The Sunday morning speaker series “Adult Forum” resumes with a full lineup this fall, starting Sept. 13. All sessions are at 9 a.m. in the Neumann room just off from the sanctuary.

Sept. 13, 20, 27; Oct 4, 11 - To help us explore our duty as a Reconciling in Christ (RIC) congregation to work toward racial justice, Pastor Stephanie will lead a five-week discussion of the book Spell Freedom: The Underground Schools That Built the Civil Rights Movement by Elaine Weiss. The book tells the story of civil rights activists in the 1950s and 1960s who risked their lives to secretly prepare Black southerners to pass Jim Crow-era voter-registration literacy tests. Participants should buy copies of the book and bring them to the first session.

Oct. 18 - Noah Smith, our music and worship leader, on the history of congregational singing (including chant), followed by an exploration of Martin Luther's poetic chorales and how they are set in choral and instrumental mediums.

Oct. 25 - Alison Hoeman, founder and executive director of Des Moines Refugee Support, on how she and her network of volunteers offer programming and enrichment opportunities for refugee families, in particular refugee children, as they establish their new lives in America.

Nov. 1- Children’s ministry leader Ann Strom and several of our St. John’s kids on their trips this past summer as well as their activities throughout the rest of the year.

Nov. 8 - Karen Schenkenfelder and Thom Davis, members of St. John’s and of the board of directors for The Bridge, on how the Connection Café cares for those in need and how the people of St. John’s support its mission.

Nov.15 - Michelle Bolton-King, executive director of the After School Arts Program, on all the latest at this arts-enrichment nonprofit that’s grown enormously since its humble beginnings 19 years ago in the lower level at St. John’s.

Nov. 22 - Emily Osweiler, founder and CEO of Greater Des Moines Supportive Housing, on the successes and challenges of her group’s work to solve the housing affordability problem for extremely low-income people in our area.

Nov. 29 - No Adult Forum (Thanksgiving weekend)

Dec. 6 - Retired professor and pastor Gary Kinkel on a theological topic to be announced later.

Dec. 13 - A representative from the AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) on protecting ourselves against scams, including current fraud trends, warning signs, and prevention strategies.

Dec. 20 - Speaker and topic TBD.

Have a suggestion for a speaker or topic? Please contact Jim Blume at jamesdblume@gmail.com or 515-360-8370.