| Growing Ministries |
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Eugene Peterson describes Christian Discipleship as "a long obedience in the same direction". Jesus sets the direction and invites us to follow and learn how to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love our neighbors as God has loved us. The Apostle Paul describes the growth of the church in Ephesians 4 as a process of growing until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God and maturing until we reach the full measure of the stature of Christ. Through vital worship, participation in small groups and Bible studies, and discovery and development of our spiritual gifts, we seek to help each other grow both individually and corporately as disciples who are fully engaged in mission and ministry. We deeply desire Grace Church to be a community grounded in God’s grace, growing in faith, and reflecting the fullness of God’s love in our relationships and ministries. Adult Ministries & Small Groups Life Long Learning Opportunities at Grace Spring 2012 Serendipity Meets Sunday morning during the Sunday School hour Wesley Room Led by Tony Buscemi and others The Serendipity Adult Bible Study class meets each Sunday in the Wesley Room for an hour beginning at 9:15. This 13 week class will lead us along the path of wisdom, through Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, the Song of Solomon and culminating In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. “Wisdom Literature” is different from the Old Testament prophets in that the wisdom authors did not address legal and religious obligations but instead, aimed to uncover some of the lessons a wise person would have learned about life in general and how life should be lived. Please join is to learn the ways of wise creatures in an artistic and often poetic way that links practical know how with a moral sensibility. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 Tony.Buscemi@securitasinc.com.
Deep and Wide Meets Sunday mornings 9:15 to 10:30 Susanna Wesley house (next door to GUMC on Walker Avenue) Led by various class members Using The Christian Atheist by Craig Groeschel, we will explore why many who profess to believe in God live as if he doesn't exist. Please join us for the quest. We meet in the Susanna Wesley House on Sunday mornings starting with fellowship at 9:15 a.m. and study from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. You will be blessed! Questions? Contact Eydie Searles via searles@starpower.net or 301-990-0110. Our class includes film, discussion, fellowship, and food during the Sunday School hour. We love to see new faces. Please give us a try this fall! For info contact Eydie Searles at searles@starpower.net or 301-990-0110.
Exploring the Good News Class Meets Sunday morning during the Sunday School hour Walker Building Room 205. Dick Rhorer, Class Coordinator 301-869-9434 The Exploring the Good News will continue to study theology, church beliefs, and Bible related topics that advance our understanding. The class is open to all. Some folks might judge some of our past topics to be on the side of liberal theology (but then others might think we are conservative). Our aim is to explore a variety of topics, so we understand that participation may vary depending on our current study book. We seek to be a study class, not to be a support group, so it is perfectly acceptable to join us, or not, depending on whether you are interested in our current study book. According to recent surveys, many Americans associate the label "Christian" with judgmental attitudes, hypocrisy, a fear of hell, and a commitment to right-wing politics. Author Greg Garrett suggests another way, arguing that a faith that focuses solely on personal morality and the afterlife misses much of the point of Jesus' message.This other way of following Christ is not concerned with an array of commandments or with holding the "right" beliefs. Rather it is centered on loving each other and loving God, what Garrett calls "love where the rubber meets the road, where faith meets the world." Personal and moving, the book relates Garrett's experiences growing up in--and leaving--a disapproving conservative church and then finding his way back into a different kind of Christian community, one that is communal, missional, just, and loving. Garrett draws on popular culture to illustrate his spiritual points, showing how authentic Christian truth can be found in unlikely places, and suggests how the richness of the Christian tradition contains continued truths for the 21st Century. Our teacher is Dr. Kaz Kawata. Every Sunday Kaz brings to us very interesting information in addition to the week’s study for the chapter. Kaz has extensive experience from his years of serving as a missionary in India and a professor at Johns Hopkins. In addition, he has a wealth of knowledge, as well as many personal experiences that he draws on when preparing each week’s lesson. Intentional Choices: Discovering Contentment in Stressful