Wednesday Courses   

What happens to human consciousness when we die? In 1978, Dr. Raymond Moody's landmark book Life After Life reported on Moody's investigation of 150 people who died clinically, were subsequently revived, and reported similar extraordinary experiences. His book started a revolution in popular attitudes regarding an afterlife and forever changed how we understand both death and life.

Since then, with vastly improved resuscitation techniques, five decades of research on thousands upon thousands of NDEs reported around the world have brought us powerful evidence that yes, Virginia, there is “life" after physical death and, as frosting on the cake, what awaits us is both heart-warming and extremely comforting. Physicians and professors at prominent universities, medical schools, and hospitals worldwide continue to study this phenomenon with mind-blowing results. This course brings you up to speed on these findings and on what we now know about other exceptional paranormal phenomena like Out-of-Body and Shared Death Experiences.

The course will have speaking, reading, and writing. The primary objective is to teach enough vocabulary and expressions that you can begin to speak and understand others who speak Spanish. We will build a community of safety together, where everyone is praised for trying to communicate and there is no room for criticism. It is difficult to learn another language, making it necessary for everyone to be patient with one another. We can laugh together while we all make mistakes!

Required text: Dorothy Richmond, Practice Makes Perfect Spanish Verb Tenses, Fifth Edition

"Before Monet, there was Pissarro," writes the Denver Art Museum in its announcement of the extraordinary exhibition "Camille Pissarro: The Honest Eye," open from October 24, 2025, to February 8, 2026. This course will focus on the life and times of Camille Pissarro, his unusual background, and how he became the supporter and mentor to the famed painters of his milieu: Monet, Renoir, Degas, Cassatt, Sisley, and Morisot - the Impressionists known as the painters of "soft skies and radical ideas."Also included in the six PowerPoint presentations will be those painters who influenced Pissarro and how he in turn influenced those who followed him. The course will be presented in two formats: Tuesday mornings in person at Jefferson Unitarian Church and Wednesday mornings via Zoom. Participants may attend either or both presentations.

Participants will pay for only six classes, but the facilitator is offering two bonus sessions: a morning at the museum on Tuesday, January 27, and an all-French breakfast on Tuesday, March 3.

There will be weekly handouts sent by email.

There will be no class on January 28 or March 4.

With powerful new telescopes, scientists are making observations that challenge our theories of the cosmos. Each week we will meet a different telescope, discussing why it was built, how it was developed, and what makes it special. Then we will review the key discoveries it helped make and how those confirm or disrupt our current understanding of the universe. The telescopes include the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the early universe and exoplanets; Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), dark energy and dark matter; Vera C. Rubin Observatory, a 10-year survey of the universe; Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe (SPHEREx); Euclid Space Observatory, dark energy and dark matter; Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA), viewing the universe at radio wavelengths; Nancy Roman Grace Telescope. Prior knowledge of cosmology is not required, as we will review the underlying cosmological principles at an introductory level.

Bitcoin has been called everything from "digital gold" to "a passing fad." What's the truth? This class offers a clear, non-technical introduction to Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies—what they are, how they work, and why they've captured so much attention.

Together, we'll explore whether this technology could reshape money or simply fade away. We'll explore what money is and how it has evolved over time from commodity money (seashells, coins, paper) to electronic money (wire transfers, credit cards, and peer-to-peer transfer such as Venmo and Zelle), and then explore digital currencies. We'll explore whether Bitcoin is an investment asset, a speculation, or an emerging technology—or all of the above.

Bitcoin has been called everything from "digital gold" to "a passing fad." What's the truth? This class offers a clear, non-technical introduction to Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies—what they are, how they work, and why they've captured so much attention.

Together, we'll explore whether this technology could reshape money or simply fade away. We'll explore what money is and how it has evolved over time from commodity money (seashells, coins, paper) to electronic money (wire transfers, credit cards, and peer-to-peer transfer such as Venmo and Zelle), and then explore digital currencies. We'll explore whether Bitcoin is an investment asset, a speculation, or an emerging technology—or all of the above.

Defense in the 21st Century is an eight-week online course designed for individuals new to the game of bridge or those who have been absent from bridge for a while. This course helps bridge students learn the basics of defending a bridge hand. Students will learn opening leads in both notrump and trump contracts, second- and third-hand play, defensive signals, developing defensive tricks, interfering with declarer, and developing a defender's plan. Defense in the 21st Century is the text, provided to students free, sponsored by the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL).

