Formation
Sundays @ 9:00 am | Adult Formation Class: The Book of Daniel
Sundays @ 10:00 am | Children’s Sunday School: Godly Play
Wednesdays @ 5:30 pm | Evening Prayer
Wednesdays @ 6:00 pm | Discussion Group: The Music of Lent, a Way to Pray
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
Sunday Morning Adult Formation Class
Sunday Morning Adult Formation takes place in the parish hall at 9:10 am.
In February, at 9:10 am in the Parish Hall, we will conclude our exploration of the Book of Daniel, a unique work in the Old Testament, distinct from everything else. In particular, the second half of Daniel consists of apocalyptic thought, similar to the Revelation of St. John the Divine. On Sundays in February, we will be deciphering the meaning of those mysterious chapters. If you were unable to attend in January, please don’t feel as if you are “behind,” because we offer copious notes for every session.
On March 1 we will shift to Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, an ancient community of Christians in Greece that today would be termed “a problem parish.” They disagreed about everything imaginable: whether people should get married or stay single; whether married people should have sex or abstain; whether it was best to eat meat or go vegetarian. But for a brand new way of life, their confusion is totally understandable, and Paul the eminent pastoral theologian parses every conflict, offering insights on how to build unity in unique and sometimes surprising ways that still prove relevant to daily life. We generally cover a chapter or two a week, and questions and comments – never in short supply – are always welcome. The better we know the Bible and what it means for us, the better our relationship with God and each other.
Children’s Sunday School: Godly Play
Winter/Spring Session will run from Jan. 11 - May 24.
We will not hold regular Sunday School during the Christmas Holiday
or Easter Sunday.
January 11 is the beginning to our regular Godly Play Sunday School Sessions that begin at 10:00 am, the children joining worship at the Peace. This Winter/Spring session, children will begin with exploring the Epiphany Lesson. From January through February, we will focus on many of the Liturgical Action Lessons. We are so excited to welcome the children, storytellers, and doorkeepers back to the circle! If you are interested in volunteering for our children's program, please reach out to Kathy Smith (please email the office for contact information).
Wednesday Evening Prayer & Discussions
Current Schedule
5:30 pm Evening Prayer on Wednesday Nights
6:00 pm Discussion: The Music of Lent, a Way to Pray
Seasonally we have Evening Prayer at 5:30 pm in the church on Wednesday evenings. One of our four daily offices, this is a service of prayer and scripture that concludes a day nicely. At 6:00 pm, we transition into the parish hall for a discussion group, which finishes at 7:00 pm.
You can choose between worship or study or do both.
The Music of Lent, a Way to Pray
Starting on Wednesday, February 11, we will start an exploration at 6:00 pm of “The Music of Lent, a Way to Pray,” which will continue through the season of Lent, until the end of March. We take great enjoyment and entertainment from music, often listening to our radios or playlists or vinyls or CDs throughout the day. In a way, what we like to listen to serves as the soundtrack of our lives, subtly shaping how we feel and what we think.
However, music can alter us more profoundly when we use it as a way to pray, a means of meditating on God and our relationship with God. The choral tradition of sacred music for Lent and Holy Week is vast and powerfully moving. As we prepare for Lent and strive to draw closer to Jesus through the season, maybe creating a Lenten playlist might offer us a way to grow in our faith and spirituality.
We start each Wednesday with Evening Prayer at 5:30 pm, and our discussion afterwards at 6:00 pm lasts about an hour. We will listen to some amazing music and discuss how those pieces could serve as companions on our Lenten journey. Each session will be a one-off, so it will be easy to join in at any point in the series.
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.
