Whether you are a member or a friend, you are welcome at CRC. Please join us at our upcoming services, programs or events.

Photos from the Joint Venture Martin Luther King, Jr. Service are now online

Go to our "Photos" page to view.

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Tu BiSh'vat Seder/Service
University Series Kickoff, 'Judaism and the Natural World'

February 7, 7:00 pm

When the moon is full in the month of Sh'vat, our tradition teaches that underneath the ground, the sap begins to flow again so the trees will be able to spring back to life once the winter has ended. We call this sacred moment Tu BiSh'vat, the New Year for the Trees. The ritual that has emerged for this holiday is a seder, an ordered service of songs, blessings, teachings, and food all in celebration of the natural world. With gratitude, we will taste the fruits of the trees, the cups of wine colored to correspond to the seasonal cycle, and connect it all to the world of kabbalah, and the Tree of Life itself.

This year, our seder will also serve as a kick off to a month long adult education series focusing on Judaism and the Natural World. However, you certainly do not have to commit the rest of the classes to come and enjoy Tu BiSh'vat. Follow the moonlight and we’ll celebrate together.

The University Series will continue in March with Rabbi Ed; April with Rabbi Jim; and May with Rabbi Susan.

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Social Responsibility Shabbat

Friday, February 10, 7:30 pm

Voter Protection and the Voter ID Bill in Missouri
Speakers: Denise Lieberman, Senior Attorney & Missouri Voter Protection Advocate for the Advancement Project, and Joy Lieberman, Membership Secretary, CRC

All eligible voters in Missouri have a right to cast a ballot and have their ballot counted. Unfortunately, legislators are considering a bill that some believe could disenfranchise more than 300,000 eligible Missouri voters, including CRC’s own Joy Lieberman. Denise Lieberman will speak about the “Voter ID” bill and other threats to voting rights in Missouri, while Joy Lieberman will talk about why the Voter ID bill could threaten her right to vote. This year is an election year, with opportunities to vote for President, Senate, Congress, Governor, State legislators, important ballot initiatives and local leadership in Missouri. Come hear about what you can do to make sure that all eligible voters have the right to cast a vote this fall.

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Community Learning with Author and Activist Jay Michaelson

CRC Members Michael Getty and Brian Vetruba are bringing Jay Michaelson to CRC for their bar mitzvah project. Jay Michaelson is the author of three books and two hundred articles on religion, sexuality, and law, and a leading religious advocate for the sexual minorities whose work has been featured in the New York Times, NPR and CNN. Michaelson holds a JD from Yale and an MA in Religious Studies from Hebrew University, and has taught at Boston University Law School, Yale University, and religious and cultural institutions around the country. In 2009, he was included on the “Forward 50” list of the most influential Jewish leaders in America.

Join us during two evenings of learning and discussion:

Everything Is God: The Radical Path of Non-Dual Judaism

Wednesday, February 22, 7:30 pm
"God does not exist. God is existence itself." This startling idea has been nurtured for centuries, often in secret, by philosophers, Kabbalistic and Chasidic masters, and Eastern mystics alike. Come learn with Jay Michaelson as he discusses his 2009 book, which offers a uniquely accessible introduction to this esoteric but powerful way of imagining God's nature, God's presence in the world, and how to live in it.

God vs. Gay? The Religious Case for Equality
Wednesday, February 23, 7:00 pm
Michaelson underscores that the Hebrew Bible and Christian scriptures emphasize the importance of love, compassion, and equality. From this starting point, he argues that the moral principles in these texts favor acceptance of gays and lesbians, outweighing the handful of ambiguous verses so often cited by conservatives. Brian and Michael are selling copies of God vs. Gay? for $25.95, with proceeds benefiting CRC. Click here to order your copy, or contact Brian at jaymatcrc@gmail.com or 314-210-1754.