August 22, 2021 Antoinette Richardson
| Group Leaders: | Kathryn Eloff and Tom Zych |
| When: | 9:30-10:30 AM on Sundays 9/19-11/21/2021 (ten Sundays) |
| Where: | This will be a hybrid-format group, meeting both in-person at the church and online using Zoom. |
| Resource texts: | Your own Bible. |
The book from the Kerygma series, First Corinthians, One in Christ, is helpful but not essential. We will have these available for sale for $24 in the church office.
Class Description: This Fall’s Kerygma class will focus on Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, a text that may seem familiar to us but that will surprise and challenge our faith assumptions as we look at Paul’s words more closely and thoughtfully.
And more good news: all you will need for our Fall 2021 study of 1 Corinthians: your own Bible and your open mind. One additional item that likely will be helpful to you is the Resource Manual, First Corinthians, One in Christ, by Robert A. Bryant, published as part of the Kerygma series we’ve often used for our Bible studies. Although useful as a resource, it is not a textbook: the actual text to be studied is 1 Corinthians.
Why the focus on the church in Corinth? Why not any of the other churches to which Paul and others wrote letters? Corinth and other port cities (such as Tarsus) together with the towns that grew up around them, experienced every aspect of Greco-Roman life, good and bad, from multiculturism, religious pluralism, a range of philosophical differences, and vast economic disparities amongst its populace. There were new ideas everywhere, new ones coming in every day via the trade routes that ran through the area. Sound familiar? What a setting in which to introduce the Gospel to new people, some of whom were open to new thoughts, with others who could not be budged from ancient thoughts and traditions of all types.
While the fall semester study will be mindful of the setting in which this Epistle was written, it will focus on the text itself, studying all sixteen chapters of 1 Corinthians. What does Paul teach us about unifying a disparate group of believers? About tolerance? About doing God’s work? We will look at the Hebrew scriptures that Paul uses, as well as looking at relevant New Testament passages that shed light on Paul’s words.
To sign up: Go to: https://fhc.breezechms.com/form/78432524
August 22, 2021 Kurt Haas
| Group Leaders: | Ann Williams and Ron Zimmerman, with assistance from Pat Jenkins |
| When: | 9:30-10:30 AM on Sundays 9/12-11/21/2021 (eleven Sundays) |
| Where: | This will be an online group, meeting on Zoom. |
| Resource texts: | Your own Bible, and a Reflection Guide for each of three months. Reflection Guides will be available in the church office for $8 apiece, or $24 for the 3 months. |
This curriculum has just been published by our denomination, the Presbyterian Church USA. It There are similar units for three different age levels. Amy Wheatley has chosen to use this curriculum with our children and youth, and we are also offering the curriculum for adults.
How does faith develop? How do lives change? How do communities transform? The process is a lifelong journey. Faith develops as we practice following what Jesus did, embodied, and taught. We learn to love God and others as we study the Bible both individually and within a group setting.
With the Follow Me curriculum, you, the student, will explore practices Jesus did and taught as well as examine where these practices are found in the Bible and how they have been used in Christian faith then and now. Whether you are someone beginning to ask questions or one who wants to grow in your faith and love, Follow Me curriculum will help you learn to live a life of discipleship.
Go to: https://fhc.breezechms.com/form/7843253
Tags: Adult EdAugust 22, 2021 Kurt Haas
| Group Leader: | The Rev. Veronica R. Goines, Ph.D. |
| When: | 9:30-10:30 AM on Sundays 9/12-11/21/2021 (eleven Sundays) |
| Where: | This will be an in-person group, meeting at the church |
Through lecture and dialogue, biblical narrative and academic discourse, prayer, and ritual, “Theories of Liberation by and for Oppressed Women”, examines fundamental principles of Womanist/Mujerista theologies to disclose implications for liberation and faith formation.
There has been considerable debate regarding the necessity of perpetuating a Black womanist theology/ethic in an “post-racist” and “post-sexist” state. However, the lived experience and scholarship of African American and Latin American women bear witness that the alleged “post-racist” and “post-sexist” state is but an illusion. Moreover, because womanist theology is a touchstone for numerous liberation theologies of minoritized and marginalized women in the United States and abroad, the proposed absence of womanist thought has implications for liberation theologies of women of color around the world. African American womanism and mujerista theology bring together elements of womanist/feminist thought, Latin American liberation theology and cultural theology, to stands against the forces of injustice manifest in racism, sexism, and classism.
Join us for this transformative experience.
Go to: https://fhc.breezechms.com/form/78432542
Tags: Adult EdAugust 22, 2021 Kurt Haas
| Group Leader: | Pastor John Lentz |
| When: | Wednesday mornings at 7:30 AM |
| Where: | Before the pandemic, we met in person and provided bagels for everyone. We hope to do that again soon. |
Participants meet early in the morning for coffee and bagels and a lively discussion of the upcoming lectionary passages.
Drop-ins are welcome. There’s nothing to read ahead of time.