There is a $20.00 non-negotiable and non-refundable fee for this class covering the book mailing and virtual bridge app fees. The fee is paid to teacher Michael Holmes via check to 313 Clisby Austin Rd., Tunnel Hill, GA 30755, or Zelle (303-928-9187 or mdholmes8@yahoo.com). Note: If the address for book delivery differs from your check address, send special instructions. If using Zelle, email the instructor your correct address. Your book will be mailed upon receipt of the course fee. Failure to send the fee by the second class will result in removal from the class.

Unlock your artistic potential and explore the captivating world of colored pencils in this comprehensive course. Whether you are a beginner or looking to refine your skills, this course offers an immersive experience in the art of colored pencils. The fundamental technique of blending and how to mix colors together will be taught to achieve a realistic 3D look with colored pencils. We will learn color-mixing concepts and how to color objects with the color pencils. Participants will also learn how to look at light and shadow in an object, and how to look at details in a reference photo to make drawings realistic. At the end of class, they will have a better understanding of shading and blending with colored pencils. Join Mitra and let your creativity flourish!

Required materials: pencil, eraser, set of 36 or 48 Color pencils (Mitra has Prisma color soft core color pencils), Canson vellum paper.

Though humans share 99.9% of their genes, human learning across the planet results in great differences in languages, values, beliefs, and tastes. This course will address how humans--united by nature--still divide and suffer conflict and frustration. It also addresses how humans tap into their inherent strengths, both genetic and learned, to minimize conflict and frustration and to flourish.

Common Humanity is a multidisciplinary course that taps into history, biology, psychology, and anthropology. Participants will explore the basic human forces of instinct, emotion, thought, and habit that determine why individuals and groups succeed and fail.

Participants are asked to bring an open mind and heart to class. Activities to fuel learning include group conversations, short lectures, game-playing, short videos, and surveys. Before each weekly class, a relevant short article or a brief survey activity will be provided.

This is a discussion of the current week's events in the first hour. Dick will do the first week overview. Then we would like 2 people in class to volunteer each week to do this overview of the week before. The second hour will be a discussion of a specific topic. The facilitators of this class express a progressive point of view on American politics. They welcome conservative or other points of view and encourage discussion as part of our learning experience.

This class brings the unique history, culture, and traditions of Japan to life! Participants will enter the heart of Japanese culture—past and present. Whether you’re fascinated by art, history, philosophy, or simply seek answers about Japan’s allure, this immersive journey will deliver.

Travel through Japan’s history, explore the traditional arts, and learn about the culture’s perspectives on resilience, beauty, and harmony. Dive into the philosophies and values that shape Japanese thinking. Connect ancient wisdom with contemporary issues to see how they inform pop culture to business etiquette. Encounter Japan’s rich mythology, religious traditions, and folktales that inspired generations and still influence its art, film, and literature today.

Whether you’ve been to Japan and want to expand your knowledge, are considering a future trip, or just want to immerse yourself in another culture, this class is for you. Instruction will consist of lectures and videos, as well as opportunities to engage with the material.

Each week a foreign film will be viewed, followed by a class discussion. Before each class, the facilitator will send to participants the name of the film that will be shown in the next class. None of the films will have been shown in the facilitator's prior classes.

Step into a world of fun and nostalgia as we explore the history of play, toys, and games through the ages. This engaging class traces the timeless joy of play, from ancient dice and spinning tops to Victorian dolls, tin soldiers, and board games, all the way to the rise of electronic toys and video games in the modern era. Along the way, we’ll look at how culture, technology, and history shaped the ways children and adults have played and share personal memories of favorite pastimes. Whether you grew up playing Candy Land, jacks, jump rope, Lionel trains or Barbie dolls, this class offers a chance to revisit cherished moments, learn surprising historical stories behind familiar toys, and discover how play has always been a universal part of human life. Quoting Roy Angel, inventor of Pictionary, “Everyone has their own toy box of memories…Let’s open the lid wide open!”

Great Decisions is a course on United States foreign policy. Each week, we will focus on a specific topic related to that policy from a U.S. perspective. Other perspectives on that policy topic are valued and encouraged. In addition, each week the class will watch a video, prepared by the Foreign Policy Association, to further define the week’s topic. Students are encouraged to provide their thoughts and opinions on the presented materials and be ready to discuss with and learn from their classmates. Topics included are:

• America and the World: Trump 2.0 Foreign Policy
• Trump Tariffs and the Future of the World Economy
• U.S.-China Relations
• Ruptured Alliances and the Risk of Nuclear Proliferation
• Ukraine and the Future of European Security
• Multilateral Institutions in a Changing World Order
• U.S. Engagement of Africa
• The Future of Human Rights and International Law

Required text: Great Decisions Briefing Book 2026 available from the Foreign Policy Association.

