Lifelong Learning Institute of Elkhart County (LLI)

Course Descriptions for the Fall 2012

Brochures are available at the Greencroft Goshen Senior Center, the Goshen College Welcome Center and other locations. Register at the Goshen College Welcome Center, 1700 S. Main St., (574) 535-7566.

Mary, Mother of Jesus
Judith M. Davis
Aug. 29, 31, Sept. 5, 7; 2:30-4 p.m.
Goshen College Music Center 110

Study Mary as prophet, matriarch, disciple, and intercessor, as well as paradigm for people of many religious traditions (including Islam) — with the aid of Penelope Duckworth’s Mary: The Imagination of Her Heart. Lectures and study questions will be used to generate class discussion. Dr. Davis is Professor Emerita of French and Humanities at Goshen College, has given both academic and dramatic presentations on Mary for more than 20 years, and is co-author of Our Lady’s Lawsuits, a bilingual edition of two 14^th century French poems featuring Mary.

Issues in U.S. National Security
David Swartz
Sept. 10, 12, 17, 19; 3-4:30 p.m.
Jennings Auditorium, Greencroft Goshen Community Center

It’s still a dangerous world out there. This course reviews the many national security challenges confronting the U.S., some external, others domestic. The touted post-Soviet global Pax Americana proved illusory. The war on terror continues, expensive and un-won. The Middle East spawns major new challenges and opportunities. The evolving Iranian nuclear threat challenges traditional U.S.-Israeli strategic assumptions, our relations with European allies and our energy security. Domestically, debt and deficits are at crisis levels, while political polarization gnaws at our national well-being. Swartz is a retired U.S. career ambassador who specialized in U.S.-Soviet relations.

Stars and Galaxies: The Hubble Revolution
Ken Horst
Sept. 24, 26, Oct. 1, 3; 10-11:30 a.m.
Jennings Auditorium, Greencroft Goshen Community Center

Using images from the revolutionary Hubble telescope, this course will study different kinds of stars and galaxies — how they are born, change and disappear. What do we know about the universe as a whole? How do sophisticated observations lead to new scientific conclusions? Why should all this matter to ordinary folk? The course will work primarily from images available online rather than direct “stargazing.” Horst taught science and astronomy at Goshen High School, where he developed a creative program of building and firing small rockets, which took him and his students to NASA’s “Student Launch Project.”

The Amish, Our Neighbors
Fran Wenger
Oct. 8, 10, 15, 17; 2-3:30 p.m.
Goshen College Music Center 110

Study the history and types of Indiana Amish in the context of Amish elsewhere, reviewing cultural boundaries separating Amish from non-Amish, beliefs and values that undergird frequently misunderstood ways of living, and reasons Amish choose to live within strict cultural boundaries. A health professional, a historian and former and current Amish persons will contribute to this conversation. The final class will feature a meal in an Amish home, at extra cost. Wenger, whose doctoral research and publications have focused on the culture and healthcare of the Old Order Amish, is Professor and Director Emerita of Nursing at Goshen College.

Contemporary Legends
Ervin Beck
Oct. 22, 24, 29, 31; 2-3:30 p.m.
Goshen College Music Center 110

Hear and tell stories that we think may or must be true but that cannot be verified as historical. These legends from current folklore give important insights into the beliefs and experiences of academics (The Professor through the Transom), business people (The Kentucky Fried Rat), teenagers (The Murderer in the Back Seat) and “urban” dwellers (The Vanishing Hitchhiker). Ervin Beck is Professor Emeritus of English at Goshen College, where he also taught, researched and published widely on folklore and folk arts.

Practices in World Christianity
John A. Lapp
Nov. 5, 7, 12, 14; 10-11:30 a.m.
Jennings Auditorium, Greencroft Goshen Community Center

The Archbishop of Canterbury 75 years ago said that “the Great New Fact” of 20th Century Christianity is its becoming worldwide. Explore practices of worship, organization, evangelism and growth; relationships with other churches locally, continentally and worldwide; patterns in church and society; efforts in social services and economic issues; and interaction with other religions, emphasizing Africa and Asia. Lapp is coordinator of the Global Mennonite History Project for Mennonite World Conference, has had a lifelong interest in worldwide church life and has traveled among churches on all continents, and was Executive Secretary of Mennonite Central Committee from 1985-96.

