Bible Study
Studying the Sunday Scriptures
Offiered Sundays and Thursdays
Join us from 9:00-9:45 am in the Garden Room of the Parish House or 11 am - 12 noon on Thursdays in the Common Room as we use a program called the Bible Workbench. We will spend time studying and reflecting on one of the lectionary passages for the following Sunday, allowing us a week in which to enter more deeply into the scripture before hearing and responding to the word in worship together.
The Bible Workbench is a lectionary based life-centered biblical resource designed for small groups. Using one of the texts from the Revised Common Lectionary, the exploration begins with encountering the story found in the biblical text, with the focus then shifting to show how this story is happening in the world around us. Finally the questions turn to how the story is an event in the lives of the people in the group. The journey through the text seeks life-giving questions that wait to be lived.
While the Bible Study will be ongoing, the program is set up in such a way you can drop in when you can, as often as you can. It is a wonderful preparation method for Lectors. It is a place for everyone who seeks to find deeper personal connection between scripture, faith and their life.
The Sunday class will be led by a rotation of leaders: The Rev. Mary Louise Hintz, The Rev. Kristin Krantz, Stephen Southern, anchored weekly by seminarian Rhian Roberts. The Thursday class is led by Carol Terry.
______________________________________________
Cursing in the Bible: Study on Psalms
January 10 - February 7, 2012
Is it ever difficult to enter into some of the psalms – to get behind what they are saying? Do you ever feel uncomfortable wishing ill on your enemy? Can pious people even curse their enemies? Seminarian Rhian Roberts leads a five week series where participants will learn and engage the psalms. Each week there is a brief presentation followed by an activity/reflection/integration. Do not feel pressured to come to every single session; skipping weeks will not leave you behind. This does not require materials. You may want to bring a journal and/or Bible. The class will be on Tuesdays, 7:30-8:45 pm in the Common Room. Please enter from the Cedar Street door near the Chapel (ring the bell).
Jan 10: Why Me?!? an Introduction to Lament Psalms
Jan 17: Community Cry: Can we Curse our Enemies?
Jan 24: Penitential Psalms: Pleading for Forgiveness
Jan 31: Thanksgiving and Praise: re-orientation
Feb 7: Know Ourselves, Know Christ: The Psalms as a Mirror
______________________________________________
Paul’s Letter to the Galatians
Christ has died, Christ is risen, now what?
“If we rightly understand ourselves, our problems are the problems of Paul; and if we be enlightened by the brightness of his answers, those answers must be ours.” —Karl Barth
The problem of Christ’s delayed return, the transformation effected by his resurrection, and the purpose and life of being Church in the meantime remain theological problems for all Christians. Paul’s answers have shaped the self-understanding of Christians in community from its very beginning. His letters are filled with love, faith, exhortation, and indignation. Yet, for many Christians, Paul can seem a stumbling block to faith.
Join the Fall 2010 Bible study group as we look at Paul’s letter to the Galatians and seek to understand, the man, his context, and his message. Do his answers and understanding still work in our contemporary context? We will cover issues of conversion, faith, justification, freedom, and redemption in this series Tuesday evenings, Oct 5 - November 9, 7:30-9:00 pm in the Chapel (enter from Cedar Street door). Contact the parish office at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).