Contemporary Christian Life Issues (CCLI)

Sunday mornings, 10:50–11:50am
2024 Remaining Date: December 15
2025 Dates: January 12 – April 13
Chapel off the Rotunda
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The Contemporary Christian Life Issues class explores current and relevant faith and justice issues affecting our community, nation, and world. The goal of each session is to “think Christianly” about each topic, so that we can live well in God’s world. Speakers are often experts in their field. No sign up is needed, come when you can. For more information, contact Lori  or 796-3361.

▪ December 15: Novelists Who Kindle Hope
Mark Hiskes, Retired High School English Teacher; Deb Van Duinen, PhD, the Arnold and Esther Sonneveldt Professor of Education, Hope College, and Director, Big and Little Read Lakeshore Programs

We live in a time where too many stories breed more despair. In this session we will acquaint you with some contemporary novelists whose stories not only recognize the truth about the way things are, but also present a hopeful vision for how they should be. Deb and Mark will talk about such novelists, but please come with your suggestions of such authors.

Winter/Spring 2025 CCLI Speaker Schedule

▪ January 12: The Long Goodbye: Diving Deeper into Dementia
Jeff Munroe, Editor of the Reformed Journal and former Executive Vice-President, Western Theological Seminary; Dr. Suzanne McDonald, Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology, Western Theological Seminary

In November when Jeff Munroe shared from his book Telling Stories in the Dark, he read excerpts from a chapter which detailed some of his journey with his mother after she developed Alzheimer’s disease. Jeff is returning to go deeper into dementia, along with Dr. Suzanne McDonald who is an expert on dementia.

▪ January 19: Normalizing Neurodiversity
Victoria White, Program Director, With Ministries; THRIVE Program Director, The King’s Table Ministries; M.A. in Special Education, Inclusion Specialist (Calvin University)

Neurodiversity encompasses an amazing spectrum of abilities. Together we will explore some of the facets of neurodiversity and how we see it in church today. Discover resources and ideas to engage the strengths and support the needs of individuals who are already, and those who are not yet, participating in your ministries.

▪ January 26: Called, Caring, and Creating
Chad and Dara VandenBosch, RCA missionaries serving in Mozambique (they also serve in partnership with Audio Scripture Ministries); Joel Schoon-Tanis, whimsical artist, creativity expert, and professional speaker

Extreme weather conditions in Mozambique make farming difficult, and severe poverty leaves many people focused on only where to get their next meal. Chad started New Harvest Farm to teach resilient farming practices so farmers can better provide for their families. Chad and Dara also provide palliative care. Dara has introduced art opportunities for her palliative care patients and the community. Last April, Joel Schoon-Tanis visited the VandenBosch’s to work on a community art project. Come and hear the delightful work the three of them did together and how each of them ministers in their own separate way.

▪ February 2: Differences Don’t Have to Divide
Rev. Michael Gulker, President, Colossian Forum

The Colossian Forum was approached by Tremelo Productions with an idea to make a movie about people who disagree and still belong to each other. Colossian Forum agreed to help. The movie Leap of Faith, working with twelve local pastors, was born. Michael will share with us about how this film came to be, what they learned in the process, and how these pastors may have changed after participating in this project over a year’s time.

▪ February 9: From Refugee to Citizen of the USA
Christine Charles, former refuge; Bev Stephenson, Citizenship Class Coordinator and Teacher, Intersection Ministries

For 20 years Christine Charles lived in the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya. In this presentation Christine will share her story of how she felt led to apply to come to the United States and her journey throughout the process. Sponsored by CMC’s Faith in Action group and with the assistance of Bethany Christian Services, Christine has adapted to making a life for her family here in Holland. The journey has not been easy, but her faith in God and new friends have helped along the way.

Bev Stephenson will join this session sharing information about the process Christine and many other refugees have gone through to become citizens of the country they now call home. Bev has also been active in helping to sponsor a refugee family from Afghanistan, and along with others, helping them to settle here in Holland.

