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.
Fall Term 2019
Meets Sundays in the West Wing at 9:30am, September 1 through December 8!
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The Meaning of Mary Magdalene Facilitators: Lynn Underwood & Ed Sadowski Location: W-103 (1st Floor, West Wing) The group will work through the book of the same title by Rev. Dr. Cynthia Bourgeault. From the publisher: “Mary Magdalene is one of the most influential symbols in the history of Christianity—yet, if you look in the Bible, you’ll find only a handful of verses that speak of her. How did she become such a compelling saint in the face of such paltry evidence? In her effort to answer that question, Cynthia Bourgeault examines the Bible, church tradition, art, legend, and newly discovered texts to see what’s there... What emerges is a radical view of Mary Magdalene as Jesus’s most important disciple, the one he considered to understand his teaching best. That teaching was characterized by a nondualistic approach to the world and by a deep understanding of the value of the feminine. Cynthia shows how an understanding of Mary Magdalene can revitalize contemporary Christianity, how Christians and others can, through her, find their way to Jesus’s original teachings and apply them to their modern lives.” |
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Deconstruction + Reconstruction Facilitator: Daniel Willson Location: W-108 (1st Floor, West Wing) This group will discuss the in’s and out’s of deconstructing a simplistic faith and working through the process reconstructing faith that is relevant for today’s world. We’ll share each other’s stories and questions, how doubt gives way to more productive questions and approaches that reconcile long standing divides. We’ll sample from the stories of others who have been down similar paths to learn what pitfalls to look for and how such serious disruption can bring out wounds and habits of thinking and being that reflect the very contexts we are moving away from. Each class will take up a different topic and open the floor for discussion. Newcomers welcome. Doubters, the faithful, and everyone in between are welcome to join us. |
SummerTerm 2019
Meets Sundays in the South Wing at 9:30am, May 19 through August 25!
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Wisdom Sayings in the Bible and Beyond
Facilitators: Larry Durrett, Lynn Underwood & Daniel Willson Location: South Wing In this Learning Group, we will explore wisdom sayings from a variety of different ancient sources to compare, contrast, and glean what insight might be gained from these diverse utterances. The approach taken will be similar to a comparative religions approach, appreciating the riches of other faith traditions, but also privileging the Christian Scriptures as the sacred narrative of the church. Some of the sources used will be:
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Spring Term 2019
Meets Sundays in the West Wing at 9:30am, January 20 through May 5!
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Contemplative Practices for Everyday Living
Facilitators: Larry Durrett & Lynn Underwood Location: W-103 (1st Floor, West Wing) In this Learning Group, we will explore different facets of the contemplative life that are relevant for daily living. Central in this class are excerpts from the writings of Fr. Richard Rohr, a Franciscan priest who runs the Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC). Their website is: https://cac.org/ Some of the topics discussed will be:
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Revising Christian Faith
Facilitator: Daniel Willson Location: W-108 (1st Floor, West Wing) Many people who have given up on organized Christianity believe that there is still something beautiful about its core practices. If only the organized church would stay relevant and find fresh expressions that are still faithful to the best parts of the Christian faith. If you've found yourself thinking this, or you have been through a season of "deconstruction" and are wondering what "reconstructed" faith might look like, then this might be the Learning Group for you.
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Winter Break 2018-19
Meets Sundays in the West Wing W-108 at 9:30am, December 16 through January 13!
Gratitude: More than Feeling Thankful
Facilitator: Daniel Willson
Location: W-108 (1st Floor, West Wing)
Over these five Sundays we'll discuss Diana Butler Bass's new book, Grateful, using the video series created by Work of the People.
Bass "explores why gratitude is missing as a modern spiritual practice, offers practical suggestions for reclaiming it, and illuminates how the shared practice of gratitude can lead to greater connection with God, our world, and our own souls."
Facilitator: Daniel Willson
Location: W-108 (1st Floor, West Wing)
Over these five Sundays we'll discuss Diana Butler Bass's new book, Grateful, using the video series created by Work of the People.
Bass "explores why gratitude is missing as a modern spiritual practice, offers practical suggestions for reclaiming it, and illuminates how the shared practice of gratitude can lead to greater connection with God, our world, and our own souls."
Fall Term 2018
Meets Sundays in the West Wing at 9:30am, September 2 through December 9!
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Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again
Facilitator: Ed Sadowski Location: W-103 (1st Floor, West Wing) This Learning group will embark on a study of Rachel Held Evans' latest book, Inspired. From the publisher: "Drawing on the best in recent scholarship and using her well-honed literary expertise, Evans examines some of our favorite Bible stories and possible interpretations, retelling them through memoir, original poetry, short stories, soliloquies, and even a short screenplay. Undaunted by the Bible's most difficult passages, Evans wrestles through the process of doubting, imagining, and debating Scripture's mysteries. The Bible, she discovers, is not a static work but is a living, breathing, captivating, and confounding book that is able to equip us to join God's loving and redemptive work in the world." Books will be available in class. Haven't read it? No worries. All are welcome at any point throughout the term. |
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The Lost Worlds of Genesis
Facilitator: Daniel Willson Location: W-105 (1st Floor, West Wing) This Learning Group will explore what is often referred to as "the Primeval History" of Genesis - chapters 1-11. From the Creation Epics to the Tower of Babel, we'll explore the ancient literary and cultural backgrounds that are often lost on "straightforward readings." Early in the class we'll look at John Walton's "The Lost World of Genesis One" (books available in class) and then move on to look at the following narratives:
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Summer Term 2018
Meets Sundays in the South Wing at 9:30am, May 20 through August 26!
Tentative Schedule
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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 !
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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. |
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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. |
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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!
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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!
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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. |
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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. |
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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
