The Shepherd's Center of Columbia will begin its summer session Wednesday, July 9, 2008, in the Leisure Ministries Building of the Trenholm Road United Methodist Church, 3401 Trenholm Road.

The Shepherd's Center of Columbia is a national program for those 50 years or older.

The following topics will be presented:

• Meet the Author, conducted by a different author each week

• Imperial America, taught by Dr. John Stine

• Political Campaigns and Different Conventions presented by different experts

• Astronomy, led by Bob Carroll

A painting class and a bridge class will meet, but there will no instructors for the groups.

Classes begin at 9 am and last an hour. The Shepherd's Center of Columbia Summer Session meets through July 30.

For more information, call Dorcas Giles, the executive director, 779-4449.