ADULT CLASSES
For more information on our Christian Formation offerings, please email christianformation@christchurchnewbern.com​.
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SUNDAY MORNING CLASSES
LECTIONARY CLASS
Sundays, 9:45 to 10:50 am, Pelletier Room
Leader: John Harper
Lectionary Class participants discuss readings from each Sunday’s services. Key questions from a study guide kick off the discussions. Typically, discussions focus on what the readings may have meant to listeners in ancient times and what they mean to us today. They also focus on how readings are connected and on the meaning of unusual names, places, and events. Study guides are available at the Reception Desk.
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LIVING OUR FAITH IN COMMUNITY
Sundays, 9:45 to 10:50 am, Library -- December 8, 15, 22
We each live our faith in our own way. The next three Sundays in Advent, we will hear from three different parishioners about how their faith shapes and directs their day to day life. We will hear from Lydia Ash (December 8), Tyler Harris (December 15), and Sims Wayt (December 22). Reach out to the Rev. Paul Canady (paulcanady@christchurchnewbern.com) for more information. Look forward to seeing you there!
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LIVING MICAH 6:8
Sundays, 9:45 to 10:50 am, 2nd Floor Living Room, COMING IN JANUARY
Mission statement: With God’s guidance and with compassion, we will humbly promote equity and justice within and beyond the walls of our church
The Living Micah 6:8 group invites you to a five-week Adult Sunday School class on the prophet Micah’s answer to: “What does the Lord require of you?”
WEEKDAY OPPORTUNITIES
RECTOR'S BIBLE STUDY
Wednesdays from 11am to noon, Pelletier Room
Leader: The Rev. Paul Canady
The Rector's Bible Study meets on Wednesdays at 11 am in the Pelletier Room. This fall we will explore the Gospel of Luke. Reach out to the Rev. Paul Canady (paulcanady@christchurchnewbern.com or 252.631.5861) for more information.
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WOMEN'S BOOK STUDY
Tuesdays from 10 to 11am, Second Floor Living Room
This fall the Women’s Book Study will delve into Reading the Women of the Bible: A New Interpretation of Their Stories by Tikva Frymer-Kensky. Copies of the book are available for purchase at the reception desk ($20.00). Frymer-Kensky was a biblical scholar, author, and professor who was profoundly committed to Jewish-Christian dialogue. This book addresses both modern hypotheses and traditional beliefs about the Biblical texts. It explores the women of the Hebrew Bible from a scholarly perspective and also acknowledges areas where questions remain unanswered. Join us on Tuesdays from 10:00-11:00 am in the 2nd Floor Living Room, as we discover connections between our stories and the stories of the women of the Bible. Women of all ages are invited to attend. We open our time together with prayer, followed by reading the book aloud, and discussing. No preparation is necessary. You can join the group at any time.
Contact the Rev. Suzanne Hood (suzannehood@christchurchnewbern.com) for more information. This book study is led by Phyllis Fox and Susan Hoyt.
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CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER GROUP
Mondays at 11:30 am, Pelletier Room (Zoom option available)
Leader: Rev. Barbara Bornemann
When: 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM on Mondays, 9/9/24 – 11/25/25
Sign Up: By 9/2 -- email Rev. Barbara Bornemann: pastor.bornemann@gmail.com
After 9/2: -- email Jane Merritt: janemerritt07@gmail.com
Meets In Person & On Zoom: In person: Pelletier Room - Upstairs at Christ Church
Please note: No Zoom on 9/9
Leader: Rev. Barbara Bornemann
Study Book: “Praying with Meister Eckhart: Companions for the Journey by Wayne Simsic
Purchase Book: Order your own book on Amazon or some other website
This fall, the Contemplative Prayer group will be exploring the writings of Meister Eckhart, one of the greatest Dominican spiritual masters of the fourteenth century. Ekhart was a mystic, medieval professor, and popular preacher. Thomas Merton, a twentieth century monk, was inspired by Ekhart’s preaching and said, “I like his brevity of sermons, his way of piercing straight to the heart of the inner life, the awakened, the creative and redeeming Word, God born in us.” God born in us -- Eckhart calls this the “spark of the soul” in which “the core of the soul and the core of God are one.” In one of his most famous quotes, Eckhart says, “God expects but one thing of you, and that is that you should come out of yourself in so far as you are a created being made, and let God be God in you.” During each week of the Contemplative Prayer Group, there will be time for prayer, contemplation, and discussion. As we reflect upon the spirituality of Meister Eckhart, we will search for different ways to “let God be God” within each one of us. Let us trust that in the search itself, we open ourselves to God’s transforming love.
EDUCATION FOR MINISTRY (EfM)
This class covers the basics of a theological education in the Old and New Testaments, church history, liturgy, and theology - with a strong emphasis on theological reflection. EfM is a four-year program that can be taken with gaps between years. The class will prepare you for any and all ministries you will serve in at Christ Church. For more information about local groups, contact Diocesan EfM Coordinator, Lisa Richey, at piergazer@gmail.com, or visit the Diocese's EfM website.
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