Unorthodox Religions in the U.S.
Marlin Jeschke
Nov. 19, 21, 26, 28; 10-11:30 a.m.
Jennings Auditorium, Greencroft Goshen Community Center

The American religious landscape has seen a kaleidoscope of movements and denominations. One encyclopedia estimates as many as 1,500. Most recognize each other within the broad family of Christianity, but many Christians have regarded a few of them as unorthodox or even heretical, such as The Latter Day Saints, Christian Science and Jehovah’s Witnesses. We owe it to ourselves to consider their history, beliefs and practices in order to decide how we should regard them. Jeschke taught for 33 years at Goshen College, on world religions, philosophy, theology and religion in America.

Studies of The Festival of Carols
Mary Oyer
Nov. 30, Dec. 3, 5, (6), 10; 10-11:30 a.m.
Jennings Auditorium, Greencroft Goshen Community Center

This course focuses on the nature and variety of music in the annual “Festival of Carols,” performed by orchestra and choirs and including congregational carols. Selected directors and student performers will be interviewed, to also get a glimpse of behind-the-scenes operations. Attendance at the Thursday afternoon dress rehearsal is included; tickets for public performances Friday through Sunday will be available for purchase at the Goshen College Welcome Center. Dr. Oyer brings many years of experience as a professor of music and fine arts, specialist in church music, choir director and student of African music.

 

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About

The Lifelong Learning Institute of Elkhart County provides stimulating and affordable short courses in many fields for active seniors. Courses are held in fall and spring, in addition to a lecture series in midwinter. There are no tests or grades — just the joy of learning. No previous studies or degrees are required.

LLI course brochures are available at the Greencroft Goshen Community Center (1820 Greencroft Blvd.) and the Goshen College Welcome Center (1700 S. Main St., 574-535-7566), as well as at other community locations.

Classes typically meet for one and a half hours, twice a week, for two weeks, though schedules may vary. LLI instructors are usually seniors themselves, often former teachers, professionals or others with special interests in the area of their course. They volunteer their time. The courses provide for lively discussion. Courses are held at Goshen College, the Goshen Public Library, Greencroft Goshen and other suitable community locations.  Restrictions on class size may apply. Some courses may require extra fees for supplies, transportation or tickets. The winter lecture series is held at Greencroft Goshen, and is free.

Membership & Fees

Who is eligible for membership? Persons 55 and older are welcome. You do not need to have attended college or to live at a retirement community. The LLI membership year runs from July 1 through June 30.

The benefits of membership: Your first course is free and additional courses are half price. For members residing in HUD housing all courses are free. Your LLI member card also entitles you to privileges at the Goshen College Library and free admission to home Goshen College athletic events. With professor approval you may also audit approved classes at Goshen College for a reduced fee. At Greencroft Goshen, members receive the reduced resident rate for special events, and free transportation from Greencroft Goshen to LLI classes at other locations.

Fees

• Membership is $50 per academic year (from July 1-June 30). A member’s first course is free and additional courses are half price.
• For persons in HUD housing, membership is $10 and all courses are free. For non-member HUD residents, classes are $10.
• Most courses for non-members are $40 (prorated for more or fewer sessions).

Community Involvement

LLI is a member organization in which participants assist with curriculum planning and help to guide decisions on publicity and finance. There are 11 LLI board members. Four are appointed by the sponsoring organizations, Goshen College (2) and Greencroft Communities (2). Four are elected by membership from members. Three are from the community-at-large and are elected by the board.

The Lifelong Learning Institute of Elkhart County is part of a grassroots movement.  Retiring seniors everywhere are seeking stimulation, continued growth, and connections to others with similar interests. Our local LLI is a member of The Elderhostel Institute Network (EIN), a national network of similar programs.

Contact Us

If you have questions, want a course offering brochure, or need further information, please contact Directors Wilbur and Fanni Birky by phone at 574-533-6352 or by e-mail at lifelonglearning@live.com. See also this web page.

LLI is cosponsored by Goshen College and Greencroft Communities