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ADULT MINISTRIES 
Adult Sunday Morning Classes for Spring 2008
The Adult Ministry Team is offering the following classes from January 5th through May 13th, 9:30-10:30 a.m.
| A Survey of the Bible - An overview of the Bible as an unfolding historical drama. Last fall, the class studied the books of the Old Testament; this spring, it will survey the books of the New Testament. There is a great deal of diversity in the Bible: different personalities, different attitudes toward life, and different contexts. Underlying all this variety is a unity and a plot which moves toward resolution. The class will continue to use The Unfolding Drama of the Bible by Bernhard Anderson as a guide for its study. An additional resource will be Luke Timothy Johnson's Living Jesus. This is a class for anyone interested in becoming better acquainted with the Bible as a whole. During the spring course, the class will look at the themes and books of the New Testament, as well as have an opportunity to study several key passates in depth. Scott West and Dr. Bob Rice will team teach the class. |
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Living the Questions - Faith is not a destination, but a journey. On this journey, those in the church will question basic beliefs to make them culturally relevant and spiritually useful. This class will provide a catalyst for the discussion of what is already believed and practiced by many faithful people still holding onto institutional religion. By use of EduFilm's DVD called Living the Questions, we will study and discuss such themes as biblical authority, stories of creation, restoring relationships, evil and suffering, intimacy with God, social justice, a kingdom without walls, lives of Jesus, Paul the Apostle, and challenges facing a progressive Christianity. Living the Questions doesn't provide easy answers, but is a resource for those in the midst of a life-long conversation about the mysteries of faith and life. This class will be facilitated by Pam Normile and Roy Bendure. |
| Medieval Religious Drama - At some point in 10th-century Europe, a sort of staged musical dialogue began appearing in various locales. Three church members would approach an area of the sanctuary understood to represent a tomb. As they neared, another worshipper stopped them and asked, "Whom do you seek in the tomb, followers of Christ?" The women (most likely portrayed by men) replied: "We seek Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified." The angel answered them, confirming the central concept of our religion. "He is not here," the angel said, "He is risen!" From this simple exchange of dialogue grew a diverse and sophisticated--and, often, comic--form of dramatic presentation that, by the mid-5th century, could be seen throughout Europe. Some plays illustrated episodes from the Bible; some told the stories of Saints and their miracles; some presented a representative human (an "Everyman"), and illustrated his path through life, the challenges and temptation he faced, and his eventual death and salvation. From the early Christian tradition of antiphonal songs and chants, processions, and recited liturgy within the church building, grew massive outdoor civic spectacles--some spanning weeks--that combined Biblical and moral instruction with commerce and entertainment. Then, at the dawn of the Renaissance, these elaborate medieval religious dramas started to disappear. By the time of Shakespeare, they were, for the most part, a memory of olden times. In this course, we will discover and discuss medieval religious drama, tying it into the religious life of its audience and participants, and examining it as a construct of the medieval traditions of art, architecture, and music. Dr. Tom Pender will teach this class in Westminster Room. |
Adult Mid-Week Bible Studies: These studies run from Mid-January through Mid-May. Current groups and topics are listed below:
Women's Study Group - Wednesday evenings, from 6:30-8:00 p.m., in the Parlor. We are looking forward to resuming the women's study group on Wednesday, January 9th. We are continuing with John Shelby Spong's book, The Sins of Scripture, commencing with Section 7, "The Bible and Certainty," chapter 27. During Lent (which comes early this year--Ash Wednesday is February 6th), we will study the book which the whole church will use with Memorial Presbyterian Church. After Easter, the group will select a new book to study. All women are welcome to attend.
Men's Bible Study and Discussion Fellowship - Thursday mornings, from 6:30-7:30 a.m. This Bible study meets on a weekly basis. This Spring, we will be studying the book of Colossians. All men are invited to join us at 6:30 a.m. for coffee and donuts. Please enter the church by the south door off the south parking lot. Our study begins at 6:45, and adjourns by 7:30 to allow those men who are employed to get to their workplace. Our two-fold mission is: one, to create an opportunity for men to strengthen their faith and knowledge through reading and discussing Scripture in an atmosphere that is open to questions, expressions of doubt, as well as personal witness; and, two, to enhance this learning and growing experience through the power of fellowship. The Men's Bible Study is facilitated by Jim Brown.