For now, we are meeting on Zoom and bringing whatever breakfast we have at home. If you are interested, please sign up here so we can send you the Zoom link: https://fhc.breezechms.com/form/98da6c454538264754.
Tags: Adult EdAugust 22, 2021 Kurt Haas
| Group Leader: | Pastor John Lentz |
| When: | Sunday afternoons, Sept. 19 – Dec. 5, 4:00-5:00 PM |
| Where: | This will be a virtual group on Zoom. |
| Resource text: | None. The video series will be shown during the meeting time. |
Ever feel like Jesus has been kidnapped by the Christian Right and discarded by the Secular Left? “Saving Jesus Redux is a 12-Session small group exploration of the credible Jesus for the third millennium.
Class size limited to 10.
Go to: https://fhc.breezechms.com/form/78432529
Tags: Adult EdAugust 19, 2021 Antoinette Richardson
The Ministry of Adult Spiritual Growth (formerly Ministry of Adult Education and Spiritual Formation) seeks to support lifelong spiritual growth throughout our worshiping community by providing many diverse opportunities for learning and growing as Adult Christians. We are committed to expanding the number and types of our offerings according to the interests of our community members.
We are pleased to announce our offerings for Fall, 2021 on the pages below.
Ideas Welcome!
If you would like to suggest a class on a particular topic, or a book discussion, or in a workshop to learn a practice or skill related to spiritual growth (such as a type of prayer or meditation), please email Ann Williams.
| A Few Words About the Cost of Books: For every class or group, we include information about any books that are needed or recommended. As we seek to become the Beloved Community, we are aware that paying the cost of the books needed for some of these classes or groups may be too difficult for some people. For others, the cost is no problem and even paying more than the regular cost is easy. If you would like to join a group, but you cannot buy the book without breaking your budget, please let us know. We want you to feel free to participate fully! Therefore, we have a Book Scholarship Fund to cover the cost. On the other hand, if you can pay a bit more, maybe even cover the whole cost of a book for someone else, please make a contribution to the Book Scholarship Fund in addition to your book purchase. We trust that in the spirit of the Beloved Community, we will be able to include everyone fully. |
August 12, 2021 Antoinette Richardson
| Group Leader: | Cynthia Lehman |
| When: | TBD |
| Where: | TBD |
| Resource text: | The Underground Church: Reclaiming the Subversive Way of Jesus by Robin Meyers |
The Underground Church proposes that the faithful recapture the spirit of the early church with its emphasis on what Christians do rather than what they believe. Robin Meyers proposes that the best way to recapture the spirit of the early Christian church is to recognize that Jesus-following was and must be again subversive in the best sense of the word because the gospel taken seriously turns the world upside down. He offers a vision for the future rooted in the past, proposing that the church of the future must leave doctrinal tribalism behind and seek a unity of mission instead.
Cynthia recently read this book and felt greatly inspired by it because it is a solid blueprint for FHC’s goal to become a Beloved Community. She is seeking other people who would like to read and discuss the implications of these ideas for us. The time and format (in-person or online) of the meeting(s) will be determined by the people who wish to attend. Please sign up before September 10 if you would like to join the discussion. Cynthia will contact all who express interest to determine what is the best meeting time and format for the greatest number of people.
Go to: https://fhc.breezechms.com/form/78432554 Before September 10, 2021.
Tags: Adult EdAugust 12, 2021 Kurt Haas
| Group Leader: | Pastor John Lentz |
| When: | Every first Saturday of the month starting Sept. 11 from 8:00 AM-9:30 AM |
| Where: | Before the pandemic, we met in person. Right now we are meeting via Zoom. We hope to meet in person again soon. Drop-ins are welcome. |
Description: Men of the FHC congregation get together early in the morning for a lively group discussion.
Resource Text: Our next discussion will focus on a book by Franciscan priest and teacher, Richard Rohr, titled Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life.He contends that we spend our first half of life preoccupied with establishing personal identity and worth. Father Rohr believes that this first half of life is just the starting gate for the full and farther journey that we all take towards our true identity. Rohr offers us an invitation to explore our lives and celebrate the journey!
The book is available in several formats through our Cleveland Heights Public Library, or it can be purchased from Barnes and Noble or Amazon.
The first session will be on the emailed Invitation, the Introduction, and chapter 1. BUT, if you don’t have time to prepare, come anyway!
To Sign Up: For now, we are meeting on Zoom and bringing whatever breakfast we have at home. If you are interested, please sign up here so we can send you the Zoom link: https://fhc.breezechms.com/form/78432558.
Tags: Adult EdMarch 21, 2021 Peg Weissbrod
Two new Adult Ed offerings are coming up. The 1st, from Mar 14-28, will focus on the parables about plants and growth in the Book of Luke, and will be led by Pat Jenkins & Ann Williams. The 2nd, from Apr 11-May 23, will explore ways to pray focused on the Lord’s Prayer. Two groups will be offered: one led by Katherine Eloff & Tom Zych, the other by Ron Zimmerman. Details and sign ups below. Read the rest of this entry »
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