Faith Formation
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Adult Offerings
SUMMER SPIRIT, WINTER GRACE Tuesday, August 15, 7:00-8:30 PM Repeated on Thursday, August 17, 10:00-11:30 AM Downstairs Classroom (Room 104) Peg Lewis, Leader |
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“We don’t start getting interested in aging until aging gets interested in us.”
As we progress through our middle and later years, we become quite aware of the physical, social, and emotional aspects of aging. But what about the spiritual issues that confront us as we age? How do our spiritual needs change? How do we find meaning, purpose, and hope in a society that tells us aging is something to hide and to fear, a burden and a problem? This overview will explore how our seasons of aging can be filled with grace and our spirit nurtured and refreshed. Leader Peg Lewis has graduate certification in Gerontological Counseling.
As we progress through our middle and later years, we become quite aware of the physical, social, and emotional aspects of aging. But what about the spiritual issues that confront us as we age? How do our spiritual needs change? How do we find meaning, purpose, and hope in a society that tells us aging is something to hide and to fear, a burden and a problem? This overview will explore how our seasons of aging can be filled with grace and our spirit nurtured and refreshed. Leader Peg Lewis has graduate certification in Gerontological Counseling.
FALL SUNDAY MORNING CLASS
"JOY: A Study of Paul's Letter to the Philippians"
Sundays, September 10-October 15
9:30-10:30 AM
Downstairs Classroom (Room 104)
Peg Lewis, Leader
"JOY: A Study of Paul's Letter to the Philippians"
Sundays, September 10-October 15
9:30-10:30 AM
Downstairs Classroom (Room 104)
Peg Lewis, Leader
Is JOY the first word that comes to mind when you think of the Christian faith? What if it were? On Sunday mornings beginning September 10, we’ll dig into the little nugget that is Paul’s letter to the Philippians. We’ll see how we, too, can enter into the joy that Jesus spoke of when he said, “I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.” If you've never been to our Sunday morning adult class before, come and try it out! We welcome all – visitors, newbies, and our "regulars."
FALL TUESDAY NIGHT BOOK STUDIES
Take This Bread, by Sara Miles
Tuesdays, October 3-24
7:00-8:30 PM in the Narthex
Kim Wells, Leader
Tuesdays, October 3-24
7:00-8:30 PM in the Narthex
Kim Wells, Leader
Early one morning, for no earthly reason, Sara Miles, raised an atheist, wandered into a church, received communion, and found herself transformed–embracing a faith she’d once scorned. A lesbian left-wing journalist who’d covered revolutions around the world, Miles didn’t discover a religion that was about angels or good behavior or piety; her faith centered on real hunger, real food, and real bodies. Before long, she turned the bread she ate at communion into tons of groceries, piled on the church’s altar to be given away. Within a few years, she and the people she served had started nearly a dozen food pantries in the poorest parts of their city.
Let Your Life Speak, by Parker Palmer
Tuesdays, December 5 & 12
7:00-8:30 PM in the Narthex
Kim Wells, Leader
Tuesdays, December 5 & 12
7:00-8:30 PM in the Narthex
Kim Wells, Leader
With wisdom, compassion, and gentle humor, Parker J. Palmer invites us to listen to the inner teacher and follow its leadings toward a sense of meaning and purpose. Telling stories from his own life and the lives of others who have made a difference, he shares insights gained from darkness and depression as well as fulfillment and joy, illuminating a pathway toward vocation for all who seek the true calling of their lives.
INCLUSIVE CONVERSATION ABOUT SOCIAL JUSTICE
Monthly Meetings at Various Times
How are we as a church engaged in conversation and action around current social justice issues while also listening to and honoring the diverse voices of our members? How do we fulfill the requirement to “do justice” while also “walking humbly with our God”? We have formed a group of people who are exploring ways to educate ourselves and our congregation about Jesus’ commitment to the justice of God’s kingdom. We hope this group will represent different viewpoints and backgrounds. Interested in participating? Contact Pastor Kim or Peg Lewis for the time and location of the next meeting.
