Revelations seminar promotes transformation

Tim Matacio of St. Charles would love to welcome more people to his ongoing seminar on the book of Revelations.

But his publicity flier isn't totally inviting: "If you like your life the way it is, don't come," it says.

"St. Paul says we can conform, or we can be transformed by taking on a relationship with Christ," he explained. "In Romans chapter 12, he writes that we can be transformed with the renewing of our minds. I want people to know that they will be changed."

His seminar, he says, is not designed for the purposes of information, but is intended to promote transformation.

Matacio leads sessions on "The Revelation Revolution" from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays at Hosanna! Lutheran Church at Randall and Red Gate roads in St. Charles. There is no cost to attend.

Matacio is a former attorney who is the varsity tennis coach at St. Charles North High School. He is also a management consultant. He has taught Bible studies before, but never on Revelations.

"Revelations has a lot to say about what people want to know, namely what is going to happen in the future, and when they die.

"A lot of people are fascinated with Revelations but they don't know what to make of it," Matacio said. "It's written in symbolic language that you have to decipher. But wrestling with it makes you a different person."

Matacio said his seminar is designed to allow people to share. Learning takes place in a small group. He hopes other small study groups will break out in the future, and has no date for an end to the seminar.

For information, contact Matacio at (630) 975-2445 or timmatacio@msn.com.

Offerings for the mind…

"Does religion spoil everything?" will be explored by Martin Forward, executive director of Aurora University's Wackerlin Center for Faith and Action, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday in Room 320 of Eckhart Hall, 347 S. Gladstone Ave. in Aurora.

The program is free. The presentation, and a following discussion, is the first of a Saturday community-lecture series by the Wackerlin Center.

For information, call (630) 844-6535.

• Lindy Rubin will present "Art in Jewish Life," at 10:45 a.m. Dec. 2 at Temple B'nai Israel, 400 N. Edgelawn Drive in Aurora.

Rubin is a native of South Africa and received her master's in education from the University of Chicago. She works at Spertus College and has an expertise is using art to teach.

A brunch will precede the lecture at 10 a.m., with a suggested donation of $6.

For reservations, call the temple at (630) 892-2450 and visit www.temple-bnai-israel.org for information.

…and body

A health awareness program on the topics of insulin abuse and oxidative stress will be from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Nov. 17 at Calvary Episcopal Church, 222 S. Batavia Ave. (Route 31) in Batavia.

Eldred Schrofer will discuss the effect of diet and lifestyle, the four stages of diabetes, and will offer strategies for health management.

Admission is free, but reservations are requested. Call the church office at (630) 879-3378.

ngier@dailyherald.com