Can adult education be a transforming experience? Can it provide opportunities for God to transform us, so that we may be part of Christ's transforming presence in the world? We think it can, and it is our goal to develop programs that involve members and potential members in study, reflection, and sharing. We try to provide programs that will help us grow in knowledge of our faith and in commitment to our Lord.
Topics and leaders vary from week to week, but over the course of the year they include:
· Bible study
· examination of our faith and beliefs (including study of other religious traditions)
· how our faith applies to our daily life
· mission needs
· social issues that are connected to our faith
· church history
· why we worship the way we do, including a study of sacred music
Topics covered in our Sunday classes during the fall of 2009 included a comparison of the Christmas stories in Matthew and Luke, African-American Spirituals, the Spirituality of the Psalms, Pros and Cons of Gas Drilling in the Marcellus Shale, John Calvin, questions from Rwanda, and a study on health and nutritional needs of children in Zimbabwe.
Sometimes a topic is treated in a single week; sometimes we examine the same topic for as much as four or five weeks. Often we offer a choice of two topics on a given Sunday, making the groups more intimate. Leaders include our pastor, members of our congregation, and experts from the larger community. Average attendance is 30-35 per Sunday. Classes meet from 11:10 until noon.
About once a year our studies are enriched by weekend visits from nationally known speakers. These have included the New Testament scholar Marcus Borg as well as William Carl, President of Pittsburg Theological Seminary. On October 4, 2009 we had the Calvin scholar, Randall Zachman; and on November 6-8, 2009 we hosted the noted Old Testament scholar, Walter Brueggemann.
In addition to Sunday morning classes, there are other opportunities for Bible study and prayer groups during the week. For more information on our adult education, please e-mail the chair of the Adult Education Committee at eee1@cornell.edu or call the church office at 272-2800.