June 20, 2013
Bible Study
Special Lenten Study
During the Lenten Season several groups will be meeting to study "The Great Ends of the Church." This is a six-week study that looks at the statement of the great ends, or goals, of the church which is found in the Book of Order. These study groups will be meeting as follows:
9:30 am Sundays in the Youth Library with Jim McAdams leading the study
9:30 am Sundays in the Chapel with Pastor Rob leading
3:30 pm Sundays at church with Pastor Dave leading
7:00 pm Mondays at the Hofmann's with Sharon Keating leading
9:30 am Tuesdays at church with Pastor Rob leading
6:30 pm Thursdays at Frances Finley's with Pastor Rob leading
Please contact the church if you are interested in joining a Lenten study group.
Groups
A number of groups gather for Bible Study and Christian book studies:
Pastor's Tuesday Bible Study of Matthew. Each Tuesday at 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., we gather in the McAffee Room to study the Gospel of Matthew. The class is taught by Pastor Rob Erickson, but it is highly interactive as we explore what the Gospel of Matthew said in its historical context, and what the Gospel says to us as followers of Jesus Christ today. We draw on the Daily Bible Series Commentary by William Barclay and the Westminister Bible Companion Commentary (Thomas Long) and The Interpretation Commentary (Douglass Hare) and the over 300 years of Bible study experience of the participants in the class. All are welcome to join us on Tuesday morning for a lively exploration of the Gospel.
Lenten Book Study. Each Lent, we embark on a congregation-wide Christian book study. In the past two years, we have studied "The Prodigal God" by Timothy Keller and "The Geography of God" by Michael Lindvall. The study groups meet in a variety of settings from private homes to the church parlor. It is a good opportunity to participate in a short term book or Bible study and to get to know some more people in the church. All are welcome.
Young Adult Gathering. Once a month, young adults from First Presbyterian Church gather at the pastor's house to share food, fellowship and insights into a book we are exploring together. The group has looked at Rob Bell's book, "Love Wins," and Timothy Keller's book "The Prodigal God." The conversation is lively, the community is encouraging and the commitment is simply to enjoy each other on our shared faith journey. Babysitting is available.
Presbyterian Women Bible Study. Several groups gather each month under the umbrella of "Presbyterian Women" to study Scripture using the Horizon Bible Study. This year's 2012-2013 study is "Dispatches to God's Household: The General Epistles" by Nancy Benson-Nicol. (horizons.pcusa.org/bible.htm) The six books of the New Testament explored in this study - 1 & 2 Peter, 1-3 John, and Jude - teach us what it means to live in community, and what it means to belong to the household of God. A subset of New Testament letters known as the General Epistles, were written to be shared and read aloud in early Christian communities.
The Spiritual Growth Group. This group will meet on Sundays August 26, September 9 & 30, October 14 & 21, November 4 & 18, and December 2 & 16 at 3:30 pm in the Parlor under the direction of Pastor Dave Henry. They have studied a variety of books over the past several years, including works by Dr. Walter Brueggeman, Edward Hays, Michael Lindvall and others. (This group becomes one of our Lenten Study groups and meets each Sunday afternoon during the six weeks of Lent.) The group is a discussion/book study group, participants are encouraged to read in advance of each group meeting. This Fall, beginning on Sunday, August 26, we will read and discuss M. Craig Barnes' book "Yearning: Living Between How it is & How it Ought to Be." Copies are available in the Church Office.
