New Adult Education Series - Introduction to TED

Our adult education series that went along with Pastor Ivan’s Lenten Sermon Series has come to an end.  We had some lively and informative discussions and got to know each other a little better.

Beginning April 7th, the Sunday after Easter, I want to build on the theme of timely and topical discussions of issues that we face as Christians in the 21st Century.  We will begin a series where each week we will view and have a guided discussion of a different TED Talk.  

For those of you who are not familiar with TED Talks here is a brief introduction:

TED is a nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment, Design. Since then its scope has become ever broader. Along with two annual conferences -- the TED Conference on the West Coast each spring, and the TEDGlobal conference in Edinburgh UK each summer -- TED includes the award-winning TED Talks video site, the Open Translation Project and TED Conversations, the inspiring TED Fellows and TEDx programs, and the annual TED Prize.

We believe passionately in the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives and ultimately, the world. So we're building here a clearinghouse that offers free knowledge and inspiration from the world's most inspired thinkers, and also a community of curious souls to engage with ideas and each other. This site, launched April 2007, is an ever-evolving work in progress, and you're an important part of it.

On TED.com, we make the best talks and performances from TED and partners available to the world, for free. More than 1400 TED Talks are now available, with more added each week.

Each week I will post, and send a link in email, the video we will be viewing and discussing in class.  On Sunday during our regular Adult Education time (9:30am in the Woodside Room) we will all watch the video together and discuss and address the questions included with the video.  The videos are typically 15-20 minutes long, so as our time is limited I will be starting them pretty promptly at 9:30 so we can have as much discussion time as possible.

I will do my best to send an email each week on Monday with the video link and discussion questions for the following Sunday.  In the mean time, take some time to explore the TED website on your own or watch the sample video below.  You may be surprised what you can learn about the world around you or within you.

 Please feel free to call me at 815-742-9197 or email me at bobinrkfd@yahoo.com if you have any questions or suggestions.  You should get an email on Monday April 1 with a link to the first video and some discussion questions to ponder.

This series will run through Memorial Day and after that plans are underway for a study that Pastor Ivan will lead, that will probably meet on a weekday.  Please let me know if you have suggestions or would like to be part of planning that series.