Pete

r B

ecke

r C

omm

unity

80

0 M

aple

Ave

nue

H

arle

ysvi

lle, P

A 1

9438

ALL COURSES HELD AT THE LUTHERAN COMMUNITY

AT TELFORD12 LUTHERAN HOME DR.

TELFORD, PA 18969

Expanding Horizons Spring 2018

Course Catalog

Celebrating more than 20 years of

Community Education. . . Exp

andin

g Ho

rizo

ns

Spring

201

8

Cour

se

Cat

alog

Page 1 Page 2

Welcome to another session of Expanding Horizons! This educational program was formed in 1996 to promote adult enrichment opportunities in the community. The Expanding Horizons Committee includes staff and resident representatives of retirement communities Dock Woods, Frederick Living, Lutheran Community at Telford, Peter Becker Community, The Community at Rockhill, and Souderton Mennonite Homes. The Committee also includes representatives from Generations of Indian Valley and Encore Experiences at Harleysville.

Classes & Registration The Spring 2018 classes will be held Thursdays, April 5, April 12, April 19, and April 26. For the 9:00am time slot, participants may choose one of two sessions: Exploring Faith OR The First World War. For the 10:30am time slot, participants may choose one of two sessions: Animals and Humanity OR Tech Talks

The cost of the four-week series is $25.00, made payable to Peter Becker Community with registration. This non-refundable fee includes registration in two chosen sessions and refreshments during the break. The non-refundable registration fee and registration are due by March 2, 2018. Class size is limited, so be sure to register early! Unfortunately, we cannot accept registrations after March 2, 2018.

Please plan to arrive at The Lutheran Community at Telford by 8:45am on Thursday, April 5 (opening day) for an orientation to the Spring 2018 Expanding Horizons series.

Our Faculty Class instructors are recruited from the community and include speakers from universities, businesses, organizations, and churches, as well as local talents. Each instructor commits his or her time and talents to the Expanding Horizons program, and we are very thankful for their contributions. If you know someone who is a dynamic speaker and “subject-matter expert” on a topic that might be of interest for a future session, please contact a member of the Expanding Horizons Committee. We always welcome new ideas and suggestions!

For more information, please contact Joe Monserrat at 215-256-9501, ext. 1528.

Indulging your passion for life-long learning

Thursday, April 5 Hinduism Dr. Derek Cooper From one unknown god to millions of personal

ones, we will explore the most diverse religious tradition in the world.

Thursday, April 12 Martin Luther: Theology Built Upon Life Experiences Rev. W. Dean Bickel Luther was a man of his times.  Lutheran theology was shaped by his life experiences and historical events of the late 1400’s and early 1500’s. We will review how those events shaped Luther’s view of God, the church, and man’s spiritual response.  As the church moves forward in the post-modern age, Luther’s perspective can offer an informative view on how the church in general may reshape itself.

Thursday, April 19 Spirituality and Change Rev. Robert Coble & Rev. Merlin HedrickRev. Merlin Hedrick will offer some perspective on the changing face of religion and spirituality in our 21st century world. We will look at what makes humans spiritual beings, the difference between spirituality and religion, how the 21st century has changed the conversation between the generations, and opportunities for spiritual growth in every stage of our lives. By sharing personal life events and experiences, Rev. Robert Coble will focus on how one's spiritual life can be transformed and deepened. He believes that if we look for the transformational power of adversity in

our lives, we can enter a new space of spiritual refreshment, peace, and compassion.

Thursday, April 26 Buddhism Dr. Derek CooperFrom the life of the Buddha to the Dalai Lama, we will explore the religion of enlightenment.

Thursdays, April, 5, 12, 19 & 26The First World War John D. Shepherd Syria, Iraq, Yugoslavia, the Weimar Republic and the Soviet Union: all were the products of the massive conflagration that was World War I. During this four-week series, we’ll examine the War’s origin, conduct, conclusion, and results, both intended and unintended. We’ll look at the lives of the participants and try to draw some lessons that help us understand today’s world situation. See individual courses below.

Thursday, April 5: The Great European War  We'll discuss Europe in the early Twentieth Century.  We'll see how the assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand triggered the descent into war and look at how the war did not play out as leaders thought.