Monthly Meetings at Various Times
How are we as a church engaged in conversation and action around current social justice issues while also listening to and honoring the diverse voices of our members? How do we fulfill the requirement to “do justice” while also “walking humbly with our God”? We have formed a group of people who are exploring ways to educate ourselves and our congregation about Jesus’ commitment to the justice of God’s kingdom. We hope this group will represent different viewpoints and backgrounds. Interested in participating? Contact Pastor Kim or Peg Lewis for the time and location of the next meeting.
LECTIO DIVINA GROUP
Thursdays, 4:00-5:00 PM (September-May)
Kim Wells, Leader
Thursdays, 4:00-5:00 PM (September-May)
Kim Wells, Leader
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There are two kinds of reading– one is for information, and the other is for formation. Reading for information is like reading a newspaper, filling our mind with the facts. Reading for formation, though, is like reading a love letter – we savor every word, allowing what we read to deepen our relationship with the one who writes to us. When we read the Bible for formation rather than simply for information, we read it in a holistic way that allows our relationship with God to deepen, and we are formed by our encounter with God through scripture.
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Meaning “spiritual reading” in Latin, lectio divina is a simple, facilitated group process that invites participants to contemplate how God is speaking to them personally through scripture. All are welcome, and no experience is required!
MOVIE GROUP
Third Saturdays, 7:00-8:30 PM
We are open to anyone interested in discussing movies! We watch the movie ahead of time and discuss it when we meet. We get together in group members' homes on a rotating basis. We've been doing this for twelve years and love it! For information about the next movie group meeting, contact Peg Lewis.
ABOUT
New Hope offers many educational opportunities for adult faith formation, including Sunday morning classes, Bible studies, a Tuesday night book group, a Lectio Divina group, and special summer educational events. Our adult classes rotate through the following broad categories: Understanding Our Faith, Engaging with Scripture, Journeying into Advent, Caring About Peace and Justice, Nourishing Our Spirit (Lent), and Living Our Faith. Examples of resources include "Animate" (DVD series) and books by Barbara Brown Taylor, Brian McLaren, Richard Rohr, and Diana Butler Bass, among others. For more information about educational opportunities at New Hope, contact Faith Formation Elder Peg Lewis.
Third Saturdays, 7:00-8:30 PM
We are open to anyone interested in discussing movies! We watch the movie ahead of time and discuss it when we meet. We get together in group members' homes on a rotating basis. We've been doing this for twelve years and love it! For information about the next movie group meeting, contact Peg Lewis.
ABOUT
New Hope offers many educational opportunities for adult faith formation, including Sunday morning classes, Bible studies, a Tuesday night book group, a Lectio Divina group, and special summer educational events. Our adult classes rotate through the following broad categories: Understanding Our Faith, Engaging with Scripture, Journeying into Advent, Caring About Peace and Justice, Nourishing Our Spirit (Lent), and Living Our Faith. Examples of resources include "Animate" (DVD series) and books by Barbara Brown Taylor, Brian McLaren, Richard Rohr, and Diana Butler Bass, among others. For more information about educational opportunities at New Hope, contact Faith Formation Elder Peg Lewis.
Children and Families
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AN INTERGENERATIONAL EXPERIENCE
Children and families are invited to participate in the whole life of the church, including our worship, education, and outreach ministries. Youth are mentored by adults in their particular areas of interest, including worship leadership, sanctuary audio-visual operation, community service, and more. We offer confirmation classes for youth who are ready to explore membership. For more information about opportunities for children and families, contact Pastor Kim. |
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Presbyterian Women
SPIRITUALITY CIRCLE Last Thursdays, 2:00 PM in rotating members' homes ALPHA CIRCLE Third Thursdays, 1:30 PM at Givens Estates HORIZONS STUDY GUIDE Both circles are using the same material this year from Horizons: Who is Jesus? What a Difference a Lens Makes. You can purchase it from the Horizons website. QUESTIONS? Contact New Hope's PW Moderator, Cathy Wingfield. |
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