Westminster Programs for Adults, 2009-2010 Schedule
Sunday Morning Bible Study | Horizons Bible Study | Spiritual Life | Case Bible Series | Passages - Ready or Not
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. . . Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.1 Timothy 4:12
Following is the schedule of our series. Updates will appear in the monthly newsletter and weekly bulletin, as well as here. Each series examines special themes and every class in each is self-contained - there is no requirement to attend each class in a series. Join in as your schedule permits! For programs concerning multifaith, community and service, please click here.
SUNDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY -
9:35AM -10:45AM
Classes are located in the first room on the balcony above Parish Hall. (Take the elevator to the 3rd floor, our class meets in the last office on the balcony.)
Exodus, Interpretation Bible Studies - February 14 -March 21
This Old Testament book is a compelling narrative of three characters: the God of Israel, who rescues a people in captivity after years of silence; Moses, the leader of Israel, who reluctantly accepts his calling and goes on to become the giver of the Law; and the people of Israel, who struggle to be faithful to God after facing near extinction at the hands of its captors. In the weaving of their stories, Exodus becomes a story for our time - a story of seeking and finding a God who redeems us in our moments of separation and sin.
The Art of Parables:Reinterpreting the Teaching Stories of Jesus in Word & Sculpture - April 11-May 23
Join us for a multimedia study of the parables -sculpture, video, words and images are used to interpret each parable. Jesus himself often started a parable with a question, such as “What do you think?” or “Which one of you…?” These questions are tools use to engage with the issues raised in the parables — which resonate today as much as 2,000 years ago.
April 11: Defining the Parable (The Barren Fig Tree)
April 18: The Samaritan
April 25: The Prodigal and Elder Sons
May 2: The Mustard Seed, The Leaven
May 9: The Young Women
May 23: The Last Judgment
Horizons Bible Study: Joshua - 2nd Thursday of the month
WOW (Women of Westminster) invites all interested women to join our brown bag Bible study. This study meets on the 2nd Thursday of the month and concludes on June 10, 2010.
This year our study is Horizons "Joshua: A Journey of Faith." These nine monthly lessons will explore the journey taken by Joshua and the Israelites into the land of Canaan. With each step Joshua and the people made choices to follow God and how to be God's people. This study will explore themes of leadership, the promise land, the concept of holy war, the process of outsiders becoming insiders, and the covenant God has with all creation. These themes are important to us today as they were to the Israelites then.
Beverages will be provided and participants are encouraged to bring a brown bag lunch. Purchase of this year's study is $6, and a large print copy is $10. If you're interested in purchasing a study guide and/or attending please sign up in the Holmes Room. For more information about this year's study, go to www.pcusa.org/horizons.
Return to topSPIRITUAL LIFE - Sunday, 9:35AM -10:45AM in the Heritage Room
Mapping the Spiritual Journey -
February 7 & 14
Led by George T. Hole, PhD;
Professor at Buffalo State College
Joseph Campbell's ideas of the spiritual journey of the hero will be described to give insight into the nature and experience of thtransition. Several of Carl Jung's basic ideas, that influenced Campbell, will be explained. In the light of current interest in spiritual practices, often in competition with traditional religion, the underlying question for us to explore is, "Where an I in a spiritual journey?"
During the Sundays of Lent members are encouraged to attend either the Adult Bible class’ Exodus series or Case Library Conversations’ Three Cups of Tea sessions.
Cultivating Wholeness: Body, Mind and Spirit in a Fractured World - April 11, 18, 25
(Continuation of the series begun in November)
Christians are called to bear witness to God’s presence and goodness, even and especially in the midst of a fractured world. How might we cultivate wholeness, body, mind and spirit? What are the practices we might nurture individually, in our relationships and in our community? Ellen Bean, Judith Brown Bryan and Trevor Watt will present six approaches for Christian living. Come add your wisdom and voice to the conversation.
