Feb. 26 “Clean Air, Climate, and Health: Minnesota’s Energy Future”
Presenter: J. Drake Hamilton, Science Policy Director – Fresh Energy.
Fresh Energy is a public policy and advocacy organization supporting development of energy solutions to climate change that will maximize opportunities for the Midwest. Ms. Hamilton has spoken around the country on energy issues before varied audiences, including the Environmental Protection Agency, corporations, public interest groups, and electric utilities and has been interviewed by multiple media outlets. She has frequently shared the speakers’ platform with Arctic explorer Will Steger.
March 4 “School Budgets: Economics and Moral Documents”
Presenter: Representative Mindy Greiling, ranking minority member of the House Education Finance Committee.
Rep. Greiling will talk about Minnesota’s school funding system. She is an advocate for needs-based funding, e.g. special education, English language learners, and compensatory funding for students qualifying for free or reduced lunch. Her talk will also cover Minnesota’s school funding history and our stete’s present plight of owing huge debt to our schools.
March 11 – NO POPTOPS
March 18 “Resiliency in Trying Times”
Presenter: Rev. Dr. John Martinson
We all encounter trying times in the course of our lives – times of disappointment, loss, adversity. The difficulty we encounter in bouncing back is determined by the nature and depth of the adversity we encounter and something called “resiliency” – the inner strength that enables us to work through psychological/emotional/spiritual setbacks due to life stress. In this forum we will discuss the concept of “resiliency”, what creates resiliency, the role of faith and what we can do to become more resilient.
March 25 “Terrorism”
Presenter: Pastor Paul Harrington
Why do they ate us? And who are “they”? A timely presentation giving a brief history and an informed interpretation of terrosim’s threat to our nation – and suggested responses from a Christian perspective. Paul is Campus Pastor at Luther Seminary and a frequent writer in the Metro Lutheran. A dynamic speaker, his presentation on this theme has been well received as balanced and helpful.
April 1-(Palm Sunday) - N0 POPTOPS
April 8-(Easter) – NO POPTOPS
April 15 “Bread for the World”
Presenter Venita Keenen
Since the 1970s, Bread for the World has been an effective Christian advocate in the struggle against global hunger and overly-focusing on the shaping of public policy by citizens. Many in Nativity have supported its ministry and have shared in our annual “offering of letters.”
A friend of many at Nativity, Vernita returns to update us. She co-chairs the Hunger Work Group for the St. Paul Area Synod. She and her husband are active members of Incarnation Lutheran Church in Shoreview. An interactive presentation!