Adult Christian Education

• Small Group Bible Study
• 9:30am Sundays
• Introductory Bible Study
• Advanced Bible Study
• Home Studies

Spiritual Formation

• In-depth Bible Study
• Spirituality through Evening Prayer
• Taize Worship
• Prayer Groups at church or home
• Retreat
  

Sundays 9:30am Bible Study Choices

All Pierce Hall rooms are in the lower level.

Aldersgate Bible Study:
Meets in Pierce Hall 2 (lower level), studying the Scripture assigned for the same Sunday.

CAFÉ: (Contemporary Adults in Fellowship and Education),
Meets in Pierce Hall 3, studies the Bible through the vision of various theological writers, includes a Wesleyan study, and a study of a book of the Bible in the course of the year.

Dixon Bible Study:
One of the longest running Bible studies in Chicago, meets in the Dixon Chapel on the 2nd floor, this approach is to focus on the Scripture for the Sunday with the leader providing much information on background through culture, meaning, and history of the passage.

Mabuhay Bible Study:
Mabuhay means “Welcome” and all are welcome to this Bible study. Meets in Pierce Hall 1. Focusing on the teaching of the pastor it includes discussion on the meaning of the passage for daily life.

Parents of Young Children:
Meets in conference room 420 on the 4th fl. near the children’s Sunday school rooms. Studies a variety of approaches during the year, including a book of the Bible, Christian parenting, a theological or current book that is a discussion for the Christian faith, and Wesleyan understanding of the faith.

We are pleased to offer quality staff nursery care during the 9:30-10:50 Christian Education period as well as children and youth Sunday school. We are blessed to have this time for a congregational focus on Christian Education.

Advent:
The congregation studies the same Advent book during this liturgical season. New groups are also formed for this special study.

Lent:
A six-week study is conducted by the whole congregation, often bringing in a common time for the congregation to talk together about this study. The Advent and Lent studies are important parts of the Christian education of the congregation.

Disciple Bible Study:
A commitment to study the Bible through a focus on the Bible from history, culture, writing, and audience perspectives. The primary focus is on how the Bible challenges the learning to grow in discipleship.

Disciple Bible Study has transformed people and congregations. There is a course for your level of familiarity, commitment, and willingness to move in a deeper relationship to living as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Disciple requires daily Bible study and a weekly evening class meeting for 1 ½ hour. Sign up is required in advance. A fee of between $35-40 covers the cost of the book and the ending retreat. A confidential scholarship is available with Rev. Magrini

Disciple Bible Study Level I:
This is an introductory study that includes the history of ancient Israel in a significant Old Testament portion, then moves to the New Testament focusing on the Gospels and the letters of the apostle Paul. This is an excellent study for a person who is just beginning to explore the Bible.

This requires a commitment to a 1½ hour weekly study and Bible study reading each day for approximately 32-34 weeks.

Advanced Disciple Bible Study:
The topics vary according to the most up-to-date resources available that focus on the best of scholarship and diversity in approach. The topics are in-depth into the Bible, often a book of the Bible, or a topic such as grace or forgiveness as one selection of a 30-32 week study. Daily reading and a 1½ hour class weekly commitment is required. The basic Disciple Bible Study level I must be taken before moving into the Advanced study.

For 2010-2011 Disciple Bible Study! Sign up today! The class lists are already being formed. Each class has a maximum of 12 participants and then the class will not accept new participants after the first meeting.

Disciple Bible Study Level I
BEGINS ON MONDAY, SEPT. 13!
Mondays, 6-7:30pm class. Fellowship 5:45-6pm. The class begins and ends on time. Taught by Rev. Dr. Cheryl Magrini, Minister of Christian Education and Spiritual Formation.
Be part of an exciting and informative overview of the Bible with many resources offered in addition to the manual. Find your community of a small group that journeys with you for many weeks.

Advanced Disciple: “Jesus in the Gospels”!
BEGINS ON TUESDAY, SEPT. 7
Tuesdays, 6-7:30, Fellowship 5:45-6pm. The class begins and ends on time. Taught by Rev. Dr. Cheryl Magrini, Minister of Christian Education and Spiritual Formation.

What an exciting and new way to look at the Gospels. How does each writer focus on Jesus depending on the message of the writer, the community hearing the Gospel and the history of each community. Learn about format and how each Gospel portrait of Jesus came to be in our current Bible overtime. You do not want to miss this new and informative advanced class.

Spiritual Formation:
Is a way to open, to deepen, to pray in a way that is intentional in opening oneself to God’s work in your life. This can be praise, thanksgiving for the love of God, growing in various styles of prayer, and experiencing the peaceful silence in the presence of God.

Two primary opportunities currently exist for developing spiritual formation: Evening Prayer and Taize Worship.

Evening Prayer takes place in the Chapel in the Sky. Evening Prayer uses a liturgy focusing on various prayers, including praying for the peoples in the world. Thursdays, meet on the 2nd fl at 5:30.

Taize Worship is a time of quiet music, a focus on silence, Scripture and readings, prayer, and lighting of candles. Meets on the first Friday, Dixon Chapel 2nd fl, 6:30-7:15pm.

Retreat:
An annual retreat is planned around a theme that the congregation would like to focus on. Often a guest leader who is quality and informative on the topic is brought to lead the retreat. Look for the date in the communication formats of the church.