Classes

NOTE: All adult class offerings are designated by their place in St. Peter’s comprehensive Adult Formation Plan. The designation follows each class title and is intended to help you select classes, which are appropriate to your particular formation.

Winter-Spring 2012 Classes

Sunday

Adult Sunday School: The Gospel of Luke

Sunday Mornings, 10:25-11:05 am
Begins on January 8
Led by Fr. Michael Petty
Course Designation: Continuing Formation

The Gospel of Luke is a rich resource for thinking about Christ and the Christian vocation. This class involves a slow reading through Luke with frequent pauses to reflect on Luke’s vision of Jesus, and its implications for discipleship.

Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense

Sunday Evenings, 6:30-8:00 pm
January 29–April 1
Led by Fr. Michael Petty
Course Designation: Catechumenate

This class is based on N.T. Wright’s book Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense. By making use of this popular book, video presentations by Bishop Wright and class discussion, the class will explore the nature of God, the person of Christ, the work of the Holy Spirit, the ministry of the Church, and the nature of the sacraments. Participants will need to purchase a copy of Simply Christian (available in St. Peter’s Book Cellar).

Monday

Beth Express!

Daniel: Lives of Integrity, Words of Prophecy
(Beth Moore Bible Study)
Begins January 23, 12:00-1:00 pm
Led by Carri Smith and Fran Shaw
Course Designation: Continuing Formation

This twelve-week class focuses on the Book of Daniel as a resource for helping Christians to deal with the pressures and temptations we encounter today. It also focuses on the prophecies of Daniel, which have to do with the coming of Christ. A participant workbook will be available on the first day of class. This class is offered at the lunch hour, and participants are invited to bring a lunch and eat while studying. For more information or to register, contact Carri Smith at ccsmith@maclay.org.

Beginning Greek, Part II

Monday Evenings, 5:30-6:30 pm
Begins January 9
Led by Roberto De La Noval
Class Designation: Intermediate Formation

This class is a continuation of Beginning Greek 1 and continues the process of learning Greek by reading the Gospel of John. Participants must have started Beginning Greek in the Fall of 2011. For more information, please contact Rob De La Noval at robertdln@gmail.com.

Lenten Bible Study: Jesus’ Final Week

Monday Evenings, 6:30-8:00 pm
February 20–April 2
Led by Fr. Michael Petty
Course Designation: Continuing Formation

All four Gospels devote a great deal of attention to Jesus’s last week, the time that runs from Palm Sunday to Good Friday. This class will explore how this final week is portrayed and what is being communicated about Jesus. The final session of the class will be on Monday of Holy Week.

Tuesday

The Nuts and Bolts of Liturgy

Tuesday, April 17
7:00 - 8:30 pm in the church
Led by Fr. Eric Dudley

Why do Anglicans do the things we do in liturgy? In this hour-and-a-half class Fr. Eric Dudley will answer the questions everyone asks: Why do we wear vestments? Why do we cross ourselves? Why do we bow our heads when the cross passes in procession? What does the Eucharist really mean? These and dozens of other questions will be dealt with in a real show-and-tell teaching about worship in the Anglican tradition. Great for newcomers, but equally helpful for longtime Anglicans who want a deeper appreciation of worship.

Wednesday: The Academy of St. Peter

The Academy of St. Peter aims to provide opportunities for engaging Scripture in ways that provide a solid foundation for faithful Christian living. To register for any class, call Fr.Michael Petty at 701-0664, x-19. Come early for a buffet dinner served from 5:00-6:15 pm in the Parish Hall.

Classes held at St. Peter’s Church unless noted otherwise.

Beginning Greek I

Begins on January 11-April 18
Wednesday evenings, 6:15-7:30 pm
Led by Roberto De La Noval
* This Class Meets at Taproots
Class Designation: Intermediate Formation

Interested in reading the New Testament in Greek? Join the Beginning Greek 1 class. The class will focus on learning Greek by reading the Gospel of John together. The class requires the purchase of a textbook and about two hours of preparation outside of class each week. To register, contact Rob De La Noval at robertdln@gmail.com.

Invitation to the Psalms (4, 5)

January 11–March 21
Wednesday evenings, 6:15-7:30 pm
Led by Nellie Baumgarten
* This Class Meets at Taproots
Course Designation: Intermediate Formation

This 10 week class will make use of the new Disciple Short Term study on the Psalms. Through video teaching segments, a workbook and reading of selected Psalms, the class will lead participants to a greater understanding of and appreciation for the Bible’s “prayer book”.

The Gospel in Life

January 11–March 7
6:15-7:30 pm
Led by Dr. Ron Rickner
Course Designation: Intermediate Formation

This is an 8-session class developed by Timothy Keller and designed to help participants to live out the Gospel in all areas of life–in our hearts, community and the world. Session 1 will focus on the world we live in as it is while Session 8 focuses on our heavenly home, the New Jerusalem. Sessions 2 and 3 focus on how the Gospel changes our hearts, Sessions 4 and 5 focus on how it changes our community, and Sessions 6 and 7 focus on how the Gospel changes the way we live in the world. The class features 10-minute teaching segments featuring Timothy Keller. Participants will need to purchase The Gospel in Life workbook from The Book Cellar.

Discovering the Bible

January 11–April 18
Wednesday evenings, 6:15-7:30 pm
Led by Fr. Eric Dudley
* This Class Meets at Taproots
Course Designation: Intermediate Formation

This class began in the Fall and is closed.

Spring Session, Part 1 Classes (January 11–February 15):

What’s So Amazing About Grace?

