Formation
Sundays @ 9:00 am | Adult Formation Class
Sundays @ 10:00 am | Children’s Sunday School: Godly Play
Wednesdays @ 5:30 pm | Evening Prayer
Wednesdays @ 6:00 pm | Discussion: I Love to Tell the Story
Wednesdays @ 7:00 pm | Confirmation Classes
September 17 - November 5
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
Children’s Sunday School: Godly Play
Fall Sunday School will run from Sept. 7 - Dec. 21
Winter/Spring Session will run from Jan. 11 - May 24.
We will not hold regular Sunday School during the Christmas Holiday or Easter Sunday.
September 7 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 Fall session, children will explore the Sacred Stories of the Old Testament which will culminate in the Advent stories. 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).
Sunday Morning Adult Formation Class
Sunday Morning Adult Formation takes place in the parish hall at 9:00 am. Fr. Michael is currently leading a study on the Acts of the Apostles.
Acts is the only book of its kind in the New Testament. Written by the same author who gave us “The Gospel of Luke,” Acts serves as a sequel to that work, chronicling the life of the early Church after Jesus ascended into heaven. It gives us great insight into how the original disciples spread the good news of Christ in a world that was alternatively receptive and violently hostile to the message they shared.
Learning about Acts helps us connect with our deepest roots as a Church community and offers us guidance and comfort. The first Christians encountered a challenging mission field, a crowded marketplace of conflicting ideas, just like we do, and they employed creative solutions to break through the clutter and narrow-mindedness that often prevailed in their society. They enjoyed very fruitful moments and endured struggles and internal conflict, as we often do today. Acts provides a fast-paced narrative punctuated with little speeches, mainly from Peter and Paul, that reveal an energized movement anchored in a sound understanding of who Jesus is and what he means. In studying Acts, we learn more about who we are and who we are called to become as the modern inheritors of the call the proclaim the Gospel.
This class will last for three or four months, but copious notes are provided for each session, so if there are dates when you can’t be here, have no fear. We can get you caught up quickly. And as always, questions and contributions are most welcome.
Wednesday Evening Prayer & Discussions
Current Schedule:
5:30 pm Evening Prayer on Wednesday Nights
6:00 pm Discussion: I Love to Tell the Story
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.
* * *
On Wednesday nights in October (beginning Oct. 1) we will reflect on healthy ways to share our love for Jesus with anyone, in a four-part series called “I Love to Tell the Story.” The truth is, if we can weave in our favorite sports team, TV show, or hobby into a casual conversation, there are ways we can also speak of the Church and faith, without being obnoxious, offensive, or intimidating.
What’s also true is that if we discovered a gas station selling at fifty cents a gallon, or a store selling new iPhones for $50, we’d notify every person we cared about immediately. Isn’t the good news of Jesus Christ much more valuable than that? Why do we hold back on something that brings such great meaning and fulfillment and a real sense of belonging to our lives, and can do the same for others?
This series will be very practical, and it’s not a cookie cutter model. We will experiment – on each other – fine-tuning a gentle and genuine approach in a safe setting that can show what Episcopal evangelism looks like: an inviting, welcoming, organic, and authentic expression of joy.
Confirmation Classes
If you would like to explore the basics of our faith from an Episcopal perspective, we will offer preparation classes for Confirmation, Reception, and Reaffirmation of Faith.
We will meet on Wednesday nights, from 7:00 - 8:30 pm in the Parish Hall, starting on September 17 and going every week until we conclude on November 5. Each session will last 90 minutes and cover topics like the Bible, (what’s in there, where did it come from, and how do we interpret it) the Life of Prayer (including a review of the Book of Common Prayer), the Sacraments (including a review of “why we worship the way we worship”), the Spiritual Gifts & Discipleship, and, of course, responses to your questions.
If you are interested, there’s a sign-up sheet on the table in the Narthex, or you can email rector@stthomasabecket.org to reserve a place or ask questions. This is also an opportunity to brush up on some of the basics, even if you don’t need or desire confirmation, reception, or reaffirmation. All are welcome.
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.