▪ February 16: Everything is Better with a Plan ▪ “The old must die, the young can die.” an old Dutch-ism
Mike Langeland, Funeral Director, Partner, Langeland-Sterenberg/Yntema Funeral Homes

Preparing for the most difficult day(s) of your life is a profoundly worthy project. Preparing is not meant for you. . . It is a gift to your family. Be equipped with indispensable practical actions to give your family the gift of planning in advance.

▪ February 23: Nothing on Earth: Finding Contentment in a World of Comparison
Rev. Dr. Nathan Hart, Hinga-Boersma Dean of the Chapel, Hope College

Rev. Dr. Nathan Hart serves as Hope’s campus pastor, providing leadership for the spiritual formation of the community, offering pastoral support, and leading the Campus Ministries program and staff.  In today’s session of CCLI, he will speak with us on Psalm 73. The 73rd psalm shows us the spiritual pitfalls of “comparing and despairing” and points us to the most precious treasure of all, Jesus Christ.

▪ March 2: Special Presentation Highlighting Some of Our Local Mission Partners

CCLI will not meet on this date – instead we invite you to attend a special presentation in the Chapel from 10:50-11:50am hosted by Christ Memorial’s Deacons. They will be showcasing a number of Christ Memorial’s Local Ministry Partners, including information on each organization’s specialty, targets, and areas of coverage.

▪ March 9: Intro to the RCA – Part One
Rev. Judy Nelson and special guest presenters from the Reformed Church in America office

Since its founding in 1956, Christ Memorial Church has been part of the denomination called the Reformed Church in America. We hope you will join us for this two-part presentation about the RCA. Information on its history, theology, structure, polity, worldwide impact, lived expression and more will be shared. During our time together there will also be opportunities for you to ask questions. Join us and learn more about what it means to be affiliated with this 400-year-old denomination and what makes it relevant in the world today!

▪ March 16: Intro to the RCA – Part Two
Rev. Judy Nelson and special guest presenters from the Reformed Church in America office

Join us on this date for Part Two of our presentation on the Reformed Church in America.

▪ March 23: Is Travel Such a Good Thing? – Part One
Rev. Dr. Douglas Brouwer, author and retired Presbyterian minister

The earliest stories in the Bible are about people on the move – sometimes leaving home, sometimes returning home. Is travel always a good thing? Does it broaden us and make us better people? In his new book, Pastor Brouwer explores various kinds of travel and asks hard questions about it. Part One will explore the case against travel, why travel might not lead to the outcomes we imagine for it.

▪ March 30: How Travel Can (Sometimes) Change Us – Part Two
Rev. Dr. Douglas Brouwer, author and retired Presbyterian minister

Rev. Douglas Brouwer will explore the spiritual motivations for travel and how travel sometimes changes us, often in surprisingly spiritual ways. Rev. Dr. Douglas Brouwer has served three congregations in the U.S., two in Switzerland and one in the Netherlands.

▪ April 6: A Conversation about Christian Nationalism
Jeff Munroe, Editor of the Reformed Journal

Christian Nationalism is a “hot-button” topic these days. Is there a difference between being a patriotic person who loves God and being a Christian Nationalist? Russell Moore, the editor of Christianity Today, and Tim Alberta, author of The Kingdom, The Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism, joined together in 2024 for a brief conversation about Christian Nationalism. We will watch and listen to them and then process and discuss what we’ve seen in a conversation facilitated by Jeff Munroe.

▪ April 13: Churches for Middle East Peace

Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) works to encourage US policies that actively promote a comprehensive resolution to conflicts in the Middle East with a focus on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. CMEP works to mobilize U.S. Christians to embrace a holistic perspective and to be advocates of equality, human rights, security, and justice for Israelis, Palestinians, and all people of the Middle East. A coalition of more than 30 national Church communities and organizations, the
Reformed Church in America is one of the organizations that works with CMEP, including having a member on the board of CMEP. Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon is the executive director of Churches for Middle East Peace and an ordained pastor.