Adult Education

We kick off the year with a two-week series on “The Prophetic Imagination” led by Dan Machiela.  These two weeks will be dedicated to looking at the biblical prophets and their writings. We will begin with some introductory material - Who is a prophet? Which books belong to that category? - and then move on to the messages of the prophets. Along the way, we'll think about the nature of prophecy in the Bible, how the prophets spoke to their times, and what their messages might mean for us today.

Join Chris Hedlin, Jake Schepers, and Jordan Mihut in exploring the mysteries of faith through literature in our annual three-week Faith and Literature adult Sunday School series. Remiinder: you do not have to read the source material to be a part of the discussion.

Chris Hedlin will lead us in a discussion of Annie Dillard's fascinating, thought-provoking short story/essay "Expedition to the Pole" (1982). We'll use the story to take up the question, "Why go to church? Why not be 'spiritual but not religious'?"

Jake Schepers will lead us in a discussion of the poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins. We'll use the poems to reveal connections among Hopkins' Jesuit order, his dynamic and devotional language, his admiration of medieval theologian John Duns Scotus, and more. You're welcome to come regardless of whether you have time or desire to read.

Jordan Mihut will lead us in an exploration of what is commonly accepted as “protest literature” and how we can expect to participate in protest as readers, writers, and residents in an unjust world. We will be drawing from James Baldwin’s ideas on protest literature from his essay “Everybody’s Protest Novel” and seeing how this framework holds up in George Saunders’ fiction, but especially his short story “Fox 8.” [The link will download a pdf.] People are encouraged to read the short story but if they don’t that is totally fine!

We will kick off a 3-session series on the life and thought of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Bonhoeffer was a twentieth-century German theologian and activist who saw the rise of Nazism and was martyred for his opposition to it. In this first session we will consider various aspects of Bonhoeffer's theology, what made it unique, and why it posed a challenge to Hitler and his regime. In the second session we'll look at Bonhoeffer's life, and some of the influences on his thought. In the third session, we will discuss the relevance of Bonhoeffer's theology for our current political moment.

NO SUNDAY SCHOOL

John Haas will lead as we continue our three-session series on the life and thought of German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, executed by Hitler 80 years ago this year. We will look at how Bonhoeffer's thoughts developed during his formative years (especially his critique of theological liberalism and what he called "religion"), his assessment of the church in America (he wasn't very impressed), and what he considered his most crucial contribution to the future life of the church in a "world come of age," a Christian ethic of solidarity and responsibility grounded in the work of Jesus Christ.

We will conclude our series on the life and thought of German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, executed by Hitler 80 years ago this year. John Haas and Chris Rea will lead a discussion of Bonhoeffer's essay "After Ten Years," [pdf] written shortly before his imprisonment, with an eye toward its relevance for Christians today. (Reading the essay is not required, and the presenter won't assume that you've done so.)

The Book of Revelation is one of the most bewildering parts of the Bible. Is this a roadmap for the end times? An apocalyptic timetable with contemporary political implications? Or something else entirely? In this two week series in Adult Sunday School, led by Dave Lincicum, we will attempt to consider Revelation in its first-century context and think about what the text meant to its first readers, and by extension how it might resonate with us today.

In the second meeting of this two week series in Adult Sunday School, led by Dave Lincicum, we will consider Revelation in its first-century context and think about what the text meant to its first readers, and by extension how it might resonate with us today. This Sunday we will particularly consider its political theology.

Queerness is about much more than sexuality. What does queerness have in common with Christianity? What might queerness have to teach Christianity? How might it invite growth in your own spiritual life and the life of our CotS church community? Christina Rhebergen will lead the discussion, starting with "What is queerness, anyway?"

NO SUNDAY SCHOOL

GUEST: Katie Elliot, Director of St. Margaret's House

The annual congregational meeting will take place during the Sunday School hour. NO SUNDAY SCHOOL

NO SUNDAY SCHOOL

NO SUNDAY SCHOOL

NO SUNDAY SCHOOL