Times Walker 210 Led by Joyce Derby Expecting any stress in 2012? Join us at 9:20 a.m. for a new class entitled, “Intentional Choices: Discovering Contentment in Stressful Times”. Life is never stress free but digging further into the scripture and learning to manage life stressors with other believers helps us not only to survive stress but to use life’s challenges to grow in grace and community. This class will begin January 8th and finish on Palm Sunday (13 weeks). All are welcome as we grow together in community and in wisdom. Today’s discussion will address, “The Stress of Anxious Anticipation”. Improving Communication in Your Marriage A six-week study for married couples Starts October 2nd during the Sunday school hour Polls and surveys consistently show communication is the number one issue crippling a married couple's relationship. It has the power to make or break a marriage, and after the strong romantic feelings from dating and the honeymoon fade, it doesn't take long for communication problems to reveal themselves. Why not invest six weeks in your marriage by discovering the skills that strengthen communication with your spouse? During this study you and other couples facing the same issues will learn about:
For more information contact Robin at cupupj@aol.com. Simply Christian-Why Christianity Makes Sense Meeting Sunday mornings at 9:30am, beginning October 9th Walker Room 209 Led by Bev Payne and Jim Akin Simply Christian - Join us in studying Simply Christian-Why Christianity Makes Sense by Anglican Bishop Tom Wright. He walks us through the Christian faith, using text and video, step-by-step and question by question, leaving us with a reason for renewed faith. We will examine and discuss what the Bible and Christianity have to say about topics such as justice, spirituality, relationships, and what it looks like in practice to follow Jesus, energized by the Holy Spirit. The class will be led by Bev Payne and Jim Akin. A Wesley Ministry Network course workbook by Craig Hill of Wesley Seminary. For more info, contact Bev at payne4715@comcast.net. Tea and Scones; Fellowship and Study Meeting Monday mornings at 10:00 a.m. for fellowship and the study of Rob Bell's NOOMA series. Led by Laura Freeburn A weekday Bible study covering Rob Bell's NOOMA series. This class is ideal for those not wanting the commitment of a consistent weekly Bible study. This study is open to all ages and stages and childcare is provided for those with young children. Contact Laura at lauranhall@yahoo.com. Disciple Bible Study Meeting Monday evenings 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. in the Wesley Room Led by Rich Roberts and Vickie DiSanto Disciple Bible Study is a 34-week study focused on the fundamentals of Bible study from the perspective of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. Each week includes daily Bible reading and small-group interaction during a weekly meeting of about 2 hours in length. Disciple is perfect for any level of Biblical knowledge, and is a fantastic way to connect and build relationships with your family here at Grace. Childcare is provided. Participants can expect to benefit from greater knowledge of God's Word, prayer, and fellowship. Disciple is fun! Come join us! To learn more, please reach out to Rich Roberts at (703) 463-7482 or by email at: RichRoberts1971@netscape.net. Man to Man Meets Tuesdays from 7:30-8:45pm Parlor Led by Mark Derby A small group for men will begin a new study focusing on Real Life Discipleship. Please join us and grow in your faith and faithfulness. Need more info, contact Mark at maderby@graceumc.org.
The Good and Beautiful Life Is Possible! A small, small group meeting weekly (day of the week and time to be determined by the group) Looking to begin in Late Spring 2012 Led by Eydie Searles "You must work out your own salvation in fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you, inspiring both the will and the deed, for his own chosen purpose." Phil 2:12 &13 "The abundance of God to our lives, our families, and our ministries is not passively received or imposed and does not happen to us by chance. It is claimed and put into action by our active, intellectual pursuit of it." Dallas Willard, The Great Omission ISO (in search of) a couple of disciple-wannabes who'd like to form a small group to study the trilogy of books by James Bryan Smith, designed to be a life transforming, year-long adventure. The weekly meetings would include the disciplines of study, journaling, reflection, prayer, service, fellowship and accountability. Ideally, I'm looking for 2-5 disciples who'd be willing to meet weekly. I'm flexible on the time and place. Please contact me if you're curious. I look forward to launching what I know will be a catalyst for transformation (and God glorification) at Grace. Come be a part of it! Eydie Searles @searles@starpower.net or 301-990-0110. INFANT & CHILDREN SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES
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