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ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL
This year, Adult Sunday School will be formatted as follows with a book review each fiorst Sunday, "Living the Question" every 2nd and 4th Sunday, and a focus on a particular topic regarding outreach on the 3rd Sunday of each month. Please join us at 10am for these interesting and enriching topics!
Adult Sunday School Class Outline for the 2009-2010 Year
First Sunday Each Month – Book Study
February 7 - The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
March 7 - Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
April 4 - No Sunday School
May 2 - What's So Amazing About Grace by Philip Yancey
Second and Fourth Sundays – Living the Question 2 – Led by Ron Sigrist (See below for special monthly topics)
Come get the answers to the questions you've always had, but were afraid to ask!
Third Sunday Each Month – Outreach Educational Lesson – Learn what our Outreach Committee is all About!
September – Peace
October – Hunger – Bread for the World and CROP Hunger Walk
November – CHANGE – with guest speaker – Ryan Eller
December – The Angel Tree and Amy Jaffee Hunger Fund
January – Augustine Program
February – Funds Programs – Thompson Children's Home and Pennick Village
March – Lenten Project
April – Earth Day
May – Community Garden
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January 10, 2010 |
6. A Passion for Christ: Paul the Apostle
Little of what most people think of as Christianity has been untouched by the legacy of Paul's writing and influence. The many understandings of his interpretation of Christianity continue to be re-examined in the 21st century. |
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January 24, 2010 |
7. Out into the World: Challenges Facing Progressive Christians
There is a reformation afoot in Christianity – a re-visioning of the traditional understandings of Jesus, the virgin birth, substitutionary atonement, and the Christian life as a whole. Long held ideas of divinity and of faith are changing and evolving to reflect 21st century thought and spirituality. Inspired by these fresh insights, progressive Christians can claim a distinctive voice by being in solidarity with the poor, countering the idolatry of wealth, practicing non-violence, and by seeking justice and inclusivity in a culture dominated by fear. |
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February 14, 2010 |
8. Restoring Relationships
There are three Biblical "macro-stories" that shape the whole of the Biblical narrative: Bondage and Liberation, Exile and Return, Sin and Forgiveness. Each representing a different facet of the human condition, they demonstrate what is necessary for the restoration of relationships on a variety of levels. |
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February 28, 2010 |
9. The Prophetic Jesus
Jesus was a troublemaker. He said and did things that were upsetting to agents of the political and religious domination systems that oppressed the weak and downtrodden. In this way, Jesus stood firmly in the tradition of the prophets of Hebrew Scripture – those who offered a clear and challenging "alternative script" to the status quo. |
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March 14, 2010 |
10. Evil, Suffering, and a God of Love
If God is all-powerful, all-loving, and all-good, how do you explain and respond to the existence of so much suffering and evil in the world? |
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March 28, 2010 |
11. The Myth of Redemptive Violence
The most potent religion in Western culture is not Christianity, but a belief in the redemptive power of violence. Although Jesus inaugurated a new order based on partnership, equality, compassion and non-violence, his example and teachings have been eclipsed by an emphasis on a human unworthiness that demands and defends the need for Jesus' violent, suffering, atoning death. |
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April 11, 2010 |
12. Practicing Resurrection
While much has been made of Jesus' literal and physical resurrection being the core historical event of Christianity, the Biblical texts themselves present conflicting evidence. For many today, the resuscitation of Jesus' body is less important than the idea of resurrection as a credible and meaningful principle for living. |
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April 25, 2010 |
13. Debunking the Rapture
Failing to understand the message of hope offered in the Book of Revelation, many Christians have been misled by 19th century doomsayers and modern-day apocalyptic preachers who proclaim their vengeful god's impending extermination of the apostate masses. Just what part of "love your enemies" doesn't their god understand? |
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May 9, 2010 |
14. Reclaiming the World
While human beings have been gifted with a beautiful and complex world in which to live, its systems and resources are being stressed by our behaviors, lifestyles, and arrogance. Care for the environment is not only deeply biblical and practical, but increasingly critical – for both the present spiritual life and for our collective future. |
Education for Ministry
Education for Ministry is another Christian formation program offered through the good offices of St. Anne's. This is a theological education by extension program of the University of the South (Sewanee). EFM is centered on small group seminar meetings coordinated by a mentor. It is a four year program covering the Old Testament, New Testament, Church History and Theology. Each EFM seminar session includes these components: worship, chapter discussion (of materials provided by Sewanee) and Theological Reflection (a special method developed by Sewanee over the past 25 years to relate the incidents of our lives to scripture.)
Altar Guild at St. Anne's
Almighty God, grant that I may handle holy things with
reverence, and perform my duties with such faithfulness
and devotion, that they may rise before Thee with acceptance
and obtain Thy blessing. In Jesus name, Amen.
(The Altar Guild Prayer of the Episcopal Church)
The ministry of setting the Lord's Table for the Eucharist and the other services at St. Anne's is carried out by the Altar Guild. Parishioners who are called to this ministry work primarily behind the scenes to prepare the church for our worship services and assist the priest in any way that we can. Our goal and "our responsibility is to facilitate the smooth and reverent function of our corporate worship." We set and clear, wash and iron, polish and dust, and carry out assorted other duties in this long-standing tradition of service in the Episcopal Church. Through this service, Altar Guild members learn much about the Episcopal Church, its liturgy, symbols, traditions and terms. We welcome and invite any who feel called to this ministry to speak to our priest for further information.
Eucharist Bread at St. Anne's
The bread used for the Eucharist each Sunday at St. Anne's is home baked by our parishioner "breadmakers." This has been an important part of the tradition at St. Anne's since its very earliest days. By way of explaining why home baked bread is important to us, many years ago, our second vicar wrote that "to be effectively present for me, I need Christ present in something that is a part of the reality of my life experience. Home made bread is; it requires no translation. It is an 'an outward and visible sign' which genuinely and energetically involves all of my human senses—it looks like bread, it smells like bread, it feels like bread, it tastes like bread and when it's broken it sounds like bread rather than a stale cracker."
Home made bread also involves the breadmaker in the Eucharistic feast. In describing the experience of making the Eucharist or Communion bread, several of our breadmakers have said the following:
"When you make Communion bread enjoy the kneading time; it's a wonderful time to pray."
"Making the Communion bread is a personal offering to God; it is worship, praise, prayer and thanksgiving in the same way our biblical forebearers offered up their best directly to God."
"Communion bread touches the prayerful spirit of the one who bakes it; then 'transformed' in Christ, it nourishes the multitude of spirits who partake in it."
"When we make Communion Bread we think about our St. Anne's family whom we will help feed. We feel a close connection to them all which will be echoed as we share the bread as Christ's body on Sunday morning."
"Making Communion bread is a sacred craft. As part of sacred worship, communion bread should not call attention to itself, by tasting too good or too bad."
"It's an honor to bake bread for our communion."
All are welcome to participate as breadmakers whether beginner or experienced bakers. The recipe we all use is an easy and forgiving one. Any one who feels called to this special ministry may speak to our priest for further information.
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