Thursday, April 12: The Grinding Stalemate We'll examine war in the trenches and the search for a way to break the stalemate.  Topics will include changing the way armies fought, attempts to 'go around' the Western Front, and the use of naval forces to try and starve opponents.

Session 1A: 9:00AM

Exploring Faith

Spring 2018 Courses

Page 3 Page 4

Session 1B: 9:00AM

The First World War

Thursday, April 19: The Yanks are Deciding We'll look at American attitudes towards the War and how they changed over time.  We'll examine Woodrow Wilson's role in the

process of going to war and the national mobilization of 1917. Thursday, April 26: The Yanks are Coming We'll see how the weight of American forces impacted the last year of the War.  We'll examine John J. Pershing's command, the German offensives of 1918, and the allied counterattack.  We'll conclude by looking at what the War accomplished and how America changed by 1919.

Thursday, April 5: New Leash on Life Stephen R. Phillips, Ph.D. New Leash on Life USA is a new generation

non-profit prison dog-training program that saves the lives of shelter dogs at risk of euthanasia and gives incarcerated inmates a chance for redemption. New Leash teaches inmates to train and socialize the dogs assigned to live with them 24/7, enabling these rejected animals to become highly desirable for adoption and creating real-world employment opportunities for our inmate participants upon parole. By rescuing each other, both human and canine graduates of the New Leash program can look ahead to a bright and successful future. This class takes

you deep inside the program and illuminates the antiquity of the relationship between dogs and humans.

Thursday, April 12:How Horses Help People: A Look at Equine-Assisted Learning and Therapy Christine Hanebury This informative program presented by Sebastian Riding Associates (SRA, Collegeville, PA) will include a history of Equine-Assisted Learning and Therapy. We will discuss SRA's role as a pioneer in the field in the early 1970's. We will share the program offerings of SRA including our therapeutic riding and therapeutic carriage driving programs and our Riding Free research study for adolescents with PTSD. We will also discuss how participation benefits the students. What better way to share the amazing world of equine therapy than to have our dwarf miniature horse, Vinnie, in attendance for a meet and greet as well.

Thursday, April 19: Stray Cat Blues Dwight Dulsky Stray Cat Blues Cat Rescue has been a fixture in the Bucks-Mont area for over 20 years. Unlike the typical animal shelter, Stray Cat Blues is focused on the lost, abandoned, and forgotten cats in our midst. Through our volunteer foster network, we seek to find permanent homes for these lost animals. Stray Cat Blues also advocates solutions for the numerous feral cat colonies in the region. Join us to learn about this local group and the positive impact they are making for cats in our area.

Session 1B: 9:00AM (con't)

Page 6 Page 5

The First World War

Animals and Humanity

Session 2A: 10:30AM

Thursday, April 26: Through the Eyes of the General John D. Hollenbach Experience the incredible bond that exists

between a master (John D. Hollenbach) and his seeing-eye guide dog (Patton). Through the stories of Patton, learn about a multifaceted life in which fear has been conquered by love and faith. You will also hear about John's inspirational memoir, Through the Eyes of the General, that follows his journey from light to dark and then forward into a new light. Although Patton's master cannot see with his eyes, he has learned that the human adventure can be fully experienced through the heart and the mind.

Tech Talks Glen W. Maxson This "Tech Talk" series is designed to help

you navigate the overwhelming number of choices available to you when you shop for your next electronic device - PC, tablet, smartphone, and more. Come learn how electronic devices really can help enhance, and maybe even simplify, our lives! See individual course titles below.

Thursday, April 5: Overview of Technology Choices Thursday, April 12: Making Your Device Useful Thursday, April 19: Security & Privacy in the Digital Age Thursday, April 26: Technology Tips & Tricks/Q & A

Session 2A: 10:30AM (con’t)

Page 8

Tech Talks

Session 2B: 10:30AM

Rev. W. Dean Bickel is a graduate of the Lutheran Seminary in Philadelphia. He served in parish ministry for 40 years in Pennsylvania, Colorado, and Florida. He also served as chaplain for three years at the Lutheran Community at Telford. He is currently happily enjoying his retirement!

