Adult Sunday School Opportunities
Classes Begin Sunday, August 29, 2010 – Sunday, December 12, 2010 at 9:30 a.m.
Four Enriching classes will be offered this Fall 2010:
DreamThinkBeDo!,
What is progressive Christianity all about anyway? DreamThinkBeDo is a video series that features well known and respected theologians and teachers thinking through what it means to be a Christian in the 21st century. After watching a short video each week, we will talk together about the questions raised by the theologians and wonder together about how we can live more faithfully as followers of Jesus Christ. The videos are aimed at “youngish” adults of all ages-all are welcome to ponder the questions together. This class is facilitated by Associate Pastor Susan Verbrugge and will meet in Hatcher Conference Room.
Surprised by Joy with C. S. Lewis
Each person’s spiritual encounters occur on his/her path of life. Sharing these experiences contributes to our faith, as well as our understanding of Christian theology. In Surprised by Joy, C. S. Lewis celebrates subjective reflection of his spiritual journey and emerging theology, including ideas such as: “Reason is the Organ of Truth; Imagination is the Organ of Meaning”, and “The hardness of God is kinder than the softness of Man, and His compulsion is our liberation.” An atheist as a young man, Lewis came to realize that God was God, and Christ was the Word Made Flesh. He surrendered to the “steady, unrelenting approach of [God]” after discovering Joy, defined as “longing” or “passionate, silent gazing at things a long way off,” which he wished to experience again and again. These and other basic ideas formed in Lewis’ early years as a Christian became themes for many of his fiction and non-fiction writings. Inspired by the study of this book, the hope is that participants will recall specific persons and experiences that lead them to their faith and trust in God and Son. The class will be led by Martha Thomas, a teacher in classrooms (from middle school to university) and churches for four decades, including 15 years as professor at Pepperdine University where she was known as the “campus C.S. Lewis guru.” Join us in Westminster Hall.
Jesus, Paul, and Rome
Jesus and Paul lived in the Roman Empire; emperors were supreme, good ones were worshiped after their deaths, and provincial governors were their representatives. Knowledge of the historical background leads to a better understanding of the beginnings of Christianity. Jesus spent his life in an unimportant region of the Empire and had little contact with Roman authorities. Paul, however, was a Roman citizen and in his missionary journeys had many dealing with Roman officials. In the end, both Jesus and Paul were brought to trial before the Roman governor (procurator) of Judaea. The differences in legal procedure reveal much about conditions in the Roman World. This class will be led by Tom Watkins and will meet in Fellowship Hall.
New to Christianity – New Member – Presbyterian Curious?
New members, those interested in exploring membership, and those who would like to learn more about our Presbyterian Church and Christianity are encouraged to join us this Fall for lively and engaging discussion as we learn together. This class is facilitated by Senior Pastor Catherine Taylor. We will meet the first week of Sunday School in the Prayer Room and will discuss our schedule for class meetings during the quarter.