Wednesday evenings, 6:15-7:30 pm
January 11- February 15
Led by John Dombroski
Course Designation: Intermediate Formation

All of us know that God’s grace has to do with God’s unmerited love and favor toward us. But do we really understand the radical and amazing nature of grace? What does grace look like today in a world that hardly appears to be grace-filled? How does a Christian go about reflecting God’s grace in this world? This class will explore these and other aspects of grace using Philip Yancey’s book What’s So Amazing About Grace? (available in The Book Cellar).

Evangelism: A Way of Life (Part II)

Wednesday evenings, 6:15-7:30 pm
January 11- February 15
Led by Tim Osterhaus and Chuck Lang
Course Designation: Intermediate Formation

Using an informal teaching/group discussion format, this class will examine what the Scriptures have to say about evangelism with the hope of invigorating our thinking and our ability to communicate our Christian faith. The class will consider key topics such as knowing what we believe, dispelling the fear of speaking about our faith, realizing the importance of humility and boldness, building authentic relationships with non-Christians and being clear about our own motives. This class will make use of Evangelism: A Way of Life by Rebecca Manley Pippert (available in The Book Cellar).

Simply Jesus: Who He Was, What He Did and Why He Matters

Wednesday evenings, 6:15-7:30 pm
January 11-February 15
Led by Fr. Michael Petty
Course Designation: Continuing Formation

This class is based on N. T. Wright’s new book of the same title. The purpose of this book is to help reintroduce both Christians and non-Christians to Jesus by answering the key questions of who he was, what he accomplished and why he very much matters to us today. This class is a good way to prepare for the season of Lent.

Character Matters! Raising Kids With Values That Last

Wednesday evenings, 6:15-7:30 pm
January 11- February 15
Led by Damon and Catherine Gibbs
Course Designation: Intermediate Formation

This class is based on Susan and John Yates’ book of the same title. Character does not happen automatically. This class focuses on helping parents form the character of children in eight key dimensions: integrity, faith, a teachable spirit, a servant’s heart, self-discipline, joy, compassion and courage. Participants should purchase Character Matters! from The Book Cellar. The class will focus on group discussion and sharing of insights and experiences.

Spring Session, Part 2 Classes (February 29-April 18):

Daring to Draw Near: People in Prayer

Wednesday evenings, 6:15-7:30 pm
February 29–April 18
Led by Major Harding
Course Designation: Intermediate Formation

This class will focus on the prayers of the Bible. These prayers deal with the profoundest issues of life and death and the deepest longings of our hearts. By reflecting upon them, we learn about the God to whom we pray, the One who wishes to speak with us and who takes the initiative in our relationship with Him. This class will make use of John White’s classic book Daring to Draw Near: People in Prayer which helps us to listen to Abraham plead for Sodom and Gomorrah, watch Jacob wrestle with the angel of the Lord and hear David confess his sin as king. We will also hear Hannah ask for a child, and Jesus pray on the Cross. By reflecting on these prayers, we will enter the “school of prayer.”

The Sermon on the Mount

Wednesday evenings, 6:15-7:30 pm
February 29–April 18
Led by Jane Harding
Course Designation: Continuing Formation

This class is based on John Stott’s Sermon on the Mount study guide and will be an inductive Bible study of Matthew 5-7. Participants will need to read assigned passages in advance of class as well as answer reflection questions in the study guide. Class discussion will focus on what Jesus is saying and how this might shape our lives.

Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power and the Only Hope That Matters

Wednesday evenings, 6:15-7:30 pm
February 29–April 18
Led by Fr. Michael Petty
Course Designation: Continuing Formation

This class is based on Timothy Keller’s book of the same title. Many of us place our faith in success, money and power, but also worry whether these things can deliver their promised happiness. This worry eventually leads to disenchantment and resentment as well as to feelings of failure. By examining the hold these things have on our hearts, the class will help participants to refocus their live on God – who alone can satisfy our deepest longings.

Thursday

Women at the Well Bible Study: Jesus’ Final Week

January 19–March 8
9:30-11:00 am
Led by Frs. Michael Petty, John Wallace, Jim Hampson and Dr. Sonya Cronin
Course Designation: Continuing Formation

This eight-week study focuses on Jesus’ last week as portrayed in the Gospels. Using readings from all four Gospels, the class will focus on the key events of Jesus’ last week including Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the cleansing of the Temple, the teaching on the Mt. of Olives, the events in the Upper Room, Jesus’ trial before Pilate, and his crucifixion and his resurrection on “the first day of the week.” Copies of the study book Jesus’ Final Week by Cindy Bunch will be available in The Book Cellar.

Introducing Anglicanism

March 1–April 12
6:30-8:00 pm
Led by Fr. Michael Petty
Course Designation: Catechumenate

Introducing Anglicanism is a 6-week class designed to help participants to better understand Anglican history, worship, teaching and sacramental life. This class is a “guided tour” of the origins and development of Anglicanism, the nature of liturgical worship, sacramental theology and doctrine.

Saturday

Network

Saturday, March 31
9am-Noon
Led by Sam Ashoo and Scott Balog
Course Designation: Catechumenate

Network is designed to help each person discover his or her own spiritual gifts so that those gifts can be used in the life of the parish or beyond. The workbook is available at the Book Cellar. Please buy the book prior to class. To register and download the required assessments for Network, visit our website at www.saint-peters.net/network, or contact Katherine Nerona-Balog at 701-0664, ext. 15 or katherine@saint-peters.net. Childcare provided with reservation.

Helpful Information

Registration for Academy of St. Peter Classes

Because space is so limited, in order to ensure your place in a class you need to register in advance. To register for any class, call Fr. Michael Petty at 701-0664, x-19.

Suggestions?

Do you have thoughts about potential class offerings? Your comments and suggestions are important. If you have ideas or suggestions, please contact Fr. Petty.