Adult Minstries

Adult Education
We cherish the ability to nurture and grow our faith in numerous ways. Faith development is a life-long process and one that leads us closer to God and true discipleship.

Fall 2011 Opportunities
Over the course of the year, we hope to offer you a series of classes and opportunities that reflects the interest you expressed in our survey last year.   Please join us and don't hesitate to reach out and let us know if there is a topic you would like to cover or are interested in teaching!

Walking the Labyrinth – Priscilla Boyd – Sunday mornings at 10:30 – September 18 through October 23.   The labyrinth is a powerful symbol and tool for our spiritual and psychological development that has been taking on modern significance and we are seeing labyrinth designs in churches, hospitals, corporate centers and public parks all over the country and the world.  Long symbolizing transformation and renewal, the labyrinth offers to us a chance to reflect on our journey to the Spirit center.  This series will use discussion, guided meditations and utilize our very own FCC labyrinth to explore our call to come full circle. 

The Beatitudes – Developing Spiritual Character in a Modern World  – Nadine Rosier – Sundays at 4 p.m. – September 18 through November 20 - The Beatitudes is probably the best known teachings of Jesus.  Given as a Sermon on the Mount, it expresses ethical standards that as Christians we are to attain.   It is probably the least understood and the least obeyed.  It is Jesus' own description of what he wanted us to be and to do. The eight beatitudes which begin the sermon will be the focus of the class.

Exploring and Expanding our Images of God – Fr. Terry Johnson – Sundays at 6:30 p.m. – October 16 through October 30 - For millions of years, our ancestors remained very close to nature and saw the entire web of life infused with divinity...As we travel the universe in our "Blue Boat Home"  how do we live day to day as pilgrims who travel with all that is around us? 

As we navigate through our lives together in the universe, we encounter different images and symbols that point to a larger reality and at times capture who God is for us at any given moment.  Often as we live through different experiences in life, we realize that we need to expand our understanding of who God is...and let God be God!  

Together we will acknowledge those images of God that have captured our experiences of God and look to the Wisdom of Creation for insight and revelation!

Extremism and Violence in the Name of Religion – September18 -  3  to 5:30 p.m. – St. Michael Roman Catholic Church - 144th and West Avenue, Orland Park - South West Interfaith Team will present an educational Speakers’ Forum.  Registration will begin at 2:30 pm.  Attendance is without charge and refreshments will be served.

Three speakers who represent the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths will present “Extremism and Violence in the Name of Religion – How Our Scriptures Deal with the Subject”.
The speakers:

• Prof. Mark Swanson, Professor of Christian-Muslim Studies and Interfaith Relations, Lutheran School of Theology, Chicago;
• Rabbi Michael Balinsky, Executive Vice President of the Chicago Board of Rabbis and Advisory Board member of the Bernardin Center for Catholic Theological Union; and
• Ahmed Rehab, Executive Director of Council of American Islamic Relations Chicago and Board Member of Illinois Coalition of Immigrant & Refugee Rights,

... will present their perspectives on what their respective scriptures tell us about humans dealing with each other, justice, tolerance, co-existence and the issues of religious extremism.

In keeping with the mission of SWIFT, on the day of the Speakers Forum event, we also hope to collect donations from those attending the Forum. We are hoping guests bring in cleaning items for community service organization Respond Now. These include: bar soap, cleansers, toothpaste, toothbrushes, body lotion, deodorants, and dish and laundry detergents.  Respond Now, a charitable organization, that supports a food pantry and prescription medicine program as well as numerous other assistance services is located in Chicago Heights.

Ongoing Education Opportunities

Discovery Forum
Sundays at 10:30 a.m., beginning October 16
Join us for a book club discussion of The Summer Book by Tove Jansson. The 1972 Swedish novel portrays the lives and conversations of an aging grandmother and her young granddaughter on a tiny island in the Gulf of Finland. Other dates in October will offer self-contained discussions of variety of topics inspired by Krista Tippett’s Speaking of Faith.

CATS (Church at the Train Station)
All men of the church are invited for a one-hour Saturday morning (8-9 a.m.) cup of coffee and faith-conversation at the Flossmoor Station in downtown Flossmoor.  Lively conversations ensue whether the topic is a chapter of the Bible or a chapter of a book on the Christian life.  Join the fellowship, enjoy the fun, grow in your faith – what better way to spend an hour on Saturday mornings.  For more information, contact Jerry Hurtubise at 708.799.4260 or hurtubises@comcast.net.

Spirituality Center
Coming offerings are detailed in the monthly newsletter The Narthex as well as the weekly bulletin insert Faith Family Matters.

Prayer Group – Wednesdays 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. 
Join others as we gather in the most basic of Christian practices, praying together. The group is open to all. Come whenever you can.

Prayer Shawl Ministry – Wednesdays 4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Would you like to physically wrap others in prayer and love? This ministry knits or crochets shawls as they pray together. Completed “prayer shawls” are then distributed to those who need to experience the loving arms of God wrapped around them. Recipients share the deep wonder and peace that have come from wearing the shawls and feeling the prayers and love that come to them. Patterns are available for both knit and crocheted shawls.