An Invitation to a Special Lenten Study for Adults
Three Sessions: Days and Times to be arranged based on participant availability
Simon Wiesenthal’s The Sunflower is not a hypothetical ethics textbook; it is a haunting, first-person account of a true event. While imprisoned in a concentration camp, Wiesenthal was taken to the bedside of a dying SS soldier. The soldier, desperate to die in peace, confessed his participation in the murder of innocent Jews and asked Wiesenthal for forgiveness. Wiesenthal listened, but left the room in silence. The rest of the book is a symposium of responses to his question: What would you have done?
Getting the Book: Copies are available online at Amazon and at local bookstores, with limited copies available in the public library system. We have also purchased four copies for the church, which are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Journey:
- Session 1 (Zoom): The Dilemma. We will begin by reviewing Wiesenthal’s harrowing true story and unpacking the assumptions we bring to any conversation about forgiveness. Is forgiveness always a virtue? When might it be impossible?
- Session 2 (Zoom): The Symposium. The book includes responses from dozens of theologians, philosophers, and human rights activists. We will each read at least three of these responses and discuss the different perspectives—debating the ones we argue with and learning from the ones that surprise us.
- Session 3 (In-Person): Your Response. For our final gathering, we will meet in person to share our own answers. Participants will be invited to write their own short response to Wiesenthal’s question, adding their voice to the conversation.
Open to All: No prior theological training is needed. This class is fully accessible to friends, family, and neighbors.
Interested? Please sign up in the Fellowship Hall or email Pastor Heather ([email protected]). We’ll send you a short survey where you can share your availability and we’ll do our best to create a schedule that works for the majority.
