Adult Formation Offering - Christianity and Politics

Posted by St. Anne's Webmaster

Join us for three Sunday evenings, 7:00-8:30 p.m., as our own Jim Jones leads us in a series entitled "Christianity and Politics: A Biblical Perspective." The first session on September 21 is subtitled "The Passion of God" and will look at the relationship of religion and the "secular order" from the perspectives of the Genesis story of creation, the moral imperatives imbedded in the teachings of the Torah, and the writings of the Old Testament Prophets. The second session on September 28 is titled "Jesus and Empire" and will explore Jesus' attitudes towards the secular state, as well as his strategies for dealing with the empire of his day. The third session on October 5, titled "The Challenge for 21st Century American Christians" will consider the implications of all of this for us as 21st Century Christians living in the seat of the world's current empire.

Kerygma Bible Studies to Resume in the Fall

Posted by St. Anne's Webmaster

Kerygma, a Greek word that means "proclamation," is the name of an ecumenically-based company that produces Bible study materials. One of the real advantages of the series they offer is that they are helpful to all, regardless of their level of experience and knowledge of the Bible. Both those who have never opened the Bible and those who know it well, get a lot out of the studies - and the groups have a lot of fun along the way.

As in the past, two sessions will be offered to help accommodate different schedules. One group facilitated by Mother Jackie and Jane Smith will meet on Monday mornings, 10:30 to noon; the other group facilitated by Mother Jackie and Geoff Lunt will meet on Tuesday evenings, 7:30-9:00. The week of September 22 we will begin a six-week study of the Beatitudes, examining the Beatitudes themselves, their Old Testament roots, their context and contemporary implications. The cost of the book is $15. If you would like to participate, please sign up on the sheet provided in the Narthex. Call Jackie at the church office if you have any questions.

Looking ahead, we plan a four-week study of the texts and seasonal themes of Advent beginning the week of November 17. Beginning in January we will tackle a fourteen-week study of the Book of Revelation.

Koinonia Groups Forming for the Fall

Posted by St. Anne's Webmaster

Koinonia is another Greek word, this word meaning "community." It has been our tradition at St. Anne's to invite people to sign up in the fall, and then those folks are grouped in groups of about eight people who meet in each other's homes for dinner throughout the school year. It is a great way to build community as you really get to know your group by the end of the year. Fellowship and fun are the only goals of the groups. There is nothing to study, there is no agenda, and the meals can be simple and shared, with everyone bringing one of the dishes. The time commitment is four or five meal times set around the schedules of your particular group, usually evenings but some groups have found a Sunday brunch works well.

We gather all together for a kick-off potluck dinner in October. At that time, groups meet each other and decide when and where they will meet next. If you would like to participate this year, please sign up on the sheet provided in the Narthex. Please indicate on the sheet if you would like to be part of a group that includes children and if you are willing to coordinate a group (simply making sure your group gets together, often by hosting the first meal). If enough indicate a preference, we can offer a group for singles. Many singles prefer to be part of a general group and often two singles will host one meal together.

Please call Mother Jackie if you can volunteer to help coordinate or have any questions about it.