A Change in Adult Education

Amy Harwell, Adult Education Committee Member

This year the Adult Education Committee is trying something new for the fall season. The Episcopal denomination in recent years has begun using the term 'formation' to talk about its mission to each person within the Church. It is the work of the Church to help form persons into the likeness of Christ. This year, the Adult Education Committee committed to selecting programs that aim at formation, for our key focus, as well.

We admit that it is a tougher goal than simply providing information and education. However, we humbly acknowledge that we adults are not fully formed by the age 18 or 21, nor 41 or 71, for that matter. A healthy dose of intentionality is warranted. And scholars attest that the best way to shape our children (and our grandchildren) is to stay in shape ourselves.

Our challenge was: What to select as our standards for formation? The answer became obvious quickly. We've decided that supporting each other to live up to and into our Baptismal promises should ground our programs. Indeed, our Baptismal promises are already the backdrop for our church's mission statement. Therefore, our desire is to equip ourselves with engaging guest speakers, practical and useful classes, and relevant small group programs.

Each offering aims to help us implement the closing command of our weekly worship service, "Go in peace to love and serve the Lord." It is our hope that you will become more comfortable and confident witnessing God's love to your families, friendships, neighborhoods, workplaces, and communities. In addition, however, each offering is intended to strengthen us as members of the Chapel of the Cross so each of us becomes a better asset for our church community. That is why we've clustered our programs under our mission statement components to reinforce our obligations to one another and our world about us as members of the Body of Christ.

Please take time to reflect thoughtfully on your personal success in fulfilling your Baptismal promises. Where are you strong? Where do you need to grow? What do you want to develop? Can you identify a gap or weakness, in an area or two?

Look over these opportunities from us (and other groups in our parish). Like other courses, classes, and seminars, some of the programs fit more than one mission statement component, but we've tried to give each a particular focus. Please pause and reflect, and then seriously consider committing to one or more of these faith formation activities this fall.

To worship the Lord in the
beauty of holiness

Examine the Lectionary with the Clergy

Sunday mornings; Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24, & 31

The Birth Narratives: Let's Compare!

Sunday mornings; Dec. 5, 12, & 19

The Annual Reading of Advent, Christmas
and Epiphany Poems

Sunday morning; Dec. 19

To learn and teach the Christian faith

Streams of Living Water

Tuesday evenings; Sept. 7, 14, & 21
(7:30 - 9:00 p.m.)

What do we mean by Bible Study?

Sunday mornings; Sept. 12, 19, & 26

Summer Book Group, Extended

Thursday evenings; Sept. 16 & Oct. 21 (the Kingsolver home)

God Stories: Short Story Reading Group

Thursday evenings; Sept. 23 & Oct.21 (7:30 - 9:00 p.m.)

Reading with a View to Spirituality

12:30 p.m. Saturdays Nov. 13 & March 25(book club)

Mary Harris Bible Study

Tuesday mornings (8:30 - 9:30 a.m.)

Adult Inquirers' Class

Monday evening series, starting Nov. 29(7:30 - 9:00 p.m.)

To love one another

Setting Limits: the fabulous foursome: positive, specific, objective, few (words)

Sunday mornings; Oct. 3 and 10

Unplugging the Christmas Machine

Sunday mornings; Nov. 7, 14, & 21

Surviving the Holidays: Why Things
Go Wrong and How to Make Them Right

Sunday morning - Dec. 5

Abraham: A Journey with the Heart
of Three Faiths

Sunday mornings; Nov. 7, 14, & 21

To strive for justice and peace among
all people

Faith and Politics

Sunday mornings; Sept. 12, 19, & 26

To care for those in need

East and West: Understanding and
Learning from Each Other
Monday evening, October 18 (7:30 - 9:00 p.m.)

To share our many blessings

"...on the campus, in the community, in the
Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, and
throughout all the world."

Sunday mornings; Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24, & 31

Come, join, and participate. Grow, develop, and 'form.' For yourself. For God.