Through Church School classes, special programs, inter-generational events, and discussion groups, Westminster provides opportunities for people of all ages to nurture their faith. The Church School, which meets from September through May on Sunday mornings, from 9:30-10:40 AM, is the heart of these efforts and provides classes for people of all ages. There is also a weekly prayer group, a prayer shawl group, etc. Additional evening programs, events and workshops also occur through the year.
For a full list of the Fall 2021 Adult Formation Offerings, click here.
Weekly Classes – Sundays, 9:30-10:30 a.m.
Prayer Shawl Ministry: Care and the love of knitting and/or crocheting have been combined into a prayerful ministry that reaches out to those within our church and beyond. Since 2011 and under the guidance of the Pastoral Deacons and church staff, we have given shawls to console those who are grieving, comfort those who are ill, and bring joy and gratitude during times of celebration. We meet on the third Monday of each month from 6:30-8:00 p.m. If you are interested in joining this special ministry or have questions, please contact Beth Hochstetler.
- September 12: No meeting: Attend the Adult Ed class with Ken – small discussion groups, “What is Westminster Now?”
- September 19: Welcome and Summer Recap
- September 26: No meeting
- October 3: Building Faith in an Era of Mistrust
- October 10: No meeting
- October 17: Self-support and Parenting
- October 24: No meeting: Attend special panel with Margaret Grove on Westminster Stories
- October 31: Transitions: A Primer
- November 7: No meeting
- November 14: Risk Assessment
- November 21: No meeting
- November 28: Thanksgiving Discussion
- December 5: No meeting
- December 12: Holiday Traditions
- December 19: Share our Favorite Books and Movies
Tuesday Evening Bible Study: This year we are studying, Lessons My Grandmother Taught Me: Learning from the Women in Matthew’s Genealogy of Jesus by Merryl Blair. Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary—Matthew names these women for a reason. How might Jesus have heard the stories of his grandmothers? What might the young Jesus have felt, as he heard about his family? What might the stories of these women have added to his sense of identity, as part of a particular family in a particular time and place? And what can Jesus’s grandmothers-of-the-faith teach us? By exploring these stories together, we will have a richer idea of what the good news is.
Here is the list of our Bible Study dates, the 2nd Tuesday of each month, at 7:00 p.m., via Zoom until January, when we will revisit how we will meet:
- October 12
- November 9
- December 14
- January 11
- February 8
- March 8
- April 12
- May 10
- June 14
Questions of Faith Class: The Questions of Faith class will meet in Room 208 and will begin with a study of the book “Reasonable Faith for a Post-Secular Age,” by William Greenway. This study will run for four weeks, September 19 through October 10. In his book Greenway, Professor of Philosophical Theology at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, argues (i) that Christians and adherents of many other faith traditions (including atheism!) hold many values and objectives in common, (ii) that it is possible to adhere passionately to our Christian faith while simultaneous affirming those things we hold in common with other faith traditions, and (iii) that, especially at such a time as this, it is vitally important that we do so – that we be passionate Christians without being intolerant Christians.
The Bible and Race: A Historical Review of Presbyterians in the South, David Garth, October 3, 10, 17: Southern Presbyterians have wrestled with the issue of slavery throughout U.S. history. The class will be a quick review of our history with special attention to missteps and corrections in biblical interpretation. The goal is to challenge our present understanding of scripture and race. Our focus for this week’s class is “the Old World Order,” or how we got to where we are today with regard to perspectives on race and racism. We will gather in the Library at 9:40 a.m.