Adult Formation: Sacred Seasons—Aging Well and Ending Well

Sacred Seasons: Aging Well and Ending Well explores the spiritual and practical dimensions of aging, dying, and end-of-life care. Through conversation, guest speakers, and reflection over the course of six weeks, we’ll consider how our faith shapes the way we prepare for death and care for one another—all ages and experiences welcome. This class will meet starting April 12 in Lancaster Hall. The first class will be taught by Gordon Peerman on “Providing Safe Passage for the Dying.” Gordon Peerman is an Episcopal priest, psychotherapist, and mindfulness meditation teacher. He is the author of “Blessed Relief: What Christians Can Learn from Buddhists about Suffering,” and his most recent book, “The Body Knows the Way: Coming Home through the Dark Night.” He leads retreats and workshops at the intersection of contemplative practice and psychological growth. With his late wife Kathy Woods, he led interspiritual gatherings through One River Wisdom School and taught mindfulness practices at Vanderbilt’s Osher Center for Integrative Health. At Vanderbilt Divinity School, he taught courses in Buddhist-Christian Dialogue and Pastoral Theology. He leads meditation retreats at St. Mary’s Sewanee and teaches for Vanderbilt’s OLLI Program. On the first Wednesday evening of every month, he leads an interspiritual meditation and talk at Second Presbyterian Church in Nashville from 5:30-6:30 PM.