Formation
Sundays @ 9:00 am | Adult Formation Class
Sundays @ 10:00 am | Children’s Sunday School (ages 3 through 5th grade)
Wednesdays @ 5:30 pm | Evening Prayer
Wednesdays @ 6:00 pm | Reflections
The Episcopal Church defines formation as “lifelong growth in the knowledge, service, and love of God as followers of Christ . . . informed by scripture, tradition, and reason.”
“Christian formation is a lifelong process, occurring in community, that shapes you into the person God created you to be.” — The Reverend Dr. Pamela Dolan
Wednesday Evenings: Evening Prayer & Reflections
We have Evening Prayer at 5:30 pm in the church on Wednesday evenings through Eastertide. One of our four daily offices, this is a service of prayer and scripture that concludes a day nicely. At 6:00 pm, we’ll transition into the parish hall for a discussion group. We’ll finish at 7:00 pm.
During Lent we are discussing Collective Loss, Anxiety, and Trauma, based on the book All Our Griefs to Bear by Joni S. Sancken.
For Eastertide (April 23 - June 4) the discussion group will focus on Christian Nationalism. a controversial theological movement that has gained ascendency in some segments of American Christianity. We will look at the origins and development of this phenomenon, its core tenets, and how Christian Nationalism im-pacts our daily lives. We will also reflect on how our witness to the Gospel of love in Jesus Christ differs and how we articulate that alternative witness in our world.
You can choose between worship or study or do both.
We will not meet on May 21.
Sunday Morning Adult Formation Class
We will offer a wide range of opportunities for learn-ing and discussion on Sunday mornings at 9:00 am in April and May.
On April 6, we will conclude our long-running course on Paul’s Letter to the Romans.
The next Sunday, Bernie Schultz, retired Dean of the College of Arts at West Virginia University, will lead a session on three Pietas by Michelangelo, just in time for Palm/Passion Sunday. These sculptures come from different periods of Michelangelo’s life, display-ing a significant shift in theology as he aged.
On Easter Day, April 20, Bishop Matthew will host a Question & Answer forum where you can ask anything.
On April 27, we will start a series on The Resurrection Appearances of Jesus that will be sprinkled throughout May and June around other offerings.
The first two Sundays of May, Bernie Schultz will re-turn with Images of the Resurrection, exploring art that depicts Jesus risen from the dead. We will return to Resurrection Appearances on May 18 and 25.
Foyer Groups & Prayer Circles
Foyer groups are monthly gatherings of 6-8 people who share a meal in someone’s home or out as a picnic or at a restaurant, going Dutch. Nobody needs to be Martha Stewart. Something simple and wholesome works just fine. The whole point of a foyer group is pure fellowship. No other agenda beyond sharing stories and strengthening friendships. Groups will be formed with an eye to geography and compatibility, while trying to help people meet others they may not know well. These are temporary groups, with fresh sign-ups and new groups being formed every 6-8 months.
Prayer circles are weekly gatherings of 4-5 people who meet somewhere for an hour to pray for and with each other. This is a more intimate and purposeful experience, which can also make it a very powerful experience. These small groups provide support and comfort during challenging times and encouragement as we try to live more faithfully in relationship with Jesus. Simple guides will be provided to help structure these groups, guidelines—not rules—that can be modified as the group decides. Prayer groups, because they are smaller and meet more often, tend to grow much closer, so they are not temporary groups and will not be reformed on a regular basis.
