The central claim of Richard Rohr’s new book, The Universal Christ, is that there is a fundamental distinction between Jesus of Nazareth, on the one hand, and the Universal Christ, on the other. Jesus was a human being who lived and died 2,000 years ago; the universal Christ is an ever-present and all-encompassing presence that, while quintessentially expressed in Jesus of Nazareth, is also manifest both in and as every created thing. As Rohr repeats again and again, God (who is more or less equivalent to the universal Christ) loves things by becoming them, and not metaphorically.

DATE: JAN 16 -- WEEK 1 -- Exploring Richard Rohr's book, THE UNIVERSAL CHRIST

TOPICS: Ch. 1: Christ Is Not Jesus' Last Name /Video for Super Soul Sunday:  Oprah’s conversation with Richard Rohr about The Universal Christ

PRESENTER: John Draper, Cottage Hospital Chaplain-on-call, presenting Oprah Winfrey interview with Richard Rohr. Michael Dean, host.

DATE: JAN 23 -- WEEK 2 -- Exploring Richard Rohr's book, THE UNIVERSAL CHRIST

TOPICS: Ch. 2 -- Accepting That You Are Fully Accepted

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PART 1: Introduction of speaker & opening remarks

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PART 2: Concluding remarks; questions & answers

PRESENTER: Rev. David Moore, New Covenant Worship Ctr.  Anna Grotenhuis, host.

DATE: JAN 30 -- WEEK 3 -- Exploring Richard Rohr's book, THE UNIVERSAL CHRIST

TOPICS: Ch. 3: Revealed in Us--- as Us.    The customary audio introduction of today's speaker failed to get recorded, but here is a link to his published profile. The remainder of the first part of Rev. Day's presentation can be heard below, including the latter portion of opening remarks:

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PART 1:

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PART 2: Concluding remarks and questions & answers:

PRESENTER: Rev. Randall Day, Rector, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Los Olivos, CA. Pat McClure, host.

DATE: FEB 6 -- WEEK 4 -- Exploring Richard Rohr's book, THE UNIVERSAL CHRIST

TOPICS: Ch. 4  -- Original Goodness

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Introduction of speaker:

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PART 1: Reflections & dialogue (part 1)

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PART 2: Concluding reflections & dialogue

PRESENTER: Rev. Elizabeth Molitors, Rector, Trinity Episcopal Church. Martha Siegel, host.

DATE: FEB 13 -- WEEK 5 -- Exploring Richard Rohr's book, THE UNIVERSAL CHRIST

TOPICS: Ch. 5 Love Is the Meaning

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PART 1: Introduction of speaker

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PART 2: Reflections & dialogue about Ch. 5

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PART 3: Reflections on Jesus in the graphic arts: Rembrandt's etching illustrating Matthew Ch. 19, Christ among the sick. . . and with Pharisees.

PRESENTER: Rev. Steve Jacobsen, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church.  Anna Grotenhuis, host.

DATE: FEB 20 -- WEEK 6 -- Exploring Richard Rohr's book, THE UNIVERSAL CHRIST

TOPICS: Ch. 6 A Sacred Wholeness.

INTRODUCTION: Announcements; introduction of speaker

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PART 1: Reflections on Ch. 6

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PART 2: Insights into Wholeness and Wellness

PRESENTER: Dr. Michael Kearney, Renowned Palliative Care Consultant. Judith McDermott, host.

DATE: FEB 27 -- WEEK 7 -- Exploring Richard Rohr's book, THE UNIVERSAL CHRIST

TOPICS: Ch. 7: Going Somewhere Good.

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INTRODUCTION: Announcements; introduction of speaker

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PART 1: Reflections on Ch. 7

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PART 2: Further reflections & dialogue

PRESENTER: Rev. Jim Clarke, Chair, Spirituality Commission, LA Archdiocese. Anne Heck, host.

DATE: MAR 5, 2020 -- WEEK 8 -- Exploring Richard Rohr's book, THE UNIVERSAL CHRIST

TOPICS: Ch. 8 & 9. Doing and Saying; Things at Their Depth.

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INTRODUCTION: Announcements; introduction of speaker

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PART 1: Reflections on Ch. 8 & 9

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PART 2: Further reflections & some hilarious Irish tales.

PRESENTER: Msgr. Clement Connolly, retired Pastor, Holy Family Church, S. Pasadena. Judith McDermott, host.

DATE: MAR 12, 2020 -- WEEK 9 -- Exploring Richard Rohr's book, THE UNIVERSAL CHRIST

TOPICS: Ch. 10: The Feminine Incarnation. Introduction of speaker: Brief biography

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PART 1: Reflections on Ch. 10

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PART 2: Q & As. In conclusion, a hilarious joke.

PRESENTER: Alice MacDonald, M.A., emerita leader, Word and Life. Anne Heck, host

DATE: MAR 19, 2020 -- WEEK 10 -- Exploring Richard Rohr's book, THE UNIVERSAL CHRIST

TOPICS: Ch. 17: Beyond Mere Theology

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PART 1: Introduction of speaker.

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PART 2: Tim’s thoughts on Ch. 17, and some interactive dialogue.

PRESENTER: Rev. Tim Burnette, Curator, "The Way Collective." Thomas Heck, host. Recorded via Zoom download, with apologies for occasional gaps and crosstalk.