Adult Eduction

Education for Adults

Christian Education—Planning for the Fall Session – Sunday’s at 10:45 a.m. – Sense of Martin Luther

Worship and education are two basic components of the Christian life. And yet it is surprising how few people participate in any form of religious education. As we embark on an extended fall 9:30 AM worship schedule it seems fitting that we put forth as much attention to content and detail as we historically have done with our worship planning. Coming out of a summer where such attention brought us a renewed sense of who we are as God’s people at this time and place, the Christian Education Committee has followed suit with their planning for the 10:45 AM Adult Sunday school component.

The year starts on 13 September with Making Sense of Martin Luther using a book by David J. Lose. David prepared this study for the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation. As a faith community we come from many different backgrounds. Pastor Lose’s book uses a conversational format to explore how Luther’s dynamic understanding of God’s life-changing gospel informs day-to-day faith and life in the world today. This approach should allow all of us to deepen our understanding of who Luther was and why his theological insights are relevant today.

The seven-week session schedule is as follows:
Introduction: Luther as Monk, Myth, and Messenger
13 September: The Reluctant Reformer—Introducing “the Monk Who Changed the World”
20 September: Freedom! Justification by Grace through Faith
27 September: The Present-Tense God—Law and Gospel
4 October: The Ambidextrous God—The Two Kingdoms and God’s Ongoing Work in the World
11 October: Called for Good—Vocation, Sinning Boldly, and the Respiratory System of the Body of Christ
18 October: God Hidden and Revealed—Luther’s Theology of the Cross and the Sacraments
25 October: Semper Simul—Sin, Forgiveness, and “Becoming Christian”

Hopefully these themes will encourage you to include the 10:45 AM time of learning in your Sunday
morning plans. Pastor Reep will lead the discussion each week in Christ Hall.

Bible Study, Tuesday’s at 6:00 p.m. and Wednesdays 10:30 a.m., Christ Hall

Reminder the first Wednesday of the month is marked for street cleaning on Springettsbury Avenue. Please park in the lot or on George Street.

Please enter the building through the Springettsbury Avenue lobby.

Our Bible Study Classes helps prepare participants for Sunday morning through the study of the up-coming scripture readings. The group delves deeply into the text, historical information, theological aspects, and shares implications for everyday life as a child of God. The group meets in Christ Hall at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday events and Wednesday mornings.

Do you ever wonder why certain readings are read on Sunday morning and how, if at all, they relate to one another? And do you consider how they relate to you and your life as a child of God? Questions such as these are at the heart of the scripture study opportunities offered at St. Paul’s. For decades Pastor Reep has led just such a study on Wednesday mornings. Wednesday mornings work for one portion of the congregation but
certainly not for everyone. Last year he experimented by offering a study on Tuesday evenings which coincided with the Children’s ministry activities of music, craft and Bible story. This year the Tuesday evening study will be held beginning on 1 September from 6:00 – 7:00 PM and the Wednesday morning study will be held beginning 2 September from 10:30-11:30. Mark your calendar or simply look at the one provided with this newsletter and plan to join with other members of our faith community by unpacking the readings assigned for the upcoming Sunday morning. Those who participate can’t believe the impact it has when they come to worship.

Daily Devotional Readings – The new quarterly devotional book called Christ in our Home is available at all entrances to the church. Augsburg Fortress is offering Christ in Our Home as a free email subscription. Click on the following link: https://go.augsburgfortress.org/christ-in-our-home-email-subscription to sign up. This devotional has a bible reading, thoughts and prayer for each day. Are you more of an electronic reader? Try God Pause from Luther Seminary in St. Paul’s Minnesota. Sign up and you will receive a daily email with a scripture reading, reflection and prayer. To sign up, click this link or type it into your computer search bar http://www.luthersem.edu/godpause/default

Small Groups

Are you interested in being part of a small group? Would you like to discuss social justice issues, Bible studies, family/parenting ideas or any other topic? Contact the church office with your ideas!