Great Decisions 2026 is a course on United States foreign policy. Each week, we will focus on a specific topic related to that policy from a U.S. perspective. Other perspectives on that policy topic are valued and encouraged. In addition, each week the class will watch a video, prepared by the Foreign Policy Association, to further define the week’s topic. Students are encouraged to provide their thoughts and opinions on the presented materials and be ready to discuss with and learn from their classmates. Topics included are:

• America and the World: Trump 2.0 Foreign Policy
• Trump Tariffs and the Future of the World Economy
• U.S.-China Relations
• Ruptured Alliances and the Risk of Nuclear Proliferation
• Ukraine and the Future of European Security
• Multilateral Institutions in a Changing World Order
• U.S. Engagement of Africa
• The Future of Human Rights and International Law

Required text: Great Decisions Briefing Book 2026 available from the Foreign Policy Association.

William F. Halsey was, quite possibly, the most popular admiral in U.S. Navy history during World War II. His aggressive risk-taking throughout the war led to U.S. victories at Guadalcanal, Midway (even though he was hospitalized), numerous island landings, and Leyte Gulf, culminating in the Japanese surrender aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.

Questions surround Halsey’s actions at Leyte Gulf and during Typhoon Cobra, however. Was he lured from a desperate battle by a Japanese decoy fleet? Did he hold too long before releasing his ships to return to the San Bernardino Strait? Did his actions lead to the loss of men and vessels both at Samar and in Typhoon Cobra?

Over the course of eight weeks, we’ll touch on those parts of the Pacific War that drove the U.S. to Leyte Gulf and see how even heroes can make mistakes--mistakes which may be saved by selfless acts of courage and sacrifice by others.

Recommended text: James D. Hornfischer, Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors

James McBride's The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store opens with the discovery of a skeleton in a well in the Chicken Hill area of Pottstown, Pennsylvania. This sets up a sense of mystery as the narrative jumps back nearly 50 years to explore the town, its secrets, and its people.

Chicken Hill is a vibrant community of Jewish and Black immigrants--a mix of characters with intertwined lives and shared histories. McBride, who is Black and Jewish, tells their stories with affection, humor, and some vexation with the world when a deaf boy in town is left without a mother and the state looks to take him into their custody.

It's a well-written, intriguing story about people who are struggling, and their ambitions, successes and disappointments. In this compassionate, life-affirming and often funny novel, McBride explores what it means to live in a community on the margins of "white" America.

Required text: James McBride, The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store

This course will be a combination literature and history class. The book we’ll read is Sinclair Lewis’s 1935 novel "It Can’t Happen Here." Lewis was the first American recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature. He’s well-known for such novels as "Main Street," "Babbitt," "Elmer Gantry," "Arrowsmith," and "Dodsworth." In his 1930 Nobel acceptance speech, Lewis warned that in America, literature was stifled by a “standardization of thought,” and he criticized publishers, critics, and readers who resisted frank portrayals of American life.

In addition to reading Lewis’s book, we’ll take a close look at the history of 1930s America. The 1930s in the United States (in the shadow of the Great Depression and global political upheavals) saw a wide range of extreme political personalities and movements. Among the individuals we’ll examine are Father Coughlin, Huey Long, William Pelley, and Francis Townsend. We’ll also focus on social movements such as the National Union for Social Justice, the American Liberty League, the Silver Legion of America, the German American Bund, America First, Share Our Wealth, and the Communist Party USA.

Required text: Sinclair Lewis: It Can't Happen Here, copyright 1935

I love to share the beauty of our world with you! Whether you are eager to travel and want some ideas about future trips, or you're an armchair traveler who enjoys seeing the beauty of the world, you'll enjoy this class. Furthermore, if you are as concerned as I am about current overtourism, you will share my concern and discuss the problem. I hope to have class participation and hear about your travels and concerns.

