Learning is a vital part of our worship life. It's how we love God will all of our mind. We're always changing what we're doing so keep checking back for what we're up to in our Learning Communities.

​Summer Term 2018

Meets Sundays in the South Wing at 9:30am, May 20 through August 26!
Tentative Schedule
​May 20 – Watching the Walls Crumble: Diana Butler Bass
May 27 – Peace, %&@#! Stanley Hauerwas
June 3 – A New Kind of Christian: Brian McLaren
June 10 – Against Pharaoh’s Economy: Walter Brueggemann
June 17 – For the Beauty of the Earth: Wendell Berry
June 24 – Take this Bread: Sara Miles
July 1 – The Bible Tells Me So: Peter Enns
July 8 – Millennial Madness: Rachel Held Evans
July 15 – Love Wins: Rob Bell
July 22 – A Holy Mess: Glennon Doyle
July 29 – The Divine Dance: Richard Rohr
August 5: The New Monasticism: Shane Claiborne & Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove
August 12: The New Poor People’s Campaign: William Barber II
August 19: Race in the Era of Mass Incarceration: Christena Cleveland
August 26: The Gospel & the Gay Christian: Matthew Vines & Justin Lee

​Spring Term 2018

Meets Sundays at 9:30am through May 13 !
! Becoming Wise: The Art of Living
Facilitator: Ed Sadowski
Location: W-103 (1st Floor, West Wing) NEW LOCATION!!!

This Learning Group will listen to and discuss a selection of episodes from Becoming Wise, a podcast series hosted by the Peabody Award-winning journalist, Krista Tippett. In this podcast, we'll encounter some of the most influential figures of our time, from Elie Wiesel to John Lewis. This Learning Group will also incorporate a few episodes from the Creating our Own Lives podcast, which is hosted by Lily Percy, producer of Becoming Wise. Life questions will be explored as well as how daily practices (like running) can be spiritual experiences.
Ground Zero: The Beginnings of the Church in the Acts of the Apostles
Facilitator: Rev. Seth Horrell
Location: W-108 (1st Floor, West Wing, next to the library)

The Acts of the Apostles is the ancient recounting of the beginnings of the Christian church. Written as the "sequel" to the Gospel of Luke, the author tells of the days immediately following Jesus's death and resurrection, as well as how the Good News of Jesus spread beyond Jerusalem and Judea to the far reaches of the Roman Empire. This Learning Group will engage with the text of Acts and discuss what these ancient episodes have to say about life as the Church in the 21st century. 
The Wisdom of the Desert: Learning Spirituality from Early Monastics
Facilitator: Rev. Daniel Willson
Location: W-105 (1st Floor, West Wing)

This will be a discussion-based class, centered on (very) short readings from scholars, theologians. and the desert mothers and fathers themselves.  Not only will we cover some basic biographical information about these desert sages, but we will also take time to hear and think through what they had to say about sacred living and spiritual practices. More than just prayer and fasting (but no less!) we'll explore what was so mysterious, mundane, and still meaningful about the desert experience.

​Winter Break 2017-18

Meeting through January 14!​
The Protestant Reformation at 500
Facilitator: Rev. Daniel Willson
Location/Time: WBC South Wing, 9:30am to 10:30am
Each session will include 30 minutes of overview followed by 30 minutes of discussion. 

December 17 - This is How it All Went Down:The Beginnings of the Protestant Reformation
December 24 - No Learning Group Today
December 31 - Beyond Martin Luther: The Reformation's Ripple Effect
January 7 - The Five Solas - How the Reformation Ran on "Sola" Power
January 14 - The Reformation at 500: A Reconciliation Story

​Fall Term 2017

Ends December 10th!
The Bible, It's Complicated
Facilitators: Dr. Bess Worley & Ed Sadowski
Location: W-203 (Upstairs, West Wing)

The Bible for Normal People (B4NP) podcast. “What is the Bible and what can I do with it?” This is the driving question for Peter Enns and Jared Byas as they invite a variety of scholars to share their research and reflections on what the Bible is now and how they interact with this ancient text. Join us as we wrestle with a complicated text with insights from different perspectives to discover the relevance for our Beloved Community today. CLICK HERE for the Discussion Guide.
A People's History of Christianity
Facilitator: Rev. Seth Horrell
Location: W-108 (Downstairs, West Wing, at the end of the hall)

This book study follows Diana Butler Bass's, popular book A People's History of Christianity. From the publisher: 
For too long, the history of Christianity has been told as the triumph of orthodox doctrine imposed through power. Now, historian Diana Butler Bass sheds new light on the surprising ways that many Christians have refused to conform to a rigid church hierarchy and sought to recapture the radical implications of Jesus's life and message.
What's the Deal with Diversity?
Facilitator: Rev. Daniel Willson
Location: W-105 (Downstairs, West Wing, 2nd Door on Left)

This class will be based on a collection of articles and videos that address issues like feminism, racism, homophobia and other matters that affect the church’s ability to embody God’s welcome.

Summer Term 2017