 Adult Christian Formation Opportunities, January - February 2004 Who Wrote the Old Testament?
6 Weeks, Thursday Evenings Meet in the business office, above the parish office. Reverend Janice Robinson leads this class on the Old Testament that includes the answers to questions like, “What's in it?" and "How is it relevant today?" In the course we will look at the contents of the books of the Old Testament, their relationship to each other, and the context, as far as it is known. It will be important for participants to have a bible that they can bring to class each week. Assignments will be to read scripture. Prayer Group
Thursday, February 5th Please join the Contemplative Prayer Group for their monthly meeting. Christian Contemplative Prayer "is the opening of mind and heart - our whole being - to God, the Ultimate Mystery, beyond thoughts, words and emotions, ..." You do not need to know anything about Contemplative Prayer to participate. All are welcome and all are "beginners". The Bible and Sexuality: Teaching and Conversation
Sunday, Jan. 25th 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Speaker: The Rev. Michael Hopkins The Rev. Michael W. Hopkins is the Rector of St. George’s Episcopal Church, Glenn Dale, Maryland, a position he has held since 1990. From 1998-2003, he was the President of Integrity, the organization of gay and lesbian Episcopalians and their friends. He served for Integrity at the past three General Conventions (1997, 2000 and 2003) and at the Lambeth Conference in 1998. He served on the Diocesan Council in the Diocese of Washington from 1994-2000, including two years as Moderator of Council. He was also a member of the Search Committee for the 8th Bishop of Washington. He and his partner of eleven years live in Greenbelt. January January 18 – Appreciative Inquiry Did you miss the Town Meeting in November? Here’s your second chance to be heard! Come and give us your responses to the following questions:
Do you have other issues you’d like to bring up with the Vestry and the Clergy? If so, come to the Adult Forum and let us know what you think. All are welcome. January 25 – Ministry of Money – Part 1 What place does money hold in our lives? Whose money is this, anyway? Is it a god or a tool? How does one maintain healthy, holy attitudes toward money? The Ministry of Money works with people of faith at the intersection of their faith and their resources. In the two sessions at Grace Church, through personal reflection and small and large group discussions, Harriet Taylor from the Ministry of Money staff will facilitate the exploration of questions such as, what are our attitudes about money? How have they changed throughout our lives? What influences our attitudes? How much is enough? Has money ever had a significant impact on a close relationship? What does it mean to live as a follower of Jesus in an affluent culture surrounded by a world of poverty? The objective isn't to provide answers to these questions but to stimulate reflection and sharing around these issues. On staff at Ministry of Money for five years, Harriet has led a number of retreats and pilgrimages and has written for the quarterly newsletter. She comes from an academic background, having served as head of a two year campus of Miami University in Ohio for over a decade. Now a part of the Church of the Saviour community at Dayspring in Germantown, she also is a part-time member of Christian Peacemaker Teams, a violence-reduction organization, with which she serves in Hebron on the West Bank 3-6 weeks a year. February February 1 – Ministry of Money – Part 2 February 8 – Christian Formation Cluster The Christian Formation programs will be featured in the Undercroft after each service. Leaders and participants in the various programs will make brief presentations and be available to answer questions and listen to comments and suggestions. Topics include:
February 15 – 10 Thoughts to Ponder in the New Year Educator, mentor, coach, and Grace parishioner Skip Grant leads a discussion on blessings in our lives. Skip Grant has been with St. Alban’s School for 23 years as Director of Risk, a program for boys who would not normally have an opportunity to attend and which helps to broaden the diversity of the school. He has also served as head coach of various athletic teams at the school and at the National Cathedral, and has been Director of Athletics at St. Alban’s for the past 12 years. Prior to that, Skip was Director of Athletics of the Catholic Youth Organization in the Diocese of Washington for 3 years, and spent 14 years with the Smithsonian Institution. Join us as we look at ways of putting our lives in a different perspective for 2004! February 22 – Pulling It All Together Members of the Adult Formation Committee examine our theme for the year and bring in the different expressions of it that we've enjoyed to date. Come and share your experiences, and let us know what you would like to hear more about in the forums. February 29 – Pretzel Sunday Another Grace Church tradition! All generations join to bake pretzels together, including a special one to be shared during the communion service. |