Adult Education Programs
ADULT CLASSES THIS TERM:
WINTER, 2012
LIVING THE GOOD NEWS - Advent, Christmas, Epiphany - Advent in the lectionary is the Church's New Year, and time changes from ordinary, or kronos, to God's time, or karios. The colors from green to blue-purple symbolize a period of solemn reflection, but Advent is not Lent; although repentance is a theme, it is not the only one. Advent is also a time of joy and expectation for the coming to Christ in each of our lives. The lectionary is designed to draw the church together in reading and reflecting on the same scripture verses. Families together encounter the same scripture lessons. Moreover, the lectionary joins us with Anglicans throughout the world and with saints throughout the ages so that we become the unified, celebrating Body of Christ. You are invited to a journey into greater faith with your brothers and sisters at all times and in all places. Dick Hooper leads the class, upstairs in the CEMC.**NEW** Coffee Talk — We’ll have coffee, we’ll talk...no big whoop. If you got that reference to an SNL skit from the 1990s, then this class is for you. And if you didn’t get it, you’re welcome too. This is a class aimed at the generation who grew up watching SNL — a generation that was raised on, understands and embraces pop
culture. We’ll be taking things that we know — music, films, TV — maybe even something from SNL, and using these as examples from which to have a discussion about bigger things. Like SNL, it will be fun, edgy, and sometimes a bit irreverent. Trust me, it’ll be like buttah! This class is held in Rm. 31/32, upstairs in the Christian
Ed Bldg. Led by Jeff Hual.
SUNDAY CENTERING PRAYER GROUP - This group is open to anyone interested in centering prayer as well as those who practice it daily. Centering Prayer is an ancient prayer form which helps deepen our relationship with God. It is a silent form of prayer - we quiet our minds from thoughts so that we can be in deeper communion with God. We will teach the prayer form to newcomers. Our Sunday format is to pray together and then have a brief period of open discussion. For more information contact Molly Payne-Hardin at mollypaynehardin@yahoo.com or 777-9572 - or simply stop by one Sunday. This class is held in the Centering Prayer room across from the Business Office in the administrative hallway.
Also this Semester
Winter - Spring 2012 classes will include Christ Church 101, for those considering membership in the Episcopal Church. This class is required for those seeking confirmation or reception. The Bishop's confirmation visit will be May 20, 2012.
Sunday Mornings with Fr. Tim Backus, starting in January, 2012 Understanding the "I have no clue what that means" big words of the Church through multi-media and technology - The focus of this class will utilize multi-media such as video clips, sound files, and visual graphics to help us understand theological terms such as Salvation, Christology, Soteriology, etc, which will be tackled on a monthly basis. Our class will be enriched by guest speakers on a monthly basis, led and directed by Rev. Tim Backus. This class meets in Room 31/ 32 (Fishbowl Room).
Weekday Christian Formation Opportunities
"Bibles to Go" Men's Bible Study Group - meets every Monday at Noon, in the Library. This group meets for a bag lunch and fellowship. This fall we will study Exodus and Leviticus for Everyone by John Goldingay. Bring lunch and your minds as we learn about Exodus, scripture not only in its historical context, but discovery how it speaks to us in our contemporary society. Dick Hooper moderates this group; mainly for "the downtown crowd," but open to all.
Father Hill's New Testament Survey Class - meets every Wednesday at 1:30 p.m., in the Parlor.
Bible Study and Bagels with Father Bob meets every Wednesday, 7:15 a.m. in the Parish Hall. Start the day with others in a study/discussion of the gospel reading for the upcoming Sunday. Bagels and coffee, prayer and discovery, other seekers and the presence of our Lord are what await you. Fr. Bob Graves is our mentor.
Education for Ministry (EfM) is a four-year program of theological education by extension from the School of Theology at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. Over 70,000 persons have participated in the program, and in the United States more than 22,000 have completed the full four years. Here at Christ Church there are more than 30 graduates of EfM. The seminar group is the nucleus of the EfM program. A group consists of six to twelve participants and a trained mentor who meet weekly over the course of a nine-month academic year (Sandy Early and Walt Kindergan will be co-mentors this year). Through study, prayer, and reflection, the EfM group moves toward a new understanding of the fullness of God's kingdom. Participants are given weekly assignments to study with the help of resource guides. In the seminar members share their insights and discoveries as well as discuss questions which arise in their study. More important is the development of skills in theological reflection. The goal is to learn to think theologically. By examining their own beliefs and their relationship to our culture and the tradition of our Christian faith, participants can learn what it means to be effective ministers in the world. Cost is $350.00 per year. EfM starts up again in early September. If you are interested or simply have questions, please call Sandy Early at 206-2544.