Beginning Sunday, January 5, 9:30–10:30 a.m.
The Adult Christian Education Committee has been working on a wide array of opportunities for adults for this new season. Please check out the class descriptions below and make your plans to participate in these engaging opportunities! NOTE: Zoom links will be found in the Sunday morning email.

• The Present Word Class, 9:00 a.m., Room 124 and Zoom – The Present Word is an in-depth Bible study for adults that dives deep into God’s Word, studying the Bible over a six-week period and focusing on a specific theme each quarter. The winter quarter, “A King Forever and Ever,” explores the broad sweep of biblical teaching about God’s reign and connects to Jesus as the earthly exhibition of the divine Kingdom. Beginning with key moments in the history of David’s ancestors, Unit I highlights Jesus’s birth as the “Son of David.” Unit II is a four-week study of psalms that extol the reign of God, while Unit III gives a New Testament look at Jesus’s teaching on “Life in God’s Kingdom.” Unit I, “Jesus, the Heir of David”; Unit II, “Our God Reigns”; Unit III, “Life in God’s Kingdom”. Facilitators: A Variety of Class Members and Guests. Contact Heather Ferguson if you have any questions.

• The Lectionary Café, Salem Room, is a warm, welcoming gathering of folks seeking to engage more deeply into the Lectionary text (scripture focus) for each Sunday. The group shares an informal and lively discussion which seeks to draw deep connections between God’s intentions for our daily lives and our practices for a more faithful life together.

• Parents’ Conversation and Coffee, Room 126 – After getting children settled into their Sunday school classes, parents are invited to gather in Room 126 on the first floor for coffee and conversation. This is a great time to get to know other parents and compare notes on the joys and challenges of parenthood. On the first Sunday of the month we will have a special speaker, video, or other resource for deeper conversation on faith formation in the family and related topics. Other Sundays will offer free time to connect and maybe even share “best practices” in this amazing thing called Parenthood!

• The Life and Legacy of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Ardmore Room and Zoom – A recent movie (Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Spy, Assassin, 2024) has brought Dietrich Bonhoeffer back into public view. Using the book Dietrich Bonhoeffer for Armchair Theologians as a guide to his life and work, participants in the class will also read selections from Bonhoeffer’s writings as we consider what his work meant in his time, and what he might say to our time. Led by Randy Harris and others. Books are available in the Gallery Hall ($15).

The Complexity of Our Mental Health, coming later this year
Have you heard the mental health statistics about our nation, state, and community, our children, youth, young adults, adults and older adults? This series will shed light on the mental health complexities facing so many of us while offering suggestions on how we can break through the stigmas to a place of compassion and empathy to all. We will have expert speakers each of the 5 weeks. For more information watch for email updates. Planned topics:

• The Big Picture of Mental Health and Trends in NC & W-S
• The Mental Health of Our Children, Youth and Young Adults
• The Mental Health of Our Parents
• The Mental Health of Adults and Older Adults
• The Mental Health of W-S and B.E.A.R. Team

Questions? Contact Heather Ferguson.