Wed, Oct 8: Jodi Spargur

Title: Recovering our Guest Identity on the Path to Welcome

When we think about welcoming the stranger we usually immediately place ourselves in the role of host. Zacchaeus probably initially thought he would host Jesus for dinner on the night Jesus invited himself over. But what happens when we allow ourselves to understand our place as guests at the very tables we thought were ours? What responsibilities do we have? What gifts are there for us to receive? Come explore these ideas together for the sake of finding a better way to belong together.

Jodi has just published a powerful book, Mend: An Invitation from Jesus to return to Land-Based Repair. Her reconciliation work between churches and First Nations persons and tribes is remarkable and widely endorsed. While living on the unceded Coast Salish territory also known as Vancouver, Jodi Spargur directs Red Clover Initiatives, a movement to catalyze healing, justice and restored joy in relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous neighbours. Jodi is also a PhD student with NAIITS: An Indigenous Learning Community where she is working in the area of Christian Ethics and Indigenous theology.

Sun, Oct 19: Dr. Jimena Berzal de Dios

Title: Learning from Martha's Love Language: Hospitality in the Gospel of Luke

The narrative of Jesus at the House of Martha and Mary (Luke 10:38-42) ever has captured the imagination of artists and thinkers. The contemplative Mary carefully listens to Jesus.  Martha gets busy preparing food and grumbles that Mary is not helping. Jesus kindly responds that Mary's approach is superior. Perhaps one can imagine Martha thinking, "but someone has to prepare the food!" She's not wrong. A long tradition of reflections on the Gospel of Luke, from Meister Eckhart to Martin Luther and John Calvin have considered the "vocation of the everyday" and the need to welcome and serve both neighbors and strangers out of love. This talk reconsiders Martha's way of love, and how along with other relevant narratives from Luke, it brings forth the spiritual beauty of hospitality.    

Jimena has a PhD on art history and an MA on philosophy, and teaches Renaissance, Baroque, and Christian art courses at WWU.

Thurs, Oct 23: Iris Carias

Title: The Current Context of Migrants in Skagit County

As a result of our current political and cultural climate, what are migrants in Skagit County experiencing? This talk will address specific issues they are facing, what difference does it make when more people understand their challenges, and how can citizens be helpful to this population?

Iris is a Mount Vernon City Councilmember. Having moved to Mount Vernon from Honduras in 1994, she has lived experience as an immigrant. Iris is extensively involved in community as a volunteer, and currently works for the Mount Vernon School District as the Migrant Program Educator and is also a member of the Washington State Migrant Education Advisory Committee (SAC). She also helps families as a liaison at Community Action of Skagit County and serves as a board member of Skagit County Child and Family Consortium, and Skagit Immigrant Rights Council, she is also a member of Community Action’s Latino Advisory Committee. Iris has a bachelor’s degree in Humanities and Education from the National Autonomous University of Honduras, and has also taken courses at Skagit Valley College. As a social worker, paraprofessional educator and caregiver, she has worked steadily and passionately for the good of our city and its residents.

Sun, Nov 2: Dr. James Alison

Title: Our Repugnant Others

Drawing on wisdom from his newest book, You Can, If You Want To: Navigating Christian Faith, Conscience, and matters LGBTQ+, James will discuss foundations of Christianity that necessarily include the value and action of welcome. An expert in Girardian theology, he is known for explaining to beginners the concept of memetic theory and scapegoating, and how the Christian faith is the reverse of scapegoating. In asking ourselves who is “other” for us as individuals and communities, James will help us consider how to not contribute to “us” turning against “them, and assist our process for moving beyond “othering” and into wide welcome.

James is a Catholic theologian, priest and author. He has studied, lived and worked in Mexico, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Spain and the United States as well as his native England. James earned his doctorate in theology from the Jesuit Faculty in Belo Horizonte, Brazil in 1994 and is a systematic theologian by training. His principal claim to fame is as one of those who has done the most to bring the work of the great French thinker René Girard to a wider public. In addition, he is known for his firm, but patient insistence on truthfulness in matters gay as an ordinary part of basic Christianity, and for his pastoral outreach in the same sphere. James now works as an itinerant preacher, lecturer and retreat giver. He accompanies a wide variety of “others”, through a vast array of teaching opportunities. His books have been translated into Dutch, French, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.