Harrisburg Region

The Spangler farm has long been overlooked as one of General George Meade’s keys to victory and the most important farm in the Battle of Gettysburg. Also, there were two big hospitals on the Spangler farm during and after the battle. Hear the stories of sacrifice and heroism of the wounded and dying, surgeons and nurses, and Spangler family.

At the crossroads of Europe and Asia lies the Caucasus, ancient homeland of the Georgian and Armenian peoples. Part history, part travelogue, this course highlights the hidden treasures of these two little- known countries. We’ll explore their scenic beauty, their enduring Christian roots, their architectural gems, their distinctive musical traditions, and their dramatic political evolution. Long beset by foreign powers – Rome, Persia, Turkey, Russia – Armenia and Georgia have now emerged from their tragic past, with a renewed sense of cultural heritage and national pride.

This course will cover the origins of our government and how the framers of our constitution established a government that divided power between three separate branches, created a system by which no single branch had more power than was necessary to carry out its duties, and existed by the consent of those people who would be governed by it. It is the concept of a government made of three branches that fulfills the premise that there is a separation of powers within the government, and it includes a system of checks and balances. Explanations will be provided about how each branch: legislative, executive, and judicial was created and what their specific duties are with regard to a government designed to represent its people. The similarities and differences between the three branches will also be reviewed.

In 1994, Rwanda suffered an ethnically based genocide in which nearly 1,000,000 people were killed. Through slides and comments, this presentation will reflect on that event and the country 26 years later. It will include a visit to Akagera National Park with its colorful birds and animals and a description of the work of Mennonite Central Committee to support agricultural development, education, and peace building.

Join us in watching (or re-watching) a series of classic Hollywood films. The instructor will select one film a week being shown on Turner Classic Movies (TCM). You will be given a schedule listing when the films will be shown (mostly at 6:00 pm or 8:00 pm). During the class session, Roger Godin will do a 45-minute presentation about the film, discussing the filmmakers, the stars, and the significance of the film in American film history. He will also analyze the film utilizing stills from the movies and clips of certain key scenes. A question and answer session will follow during which class participants can offer observations about the movie or ask questions.

This course will cover the origins of our government and how the framers of our constitution established a government that divided power between three separate branches, created a system by which no single branch had more power than was necessary to carry out its duties, and existed by the consent of those people who would be governed by it. It is the concept of a government made of three branches that fulfills the premise that there is a separation of powers within the government, and it includes a system of checks and balances. Explanations will be provided about how each branch: legislative, executive, and judicial was created and what their specific duties are with regard to a government designed to represent its people. The similarities and differences between the three branches will also be reviewed.

One hundred years ago, the U.S. embarked on one of the wildest decades in its history: the “Roaring Twenties.” Buoyed by a booming economy, American society pushed the boundaries of freedom, morality, and artistic expression. This program highlights the most famous fads and foibles of this colorful era, from crossword puzzles to bathtub gin. We’ll also look at some of the defining personalities of the 1920s – among them, Al Capone and Charles Lindbergh; Babe Ruth and Mickey Mouse; and finally, the hapless Herbert Hoover, presiding over the stock market crash that ended the party in 1929.

This Mere Existence is a celebration of our true human nature and a call to embrace that human nature for the sake of those with whom we share the planet. This Mere Existence attempts to: remind us that we are highly evolved beings capable of empathy and reciprocal altruism, and naturally endowed by our creator with inalienable human rights; motivate people to join worldwide efforts to restore those rights to all of our sisters and brothers, and provide nonviolent strategies for restoring human rights to their central place in human existence. People of all spiritualties are welcome to join the conversation.