SHEPHERD'S CENTER-BEACHSIDE
Adventures in Learning for Adults
ASCENSION LUTHERAN CHURCH
1053 Pinetree Drive
Indian Harbour Beach, Florida
FRIDAY CLASSES @ ASCENSION LUTHERAN
9:00 AM
ZUMBA GOLD with Melanie: Join Melanie Matz (bio) for a fun & easy to follow group dance class for all ages looking for a modified Zumba class with the moves you love at a lower intensity. We will dance to music from all over the world focusing on cardio and muscle conditioning, incorporating flexibility, balance, range of motion, coordination, and of course, FUN! Wear comfortable clothes and sneakers (not running shoes) and bring water.
THE FIRST CLASS WILL NOT MEET UNTIL 11 APRIL
TRIVIA: Teams will have a great time trying to remember songs from their youth (distant past), and try to answer trivia questions on travel, geography, history, current events, literature, etc. Want to have great fun, laugh, be challenged, and rewarded, then come join the game. Maryann Risi (bio) is the moderator for this delightful class.
FRIDAY CLASSES @ ASCENSION LUTHERAN
10:00 AM
MAHJONGG FOR BEGINNERS and INTERMEDIATE PLAYERS (This is a two-hour class from 10:00 to 12:00): Mahjongg is a tile-based game that originated in China during the Qing Dynasty. It is commonly played with four players, and is a game of skill, strategy, calculation and involves a degree of chance. Sally Dunn with the assistance of Beverly Sheffer will host this two-hour class. New players will be given specialized attention to learn the game while the more experienced players will play independently. You are encouraged to bring your own Mahjongg cards.
INVESTING MEETUP: Come join John Yoepp (bio) with a lively, interactive discussion of what’s happening in the markets and the economy, investing and trading strategies and tactics, investing theory and practice, class member presentations and an occasional dip into the exciting world of taxes. There will be a stock picking contest! The end-of-term contest winner will receive a certificate for free tuition for Shepherd's Center Fall Term 2025.
CHRISTIANITY ON TRIAL DEFENDING THE FAITH: It may be called Apologetics 101. Here, the claims of Christianity are examined by the rules of evidence used in a court of law. We will continue our examination of the events surrounding Jesus’s crucifixion and resurrection.
This is of utmost importance to traditional and confessional Christians.
For…” if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 1 Corinthians 15
Our seven lectures will examine the most significant event in human history. We will consider the circumstances surrounding Jesus’ sentence and reflect upon how he was “Crucified under Pontius Pilate”.
Participants will learn the basics in defending the resurrection. With the skeptical world as the prosecution and your presenter for the defense we will be introduced to St. Peter’s task,
in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you
Join Pr. Rob Cosmas, (bio) B.S. Criminology, J.D., Mdiv. as he prepares a defense for a skeptical world. One might call this “Apologetics 101”.
BEGINNING LINE DANCING: Join Vicki Little as she, once again, leads us in the fun and exercise that is Line Dancing. This is a class for both the beginner and the experienced since Vicki introduces something new each week. One of the joys of Line Dancing is it requires no partner, so come join the fun of this low impact exercise.
SOCIAL HISTORY OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN FROM THE 19TH CENTURY TO THE PRESENT: Join our newest teacher, Dr. Lou Covotsos, (bio) for this relevant subject. Social feminism of the 19th century transformed into the women’s liberation movement of the mid 20th century. While the suffrage movement and the struggle for civil, property, and marital rights for women will be included briefly, this class will focus LESS on the politics of that struggle and more on the every-day lives of women.
Please note: the topics of abortion, birth control, contraception, and sexuality will be covered extensively and are necessarily explicit.
FRIDAY CLASSES @ ASCENSION LUTHERAN
11:00 AM
GAMES: Whether you started playing games as a child with your family or finally have the time and desire to try something new, come join us for games. There’s something for everyone: card games of every sort or board games such as Rumikub, Mexican Train, or Qwirkle. There’s a new game called Uzzle that will be sure to challenge everyone and perhaps there will be backgammon. Come join Nancy Dennee (bio) for loads of fun. Limited number of slots fill up quickly!
LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL CURRENT EVENTS: As a former history and civics teacher, as well as a championship Florida high school football coach, Mike Vogt (bio) blitzes the classroom with his arsenal of knowledge about local, state, and national events that shapes the week. He will begin the class discussing beachside current events and moving on to state and national news. Occasionally Mike will detour off on that dreaded p-word (politics). Class participation is highly encouraged!
UNDERSTANDING THE ALZHEIMER’S TRAJECTORY: Whether you're currently caring for someone with Alzheimer's or concerned about the possibility of a future diagnosis, this class will provide valuable insights into the expected stages of the disease. You’ll explore the physical, emotional, and cognitive changes that accompany Alzheimer's, as well as practical strategies for both caregiving and receiving care. We will also discuss navigating the medical system while maintaining your well-being. Led by new Shepherd’s Center instructor Lynn Devlin, (bio) this class aims to spark meaningful conversations about Alzheimer’s care, offering participants the tools to better understand the journey and engage in important discussions with family members about future healthcare decisions.
FURTHER CLASS REGISTRATION IS CLOSED DUE TO ROOM CAPACITY
LINE DANCING – HIGH BEGINNER/IMPROVER: This class is a follow-on to our beginner class. High beginner adds different steps and Improver is just a little harder. If you are a beginner, you should be able to keep up with us. Don’t let it scare you – Vicki Little wants you to know “Everyone is Welcome!”