Adult EducationThe mission of Adult Education is to provide and promote regular, special and unique educational opportunities that challenge the mind, enliven the spirit, and lead to a deeper understanding of God, as revealed in Jesus Christ, through a personal commitment to faithful witness and compassionate service. Adult Education Program 2008Welcome to a new program year, and to our new Adult Education program. It's the hope of the Adult Education work area that you'll find opportunities to grow as a Christian disciple and enlarge your experience of faith, others and the world. We try to offer a range of events and classes, requiring different levels of preparation and personal investment. We've arranged the brochure to reflect that, and hope that it's easy to navigate. Whether your need is for small-group fellowship, stimulating speakers, more 'academic' study, stories of personal faith or a combination of all these elements, there is something for you. "The highest education", said a former Archbishop of Canterbury, "is that which brings the student face to face, not simply with something great but with someone great, namely Christ". That's the hope and prayer which has gone into the development of the programs described here; and on behalf of the work area, I commend them to you. Jonathan Dean '100' Level CoursesThese courses require no advance preparation time. Simply sign up (if necessary), turn up, listen and discuss. i. Bible Study 101…..The Gospel of JohnA Bible study for those whose Biblical education stopped soon after their confirmation year. The Gospel of John has important lessons and understandings that the other Gospel accounts do not necessarily possess. In this study we will compare various renderings of the same passage, and use commentaries and discussion to flesh out what this important book has to say to a person in the 21st century. This is NOT a class for those who have all the answers but rather a class for those for whom the Bible is a stranger and want it to be a friend, inspiration and diving board for deeper understanding. This is a rudimentary look at the early beginnings of our faith and the thoughts of the first generation church. There is no homework required. All that is needed is your presence, your mind, your heart and openness to the stories of faith. If you want to grow in knowledge and understanding join us. Please bring your favorite Bible translation/version. Led by Tom Ostrander. Thursdays from September 25th, 7—8pm, Room 116 ii. Issues in Christianity Movie SeriesA series of four films on key issues affecting our faith today. Led by Jonathan Dean. 'For the Bible Tells me So'This award-winning documentary explores the struggles of those trying to come to terms with their sexual orientation and remain faithful to the sometimes harsh teachings of the Church. How do parents cope with the knowledge that a child is gay? How can churches offer help and support? What does the Christian tradition offer, beyond proof texts and condemnation? Thursday, November 6th, 7pm, room 217 'Jesus Camp'But for Al Gore's Inconvenient Truth, this would have won the Best Documentary Oscar in 2007. Jesus Camp is an even-handed look at the edges of evangelical Christianity in the US, and at how we seek to pass onto our children the faith that inspires us: in ways both healthy and destructive. One reviewer described it as "frightening, infuriating and yet profoundly compassionate". Thursday, January 8th, 2009, 7pm, room 217 'Palestine is still the issue'President Jimmy Carter provoked controversy recently with his book, Palestine: Peace not Apartheid, illustrating again the tensions the Middle East situation arouses. What are the issues in Israel/Palestine? Why is the problem so intractable? What solutions can the international community offer? Award-winning journalist John Pilger reports in this documentary in the reality of life in Palestine, and interviews both Palestinians and Israelis. Thursday, March 12th, 2009, 7pm, room 217 'The Power of Forgiveness'How do we forgive? How easy is it to fulfil the requirements of Jesus's teaching? What does reconciliation demand of us, and how can we find peace with one another? This film examines the problems and difficulties we face in forgiving, and includes testimony from Amish people in Pennsylvania, who forgave the killer of their children. Thursday, May 7th, 7pm, room 217 iii. Special Guest SpeakersMarcus Borg and John Dominic CrossanSeptember 12th–14th, 2008Two of the world's finest New Testament scholars and writers spend a weekend with us at First UMC. Not to be missed! Magda Brown, Holocaust SurvivorTuesday, January 27th, 2009On UN Holocaust Memorial Day, hear the extraordinary story of one woman who escaped Nazi persecution to begin a new life as a refugee in the US. Co-sponsored event with Missions and Church and Society Work Areas. Dr. Amy-Jill LevineFebruary 27–28th, 2009Dr. Levine is Professor of New Testament at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN. A practicing Jew, she brings humor, insight and a fascinating fresh lens to texts we know well. Mark your calendars for an inspiring weekend. iv. Fairview Bible StudyThis one-hour class centers on a particular section of scripture. There is no preparation necessary and is a great way to gather as the community of faith where many of our church members reside. Class time includes prayer and conversation. Join us beginning in September. Led by Tom Ostrander. 