Adult Education
Adult Education Programs
Adult Education offers a three-pronged approach to adult education: Bible Study, Contemplative Practice, and Witnessing Our Faith, Living Our Values.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, while we are not meeting in the church building, offerings will be online via Zoom at the below link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86362015470
Dial into the meeting: +1 346 248 7799
Meeting ID: 86362015470
Adult Education offers a three-pronged approach to adult education: Bible Study, Contemplative Practice, and Witnessing Our Faith, Living Our Values.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, while we are not meeting in the church building, offerings will be online via Zoom at the below link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86362015470
Dial into the meeting: +1 346 248 7799
Meeting ID: 86362015470
Schedule
Upcoming opportunities for Adult Learning will be posted on this page, the Calendar, This Week, and in The Spire.
Upcoming opportunities for Adult Learning will be posted on this page, the Calendar, This Week, and in The Spire.
January Adult Education Opportunities--Sundays at 9:30 a.m.
Join us on Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86362015470
Join us on Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86362015470
Sunday, January 3, at 9:30am - Depolarizing Begins with You
Braver Angels
When we think about society’s polarization, we don’t typically think about our own role in it. But according to Braver Angels, an organization that brings together “Red and Blue Americans,” much of today’s division is driven by how we talk with like-minded people about those on the other side.
Our Braver Angels presenter, volunteer Lor-raine Howell, will introduce us to:
• How to be more aware of our own “inner polarizer.”
• How to be critical without demonizing, dismissing, or stereotyping large parts of the population.
• Strategies for intervening constructively when conversations veer into ridicule of people who hold other political views.
Braver Angels
When we think about society’s polarization, we don’t typically think about our own role in it. But according to Braver Angels, an organization that brings together “Red and Blue Americans,” much of today’s division is driven by how we talk with like-minded people about those on the other side.
Our Braver Angels presenter, volunteer Lor-raine Howell, will introduce us to:
• How to be more aware of our own “inner polarizer.”
• How to be critical without demonizing, dismissing, or stereotyping large parts of the population.
• Strategies for intervening constructively when conversations veer into ridicule of people who hold other political views.
Sunday, January 10, at 9:30 a.m. - Everything You Wanted to Know About Our SFBC Task Forces
What would you like to know about the congregation’s task forces working to move us ahead in 2021? Please bring your questions about scheduling, membership, reporting relationships—anything you would like to know about task force work. SFBC Executive Committee members will facilitate this session. They will do their best to answer your questions as we move into the new year.
What would you like to know about the congregation’s task forces working to move us ahead in 2021? Please bring your questions about scheduling, membership, reporting relationships—anything you would like to know about task force work. SFBC Executive Committee members will facilitate this session. They will do their best to answer your questions as we move into the new year.
Sunday, January 17, at 9:30 a.m. Reflecting on MLK’s Letter from a Birminham Jail, Lessons for Today
Facilitated by Susan Blythe-Goodman, this session offers an analysis and discussion on Dr. King’s famous letter and its context within the Civil Rights Movement. We will talk about constructive nonviolent tension, justice and injustice, organizing movements, and love.
Read Dr. King’s letter (https://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html) or listen to it (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATPSht6318o) to prepare for the conversation.
Note: The full letter is over 6,900 words, so allow plenty of time to take it in.
Facilitated by Susan Blythe-Goodman, this session offers an analysis and discussion on Dr. King’s famous letter and its context within the Civil Rights Movement. We will talk about constructive nonviolent tension, justice and injustice, organizing movements, and love.
Read Dr. King’s letter (https://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html) or listen to it (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATPSht6318o) to prepare for the conversation.
Note: The full letter is over 6,900 words, so allow plenty of time to take it in.
Sunday, January 24, at 9:30 a.m. Contemplative Practices of the Black Church
Rev. Dr. Troy Lynn Carr, pastor of Grace United Methodist Church in Seattle, will lead us in this session. We will explore:
• Spiritual exercises innate to the Black Church as the praxis for more profound theological reflections.
• How movement, dance, and the music become central in connecting with God.
• The significance of the “mourners’ bench,” revival, and prayer meeting as contemplative practices.
• Rev. Dr. Carr will also reflect on how contemplative practices during COVID-19 have given her grit, resilience, and restoration.
Rev. Dr. Troy Lynn Carr, pastor of Grace United Methodist Church in Seattle, will lead us in this session. We will explore:
• Spiritual exercises innate to the Black Church as the praxis for more profound theological reflections.
• How movement, dance, and the music become central in connecting with God.
• The significance of the “mourners’ bench,” revival, and prayer meeting as contemplative practices.
• Rev. Dr. Carr will also reflect on how contemplative practices during COVID-19 have given her grit, resilience, and restoration.
Program Descriptions
The Witnessing Our Faith, Living Our Values program
features a speaker or speakers on a special topic related to our values and current events. It also includes the sharing of our faith journeys. (Click here for the SFBC Affirmation of Values.)
Bible Study gives us an opportunity to reacquaint ourselves with our Biblical heritage. Unlike Bible study that may have alienated individuals at other churches and in other denominations in the past, we present the Bible in ways that reflect our values. We “own” the message, assisting people to feel safe reading the Bible, perhaps for the first time. Bible study is led by our pastors and by other faith leaders within and outside our congregation.
Contemplative Practice includes opportunities for learning personal and communal ways to listen to the Spirit. Contemplation includes various practices such as prayer, silent meditation, Lectio Divina, and other paths for listening and discernment. These programs are led by people within our church who are experienced with contemplative practices, or invited guests.
The goals of our three-pronged approach are to (1) help to create bonds among attendees through small-group sessions, (2) offer consistent spiritual content, (3) learn about and express social justice concerns through the lens of our faith, and (4) explore what it means to live our congregational values.
If you have any questions about Adult Education, please contact
Lynn-Gaertner Johnston or Joanne Wright, the 2020 Co-leaders of the Adult Education Commission.
The Witnessing Our Faith, Living Our Values program
features a speaker or speakers on a special topic related to our values and current events. It also includes the sharing of our faith journeys. (Click here for the SFBC Affirmation of Values.)
Bible Study gives us an opportunity to reacquaint ourselves with our Biblical heritage. Unlike Bible study that may have alienated individuals at other churches and in other denominations in the past, we present the Bible in ways that reflect our values. We “own” the message, assisting people to feel safe reading the Bible, perhaps for the first time. Bible study is led by our pastors and by other faith leaders within and outside our congregation.
Contemplative Practice includes opportunities for learning personal and communal ways to listen to the Spirit. Contemplation includes various practices such as prayer, silent meditation, Lectio Divina, and other paths for listening and discernment. These programs are led by people within our church who are experienced with contemplative practices, or invited guests.
The goals of our three-pronged approach are to (1) help to create bonds among attendees through small-group sessions, (2) offer consistent spiritual content, (3) learn about and express social justice concerns through the lens of our faith, and (4) explore what it means to live our congregational values.
If you have any questions about Adult Education, please contact
Lynn-Gaertner Johnston or Joanne Wright, the 2020 Co-leaders of the Adult Education Commission.