Rev. Robert Coble is a retired Episcopal pastor who served for 38 years in parish ministry. He has a B.A. in human relations from Salem University and a MDIV from the former Philadelphia Divinity School. He currently assists and worships at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Harleysville where he has led various educational groups. He and his wife, Bobbi, live at the Peter Becker Community.

Dr. Derek Cooper is associate professor of world Christian history at Bibilical Theological Seminary. He is a travel planner with MEJDI Tours and regularly leads groups around the world to exciting destinations. He is also a frequent speaker at churches, retirement communities, and academic institutions. He is the author of ten

books, including Christianity and World Religions.

Dwight Dulsky is a retired school teacher of the Upper Moreland School District. He has been involved with Stray Cat Blues for a decade. Dwight has served on the Board of Directors of SCB and was the past TNR coordinator. Today he serves by doing public outreach events and public relations. Dwight is also involved with Animal Lifeline's Ride to Rescue Transport team. This group provides safe transport for animals from overcrowded shelters or disaster zones to safe shelters in the northern United States. Dwight can often be seen in the halls of Peter Becker Community with trusty sidekick "Calvin." Calvin was a feral cat colony kitten who has grown up to be Grand View Hospice's certified therapy cat. Calvin has volunteered well over 500 hours visiting hospice patients and seniors throughout the region.

(See more faculty biographies on p. 9)

Our Faculty

Animals and Humanity

Page 7

Christine Hanebury has been the general manager of Sebastian Riding Associates since 2008. Ms. Hanebury is a PATH (Professional Association on Therapeutic Horsemanship) registered instructor as well as a PATH equine specialist in mental health and learning. She is the lead instructor and co-investigator in the Riding Free research study for adolescents with PTSD and an avid equestrian. Chris is a passionate advocate for Sebastian’s mission. Her daughter, who was diagnosed with Down Syndrome, participated in the program for 19 years to aid her low muscle tone.

Joining Chris will be program manager Jenny Dec, also a PATH registered instructor. Jenny is the lead instructor and equine manager for the 18 horses in the program and a strong believer in the power of horses helping humans. Also in attendance for a meet and greet will be Sebastian Riding Associate's dwarf miniature horse, Vinnie.

Rev. Merlin Hedrick serves as director of pastoral care at Peter Becker Community. He is an ordained Mennonite pastor and has served in church and retirement community settings for over 20 years. He also worked as a mental health crisis worker at Penn Foundation Mental Health for four years. Merlin received his B.S. in social work and biology from Eastern Mennonite University and a master of divinity degree from Palmer Theological Seminary. He has completed three units of clinical pastoral education. He and his wife, Debbie, are members at Souderton Mennonite Church.

John Hollenbach, who served in the Marines during the Vietnam War, returned home to begin his career at a local business. Over the next twenty years, he rose to become his company's president and a community and church leader. Now retired, John and his wife, Judy, live in Perkasie, PA.

Glen W. Maxson After graduating from Penn State in 1977, Glen moved to Seattle and built Boeing's first corporate

electronic directory. A move in 1994 to lntel in Folsom, CA continued his career in information technology until retirement in 2011. Since moving to Doylestown, Glen has kept current with new technology choices and with issues that arise from inappropriate use of technology. Glen's passion is 'helping seniors navigate technology.' Stephen R. Phillips, Ph.D., is the curatorial research coordinator in the Egyptian Section of the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania and has spent parts of the past 25 years working on archaeological excavations in Egypt, Jordan, and France. Dr. Phillips has taught at Expanding Horizons in the past. Dr. Phillips very much looks forward to illuminating the deep interconnections that exists between dogs and humans, a relationship that is improving the lives of inmates and saving the lives of dogs in Philadelphia.

John D. Shepherd was born in northwestern Pennsylvania and spent his first ten years in a small community in Venango County.

In 1957, his family moved to Hershey, PA, where he completed elementary and secondary school. He attended Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA, and graduated in 1968 with a B.A. degree in international relations - and a commission as a second lieutenant of infantry in the Regular Army. He served for 20 years in the U.S. Army and held both command and staff positions in the U.S. and overseas. He retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1988. John worked for a number of defense contractors as a systems engineer on military projects and retired from Lockheed Martin in 2006. Since his retirement, he has devoted his free time to the study of history and is a member of the Society for Military History.

Our Faculty (con't)

Page 10 Page 9