A couple of times a year we offer Bible/book study groups.  This past Advent season we used a book from The Stillspeaking Writers’ Group, The Jesus Diaries: Who Jesus is to Me.  This book guided us to some unusual scriptures for the Advent season and sparked a lot of conversation and thought.  There were daily readings and reflections suggested that most of the group followed

     Are you ready to look at the Bible and your faith in a new way? Pastor Barbara will be facilitating a “progressive Christianity” view laid out in this film series and discussion guide. This class will start on February 26 and continue for five weeks. We will meet in Sherwood Hall, 11:30 to 12:30 each Sunday. From the 21 possible topics, Pastor Barbara has chosen the following: February 26: An Invitation to a Journey; March 4: Taking the Bible Seriously; March 11: Stories of Creation; March 18: Lives of Jesus; March 25: Practicing Resurrection. Please let Pastor Barbara know if you will be attending as she wants to provide you with written material to read and spiritual practices to explore each week. Even if you cannot attend each week, come when you can as each class stands alone.

     People outside of our church or not involved in any church are welcomed to attend this series of classes. You can just show up or you can call Pastor Barbara at 464-5643 or email her at pastorbarbara2003@yahoo.com. We welcome you to join with us in this time of learning and exploring.

     Let me leave you with a quote from Paul Tillich, “Everyone seeks answers, mostly to questions that are not very important, The great concern in life should be to discover which are the right questions, Then, even if you rarely get answers, you are at least journeying in the right direction.”

     Sunday School is offered during the worship service for children in preschool through high school.  The Sunday School Program begins again on Sunday, September 11, 2011 and ends in late June. 

     We generally have a small but dedicated group of children and all ages meet together.  There are two main teachers who received help from members in the congregation.  The Gather Round curriculum is used and offers a variety of interactive activities based on the bible lesson.  As the children act out the bible story, play a game, take pictures of creation, design a t-shirt, bake bread, or examine how they will use the lesson in their daily life, they gain greater understanding of God’s message.

     During the late fall the children begin practicing for the annual Christmas pageant with each child able to have as small or large a part in the production as they desire.  On Easter we have an Easter egg hunt after the church service.  Later in the spring the children create a worship service and present it to the congregation on Children’s Sunday. 

     Several times each year the children present skits in church, often to provide information and education to the congregation about a current need or project.  The children have raised awareness about world hunger, local homelessness, and disaster relief.  They have collected food, hygiene supplies and money to assist those in need.  

     All are welcome to join our Sunday School.  Please feel free to contact Chris Nase, Lauren Warner or Pastor Barbara for more information.