Spiritual Issues & Concerns: Facing Urban Communities in Transition - May 2 & 9, 2010
Led by Rev. Sare Gordy & Rabbi Ilana Schwartzman
Rabbi Ilana Schwartzman, Temple Beth Zion, Buffalo and Rev. Sare Gordy, Holy Apostles Church, Tonawanda will discuss their views on spiritual life issues and concerning facing the Buffalo urban communities going into the next decade from two different perspectives.
Evolution: Faith's Friend or Foe? -June 6, 13, 20, 27, 2010
Led by Rev. Dr. Thomas Yorty, Dr. Fred Cooley, & Rev. Trevor Watt
Today, the permeating of all our thinking and action by the sciences constitutes the sharpest challenge to the beliefs of all religions, including Christianity. This has been a preoccupation of mine since my school days when my incipient and ill-informed faith encountered the evidence of evolution and initiated by my own long trial of integrating evolution with a transformed articulation of Christian belief.” Arthur Peacocke, chair, British Biophysical Society.
June 6: The Rev. Dr. Yorty: Charles Darwin
June 13: The Rev. Trevor Watt: Darwin's Theory of Evolution
June 20: Dr. Fred Cooley: Religious Response to Evolution
June 27: Rev. Dr. Watt on Process Theology
CASE LIBRARY CONVERSATION SERIES - Sunday, 9:35AM -10:45AM in The Case Library
The Case Library Summer Series
8:45AM in the Case Library. Please note start time for summer hours!
July 11 - August 8
For five consecutive Sundays, we will discuss Reverend Robin R. Meyers book Saving Jesus from the Church: How to Stop Worshiping Christ and Start Following Jesus. Robin Meyers is the author of seven books including the latest Saving Jesus from the Church. He has been pastor of the Mayflower Congregational UCC in Oklahoma City, since 1985 and Professor of Rhetoric in the Philosophy Department at Oklahoma City University. He has a Doctorate of Ministry from Drew University and has served at churches in Maryland, New Jersey, and Michigan. He sees the Jesus of history more relevant to those in the pews than the Jesus of faith. He asks that: "…we encourage and support one another in pursuit of religion that is biblically responsible, intellectually honest, emotionally satisfying and socially significant." The book is available in the Reception Office for $10.00. July 11th: Chapters 1 and 2
July 11th: Chapters 1 and 2
Presenter -Al Ryan
Chapter 1: Jesus the Teacher, Not the Savior
Chapter 2: Faith as Being, Not Belief
July 18th: Chapters 3 and 4
Presenter - Claire Schen
Chapter 3: The Cross as Futility, Not Forgiveness
Chapter 4: Easter as Presence, Not Proof
July 25th: Chapters 5 and 6
Presenter - George Gates
Chapter 5: Original Blessing,
Not Original Sin
Chapter 6: Christianity as Compassion,
Not Condemnation
August 1st: Chapters 7 and 8
Presenter - Jerry Kelly
Chapter 7: Discipleship as Obedience, Not Observance
Chapter 8: Justice as Covenant, Not Control
August 8th: Chapters 9 and 10
Presenter - John McClive
Chapter 9: Prosperity as Dangerous, Not Divine
Chapter 10: Religion as Relationship,
Not Righteousness
PASSAGES FOR ADULTS
“If you think your work in life is finished and you’re still alive, it’s NOT!”
Joan Chittister
Throughout our lives we experience periods of stability and times of transition. Each stage of our lives are marked by various passages, whether we are Ready or Not to embrace them.
Such passages are marked by events that requires a change of lifestyle and a redefinition of ourselves in the light of these changed circumstances. Such events can be the death of a spouse, a one-sided divorce, the deterioration of physical well-being or the cognitive-well being of ourselves or our partners. This transition can happen at any age.
On the first Tuesday of each month there’s a gathering for adults who have reached this passage of life. Our Passages group meets for lunch at 12:30 pm in the Oak Room, and by 1 pm we move to the Case Library for a program. These programs vary between speakers, Bible study, music and films with a focus on the intellectual, physical and spiritual life of adults. For more information about this group, please contact Jean Rack 886-5325 or Dr. Trevor Watt at 888-2823