Imagine a memoir in 17 syllables all about beauty and endings, the two greatest topics in literature. Personal stories are so relevant today, but how to take a different, exciting, simple, and approachable path, both for writer and reader? Poetry is the answer! Many Asian forms in particular, such as the familiar haiku, are conducive to pithy statements that embody far more than the actual words, an unexpected impetus to the memoirist ready to share sparkling bits of experience, but perhaps not a full book. This class bridges reading, appreciation, discussion, and a generative writing workshop to create mini-memoir poems. Presentations first offer a wide-ranging variety of poetic and short poetic prose works for analysis and inspiration; second, explanations of structure, style, punctuation (or not), and how to find the “right words” to begin the path toward valuable experiential memoir; and third, end with composition and time to share and appreciate creative efforts with participants.

In traditional Chinese medicine, the patient is expected to be an active participant in their own healing, not just a victim of disease. Strong believers that exercise is medicine, Qi-gong evolved over centuries to become the primary form of exercise therapy in traditional Chinese medicine. Medical Qi-gong exercises are considered superior to herbal medicine and acupuncture because patients learn to keep themselves healthy by cultivating a strong mind and body. With over 3,600 psychophysiological exercises, medical Qi-gong provides tools for everyone to participate actively in their own health. This course introduces students to the most popular exercise sets in a safe, progressive way. Learn from two top professors of traditional Chinese medicine at the University of Denver and Colorado Chinese Medicine University about evidence-based therapeutic exercises you can use in your own life.

Recommended text:  Chinese Medical Qigong Paperback – May 28,  2013 by Tianjun Liu (Editor), Xiao Mei Qiang (Editor)

The facilitator will provide notes for the classes and will use class discussion, drills, and play of bridge hands to demonstrate and reinforce the concepts learned. Participants will review planning by counting points, counting tricks, counting distribution, second-seat play, planning when to cover, and play hands related to the concepts learned in class.

There is a $20.00 non-negotiable and non-refundable fee for this class. The fee offsets the app fees so students can play bridge online, as well as postage to mail a book to students (there is no text for this class). Failure to pay the fee will result in removal from the class. Participants can pay the instructor via check or Zelle (303-928-9187 or mdholmes8@yahoo.com). Participants can mail a check to 313 Clisby Austin Rd., Tunnel Hill, GA 30755.

Hamlet and Luke Skywalker may not have much in common—other than father issues! However, both characters become more vivid to audiences with musical support. Is he thoughtful or anguished? Ready for action or fearful of failure? The script may hint at the answers, but music brings it home to us. In this six-session Zoom course, music historian and frequent OLLI presenter Betsy Schwarm explores the subject. She'll consider music for stage plays, from Shakespeare to Peer Gynt. Then it's operetta and musical theater, including Mozart, Gilbert and Sullivan, and Sondheim. Film music gets two sessions: one for John Williams and another for other great names. After all, Robin Hood's Merry Men and the Titanic's tragic lovers require very different music. Then there's that shark and those Jedi! How does great music add to what we see on the stage or screen? That's Betsy's topic for the winter term of 2026 with OLLI!

As with so many aspects of life, women have traditionally been marginalized by men. The field of music, and for our purposes, jazz, is no different. This course is designed to bring women out of the shadows of the patriarchy and discover their immense talent, not only as singers (the most traditional role) and swingers, but as instrumentalists, composers, and bandleaders. We will explore the origins of jazz beginning in the 19th century and the evolution of this African-American art form through the women who influenced it. Instruction will be multi-media, including PowerPoint presentation, audio, and video. All sessions are designed to stimulate interaction with participants, including commentaries, questions, and perhaps even relating personal experiences.

European empires followed their quest for raw materials into a new world. The advent of the Industrial Revolution transformed that quest into a new appetite for more power. The Road to Imperialism traverses revolutions, philosophical shifts, and global wars. Join Shellie on this road, from 1700-1890, that leads us to the modern world.

Drawing on two decades of portfolio management and retirement advising, this OLLI course shows what truly works—and what doesn't—when your savings need to last. You'll get practical, real-world lessons on simple rules for building a resilient investment portfolio, income strategies, spotting and avoiding high-fee investments that underperform, and examples of mistakes that have cost retirees time and money. The emphasis is on usable steps and plain-English explanations you can evaluate for your own situation. We'll also explore a mindset shift that reduces stress about market swings by reframing decisions around income needs, time horizons, and tolerable risk instead of daily price movements. Along the way, Eric will introduce a few lesser-known asset types and professional techniques—explained so they're understandable and actionable—that can play a thoughtful role in retirement planning when used appropriately. Bring your questions and specific scenarios; the session is designed to leave you more confident and better prepared to make practical investing choices for retirement.

