TRY SOMETHING NEW . . .

Treat & Talk for 20 (minutes)

WHEN: Feb. 16, 2025 & Mar. 30, 2025

We’re finding some new ways this year to connect across generational lines, over a delightful piece of toast. 

For the first twenty minutes of the faith formation hour on these four days, different classes make new friends while they nosh. 

Faith & Community and middle schoolers? Muffin besties! 

Younger elementary school and Journeys? Cereal twins! 

Lectionary and high school? Powerhouse Biblical scholars! 

When the clock strikes 10:05, the visiting class will head back to its regular space. 

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ADULT CLASSES

Faith & Community – meets Sundays from 9:45-10:45 a.m. in Watts-Hill (Fellowship) Hall

Faith & Community begins the fall with the most important and difficult of topics – peacemaking, Israel, and Gaza. 

• Journeys – meets Sundays from 9:45-10:45 a.m. in the Wilson Parlor

Journeys begins the year with a discussion of Genesis by Marilynne Robinson lead by Eric Wiebe with help from a few other members. We will use about 6 Sundays to complete the discussion. 

• In mid-October, we expect to begin a discussion of important sections of the Book of Acts. We are still compiling and discussing books and resources to guide this study. 
• We hope to read and discuss Saving Jesus from the Church by Robin Meyers, and hope some members will help take a lead in this study, which will be later in the Sunday School year.
• There are several topics that will only need a single Sunday. Examples include: Conversion of the Jews by Phillip Roth; The Forgotten Radicalism of Jesus (NYT article, which includes a separate rebuttal); and, I was a Stranger and You Welcomed Me (podcast).

Lectionary – meets Sundays from 9:45-10:45 am in the Daye Meeting Room

The Lectionary Class in Year B of the Revised Common Lectionary, when our primary Gospel is Mark, so this fall they will continue to follow Jesus from town to town as he heals and teaches, and as he contends with opposition from the scribes and Pharisees. They will also read passages from the very distinctive books of James and Hebrews. In the Hebrew scriptures, they will explore the Wisdom books of Proverbs, Esther, and Job. Please join them as we dig into the great stories and the wise teachings.

Meaning in the Middle – meets Sundays at 8:00 p.m., via Zoom (link is sent in weekly email)

Every first Sunday, we will have a time of virtual fellowship, so we will ask for a leader to choose a game or some sort of fun activity for the group. On the other Sundays, we will be using the resource d365, a Presbyterian/mainline devotional to guide our discussion. We’ll ask for a discussion leader for each week, and she/he/they will be responsible for choosing the devotional on which we will focus and coming up with a few questions to spark our thinking and conversation.

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YOUTH CLASSES

High School Faith Formation – meets Sundays from 9:45-10:45 a.m. in the right-side youth room (once in a month in the lobby for a trip to Yonder Coffee)

The confirmation teaching team (Heidi, Cris & John) is back, along with the fabulous Amy W. As chosen by the Youth Ministry Committee, Sometimes, we’ll take a look at the day’s Bible passage and make Worship Bingo cards or do Mad Libs (The Extra Hour). Other times, we’ll read about a theological topic, like the Offering or Heaven, and figure out what it actually means for us (Crazy Talk). And once in a while, we’ll pull out The Bible Is Funny (Biblical Apples to Apples). We’ll always share about our weeks and have warm beverages (in the Youth Room or at Yonder Coffee). 

Middle School Faith Formation – meets Sundays from 9:45-10:45 a.m. on the left-side youth room

As we have the last two years, we’re using the Follow Me curriculum to explore themes like Do Justice, Live in Community and Do Not Fear. We’ve moved over a room this year, but we’ll still have donuts or other breakfast yummies each week. Veteran teachers Bob and Annie are joined by newbies (and children of the church) Almira and Ellie.