surface).

Class Leaders:  Paul Doherty and Steve Piker.

This is a shared class with South Coast Senior College.

Many of us might remember the title of a popular book based on an age-old question, why do bad things happen to good people?  An equally important question might be, why are bad things done by good people?  It's a puzzling question that has been tackled by evolutionary science and psychology as mapped out in Richard Wrangham's book "The Goodness Paradox" (suggested by not required), as well as by nearly every religious tradition, resulting in a number of interesting viewpoints.  We will explore some of those viewpoints and perhaps in doing so we just might gain some insight into this age-old problem, and perhaps in the process some idea as to how we can live out this paradox in favor of the nice over the nasty in our own lives and times!

Steve Piker is an anthropologist with fieldwork in Thailand and the US.  He spent 44 years at Swarthmore College and has offered many courses at four of Maine senior colleges.  His career-long interests are human evolution and religion.

Paul Doherty is an armchair theologian with experience in music, broadcasting, and ministry.  He has also been teaching for several years at two Maine senior colleges, including South Coast.