Bluffton University’s Institute for Learning in Retirement (ILR), an educational program for retirees, is offering nine courses on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from Sept. 23-Nov. 14.

Cost to take three or more courses is $100. Individuals may take one or two courses for $35 each. Registration and, if applicable, course fees are due at the time of registration; Sept. 18 is the deadline to register. Unless otherwise noted, classes will meet in the ILR classroom, located in Shultz Hall of Riley Court on campus.

To register or for more information, contact Janet “J.P.” Schumacher, ILR director, at 419-358-3346 or [email protected].

Fall courses include:

Who Do We Say That Jesus Is?
Mondays, Sept. 23-Nov. 11, 9-10:30 a.m.
Kevin Mohr, pastor of English Lutheran Church in Bluffton, will lead discussion of the different images of Jesus presented in art, mass media and modern culture, comparing them to the Jesus of the New Testament.

Great Decisions
Mondays, Sept. 23-Nov. 11, 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Great Decisions is America’s largest discussion program on world affairs, and the title of an annual publication of the Foreign Policy Association. The book, which can be ordered at registration for $20 or found on Amazon, outlines eight foreign-policy challenges facing the United States. Introduced by guest presenters, this fall’s topics are Threat Assessments; China in Africa; NATO; Iran; Future of the Euro; Egypt; Myanmar and Southeast Asia; and Intervention-Syria.

Colloquium
Mondays, Sept. 23-Nov. 11, 1:30-3 p.m.
Among the topics will be Bluffton art professor Gregg Luginbuhl’s toaster collection; Rick Skilliter, Bluffton police chief; a journey to South Korea; a literature review; and revisiting Bluffton’s passenger railroad era.

Families in Foreign Films
Wednesdays, Sept. 25-Nov. 13, 9 a.m.-noon
Films from Mongolia, Sweden, Iran, Japan, France, Chad, England and India are scheduled. Phyllis Bixler is the moderator.

Mini Field Trips
Wednesdays, Sept. 25-Nov. 6, 1:30-3 p.m.
The series will begin with a “tree walk” on the Bluffton campus and include trips to some Bluffton small businesses, a blacksmith demonstration and various homes. There is a $5 fee for transportation.

Calligraphy
Thursdays, Sept. 26-Nov. 14, 9-10:30 a.m.
Each student will receive a personalized writing board with supplies—for a $10 fee—to begin practicing this writing art. Taught by LaRee Little, the class will meet in The Lion and Lamb Peace Arts Center classroom, adjacent to the ILR room.

Birdhouse Building
Thursdays, Oct. 10-Nov. 14, 9-10:30 a.m.
Limited to 10 students, the class will be taught by John Rich at the John Moser home, one mile north of Bluffton on Bentley Road.

Art Appreciation: From Jesus to St. Francis
Thursdays, Sept. 26-Nov. 14, 10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Artistic renderings of early Christians will be considered, including the many ways and roles in which Jesus has been depicted. Bev Fisher is the moderator.

Discovering Sherlock Holmes
Thursdays, Sept. 26-Nov. 14, 1:30-3 p.m.
Bob Cecire will lead a study of the historical context for the character and methods of Holmes. Film portraits of the literary detective will also be addressed, and screened.