January 31st: Of Priests & Plague Doctors: A Theology of Disease

In the mid 14th century, all of Europe was shaken to its core by a catastrophic pandemic, which would later be known as The Black Death. This plague killed as much as 60% of the world’s population, and our Christian forbearers struggled to comprehend this event in light of their theological understanding. Throughout history, people of faith have responded to suffering—and disease in particular—in a variety of ways. Ironically, many of these responses have been detrimental to their health. Join Rev. Seth Ethan Carey as he works to construct a theological response to disease through the historical lens of the Black Death, biblical tradition, and our own contemporary experience.

February 7th: Into the Void: Why We Can Learn From the New Atheists

Atheists are an important part of our religious conversations. Listening to them often helps theists understand where they are not communicating their own faith with sufficient clarity. The recent spate of books supporting atheism—authors like Christopher Hitchens and Sam Harris—are strong in their rejection of God and religion. But a careful reading of these books demonstrates areas where they are misunderstanding both theism and religion. Join guest speaker Dr. Ron Miller for an exploration of the so-called New Atheism, and learn about what it can teach us about our own faith.

February 24th: Open & Affirming: A Transgender Panel Discussion

In the next phase of our church’s commitment to be an Open & Affirming community of faith, we have invited a panel of three transgendered persons to speak about their personal experiences, struggles, dreams, and victories in a world that does not always accept their nature. If you’ve ever had any questions about what it means to be transgendered, this is your opportunity learn in an open forum with three people who have inspiring stories to share.

March 7th: In Ages Past: The Science of Biblical Archaeology

Have you ever wondered which parts of the Bible are based on historical fact, and which are rooted entirely in myth? Biblical archaeologists seek to unravel these very mysteries by probing the sands of the ancient near east for archaeological evidence of biblical cities, characters, and events. Join CTS president Rev. Dr. Alice Hunt for this enlightening lecture on the science of biblical archaeology, as she explores critical finds and considers what might yet be discovered in years to come.

March 21st: The Messianic Banquet: Food, Fellowship, and Faith

Have you ever noticed that Jesus spent a lot of his ministry at the dinner table? Join seminary intern Waltrina Middleton for this faithful discussion about the significance of food in the Judeo-Christian tradition. Learn about ritual practices of dining, the sacramental theology of Holy Communion, and perhaps even a few recipes of the ancient near east. A light lunch will be provided as we gather at a table together for this lively conversation.

March 28th : East of Eden: The Hebrew Bible & Ecology

A small handful of biblical passages have been cited in the past to justify human dominion over nature and the environment, and ecological concerns are sometimes thought to be foreign to biblical theology. Christians and Jews, however, are often unaware that numerous texts in the Hebrew Bible contain a more complex picture of the relationships between God, humanity, the earth, and its creatures. Many of these texts link God’s role as creator and sustainer of the environment to God’s concern for humanity and social justice. Dr. Ken Stone will lead us in exploring a number of such texts, as we consider the ways in which the Hebrew Bible can be read in support of Christian concern for the environment.

April 11th: Understanding & Responding to the Anxiety Epidemic

Why is it so difficult to change—to be transformed—even when we have many insights into our personal problems and complexes? What do we need to break through the impasses in our healing processes? In this workshop, Dr. Robert Moore brings together perspectives from psychology and theology to focus on the nature and dynamics of the courage to be transformed. Special attention is given to understanding the different types of anxiety that afflict us. Dr. Moore addresses the kinds of courage needed to overcome each kind of anxiety and the personal resources each requires in order for transformation to be accomplished.

April 18th: Becoming a Global Mission Church

As members of the United Church of Christ, our mission imperative is, “that all may be one”. (John 17:21). The ministry of reconciliation and unity to which we are called is both local and global. Join Merlyn Lawrence and learn about our church’s past and present involvement in Global Ministries. We will look at what it means to formally become and “Be a Global Mission Church”. Help us discern our future path together.

All are welcome. If you have stories to tell of the ways we have been involved in Global Mission, have documents, pictures, and memorabilia to share, we would greatly appreciate it.

Ever wish that you could explore the Bible, understand it better and see how it pertains to your own life? Then check out AMEN: A Men's Bible Study, which meets every 1st and 3rd Tuesday from 7:00 – 8:00 pm in the Parlor.

 

 

 

 

III. Small Groups

The Faith Forum meets on Sunday mornings, at 9:00 a.m. in the Parlor, where they discuss a variety of current issues as well as biblical interpretations. The group has had as many opinions as participants.

Sisters on a Sojourn meets in designated member's homes. This group of women gathers at 9:15 a.m. on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month. Discussion is based on a book that is purchased by everyone in the group.

The Guy's Groop is a men's group that meets on the 2nd & 4th Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. in the conference room. The topics are pre-selected based upon the interests and suggestions of the group, and vary widely from meeting to meeting. Most sessions relate in some tangential way to development of expression of individual spirituality or one's personal faith journey, to current events topics or issues as they impact our personal or our church's manifestation of faith, or to some totally non-religious topic that just seems to strike someone's fancy.

Moms & Psalms is a group of mothers with young children who gather from 9:15-10:45 a.m. on the 1st & 3rd Fridays in the Parlor. Childcare is provided for a small fee. The group selects a book, which everyone purchases, and then gathers to explore their faith in open and lively discussion and fellowship.