1st Tuesday of each month, 5th floor common area, 2pm v. Seekers Sunday School ClassThe class uses the Adult Bible Studies series as a guide for discussion. All adults are invited to join us for fellowship, coffee and doughnuts, and discussion each Sunday morning. Led by Curtis Rolfe and Del Hargreaves. Sunday mornings, 9:30am in room 202 vi. KoinoniaThe Koinonia Sunday School Class will open this program year with a well-regarded Old Testament video series featuring Vanderbilt Professor Amy-Jill Levine, who will be teaching at our church in-person next February. Weekly Old Testament readings, related to the videos, will be suggested in advance. In addition, several multi-week programs for study and discussion are planned on issues of special commitment by class members. Topics such as mental health, science/religion dialogue, the environment and Christian Zionism, will be considered. Sunday mornings, 9.30am in room 218 vii. United Methodist WomenAll women are warmly invited to attend General meetings or Circle meetings to engage in studies, enjoy fellowship, and be a part of the UMW's remarkable missions locally and around the world. Studies for 2008–09 include: 'Giving our Hearts Away': Native American Survival; India and Pakistan and 'I Believe in Jesus'. Meeting times are as follows: General Meetings:2nd Thursday of February, May and September Circles:Mary Elizabeth 4th Wed., 1pm in Chapel Hall viii. Men's HuddleMeet for breakfast, fellowship and conversation, every Tuesday from 6:15–7:15am, in the gym. The 2008-09 program begins on October 7th. Led by John Smoke. '200' Level CoursesThese require some advance preparation: maybe to read a chapter or article or sermon before discussion. i. Wednesday Faith ForumA small group for faith-seekers and all wanting to explore their faith journey with honesty, mutual respect and openness to one another. This year, three books will guide our reflections and sharing. Led by Jonathan Dean. Schedule for 2008/09:
10am, in room 202, repeated at: ii. Fiction Book GroupMeets on Thursday nights, every other month. We discuss a work of literature, and how it speaks to both the human condition and our search for God. Where are the intersections here between the story and our story, between the author's imagination, and the timeless questions all of us face? Led by Jonathan Dean; meet in the Parlor at 7pm. Thursday, October 16th iii. Transformed Living: Class in StewardshipWhat is stewardship? How do we respond to God's call to give, share and do the work of "stewardship"? Each week, using the book Transformed Living, we will cover the major themes presented and begin to understand how stewardship in all of its various understandings can change lives. This class will coincide and culminate with our fall stewardship campaign. Join in the learning and the challenges that stewardship brings. There will be reading and conversation. Led by Tom Ostrander. Thursdays at 3pm, September 25th until October 23rd iv. Woman to WomanA group open to all women, which reads and discusses a range of books, both fiction and non-fiction. This year's sessions begin with a study of The Soloist by Steve Lopez. Copies are available at the village library. Led by Gayle Ostrander. Wednesdays at 9:30am in room 116, from October 1st v. Lent CoursesThis year, we are offering a choice of Lent courses. Choose the topic – or topics – that suit your interests and availability best, and sign up in the office. Each course will last for five weekly sessions, at times to be published early in 2009. a. Mark's Story of DiscipleshipA study of Say to this Mountain: Mark's Story of Discipleship by Ched Myers and others. A compelling guide to understanding how the gospel story intersects with ours, and calls us to action. Throughout the book, meditations and practical suggestions emphasize the connections between reflective prayer and concerted action. Led by Claire Marich. b. The Misunderstood JewContinuing discussions of Amy-Jill Levine's The Misunderstood Jew. How do we understand Jesus in his Jewish context? As we journey towards Easter, how does that picture of Jesus help us to interpret, not just his extraordinary life, but the manner of his death and the claims his first followers made that he had risen from the grave? Led by Jonathan Dean. c. A Lenten Journey:a look at the last week of Jesus' life as it is described in scripture. We will begin in Bethany and find our way to the Saturday after the crucifixion. After the entry into the city on Palm Sunday, Jesus continued to do some very important work. We will look at the messages he delivered through his words and his actions. This study will be Bible-based and supplemented with other resources. Bring your Bible. Led by Tom Ostrander. d. NOOMANOOMA is a series of short films promoting spiritual perspectives on individual life experiences. The first series features storyteller Rob Bell. The name NOOMA comes from a phonetic spelling of the Greek word pneuma (πνευμα) meaning 'wind,' 'spirit,' or 'breath.' We will watch and discuss together, as we journey through Lent. Led by Nick Nicholas. '300' Level CoursesThese course require more intensive reading and preparation, and may necessarily have limited availability. Please sign up in the church office. The last two courses will take place after a group has identified itself: times and dates to be arranged. i. Christian Believer:
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