How low can a family go? For Faulkner’s Compsons it is alcoholism and child abuse, mental impairment and mutilation, promiscuity and incestuousness, madness and suicide, warped time, and raging revenge. Then, rinse and repeat!

“The Sound and the Fury” is a recondite telling and re-telling of the coming of age of four children amidst this dissolution and the decay of the South’s Lost Cause mythology. But there is a Black family deeply entangled in this story, and the voices and actions of “the help” stand in muffled but meaningful contrast to the surrounding disintegration. Join us in taking on the book that made Faulkner’s reputation and explore whether the past is, indeed, ever really past.

Required text: William Faulkner, The Sound and the Fury, with an Introduction by Casey Cep, Vintage International Edition (2025), ISBN 978-0-679-73224-2

No class on 1/28.

This class will be a mind-bending exploration of time travel—from its origins in literature and science to its influence on our understanding of time itself. We will explore physics, technology, philosophy, and art as each relates to time travel and tells the story of the concept's cultural evolution—from H.G. Wells to Doctor Who, from Proust to Woody Allen.

We will take a close look at the porous boundary between science fiction and modern physics, and we will ultimately delve into what it all means in our own moment in time—that is, the world of the instantaneous, with its all-consuming present and vanishing future.

Classes will include lecture, discussion, and presentations from The Great Courses series, “Mysteries of Modern Physics: Time.”

Required text: James Gleick, Time Travel: A History. Recommended additional text: Carlo Rovelli, The Order of Time, (2018).

How much do you really know about the American Indian? Where did the American Indian come from? What about the wars between the American Indian and the white man? What are some of their ceremonies, and what is a powwow? What happened at boarding schools? Have you ever seen an American Indian opera with its story of song and dance? Learn the influence of American Indian music and jazz shared in a film titled Spirit. See the facilitator's examples of American Indian art forms, such as paintings, weavings, pottery, and jewelry. Bring your examples of American Indian art to share with the class. Who were code-talkers of World War I and II? View and learn of American Indian poverty versus wealth through casinos. This information will be shared using PowerPoint presentations, DVDs, discussions, and your impressions of what you may or may not know about the American Indian.

Three hundred million people are migrating every year globally. We hear about the horrors of Gaza, Syria, and Afghanistan, but far more people are migrating from violence and starvation in various parts of Africa in wars that have been going on for years. The UN has declared that Sudan is the most serious humanitarian disaster in the world, but more people are escaping from Venezuela than any other country. Why are these events happening, what future ones can we expect, and how is it that most migration is for economic reasons? Migration into Europe and America has been reduced, but what does the future hold? This class will give you the answers to these and many other important questions.

Three hundred million people are migrating every year globally. We hear about the horrors of Gaza, Syria, and Afghanistan, but far more people are migrating from violence and starvation in various parts of Africa in wars that have been going on for years. The UN has declared that Sudan is the most serious humanitarian disaster in the world, but more people are escaping from Venezuela than any other country. Why are these events happening, what future ones can we expect, and how is it that most migration is for economic reasons? Migration into Europe and America has been reduced, but what does the future hold? This class will give you the answers to these and many other important questions.

Join us for an engaging literary journey through brief, captivating lectures on the rich history of short forms of literature. This class is designed for participants to dive deep into the art of concise expression, primarily through the reading and writing of short literary constructs. You'll have the opportunity to share your insights and discoveries in lively small group discussions, within a collaborative learning environment.

Our focus on brevity will invite you to experience and contribute to the literary legacy of the shortest forms—including sentences, maxims, aphorisms, anecdotes, couplets, quatrains, characters, captions, comments, notes, and tweets.

Our rich reading list features timeless works, including Sei Shonagon's enchanting "The Pillow Book," Benjamin Franklin's clever "Poor Richard’s Almanac," and Ambrose Bierce's sharp and witty "The Devil’s Dictionary."

Embark on this exploration of literature’s succinct forms and discover the power of words in their most concise and transformative expressions!

Required texts: They are all Dover Thrift Edition paperbacks, and the total cost of the six books is $30: The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagaon ($5), The Devil’s Dictionary of Ambrose Bierce ($5), Wit and Wisdom from Poor Richard’s Almanac ($4), Women’s Wit and Wisdom: A Book of Quotations ($5), Book of African-American Quotations ($8), Music: A Book of Quotations ($3)