Davidson, NC

St. Alban's Episcopal Church

  welcomes you

Adult Faith Formation

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him,

rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

- Colossians 2:6-7

At St. Alban’s, we believe faith formation is a life-long endeavor. We offer the following opportunities for religious education and spiritual growth for adults:

ST. ALBAN’S FALL 2021 ADULT EDUCATION CALENDAR 

Christian Education programming for adults is held on Sunday mornings from 9:10 a.m. to 10:10 a.m., generally outdoors behind the church building, weather permitting. In inclement weather, gatherings will be held in the Youth Rooms downstairs or may on occasion be held elsewhere in the building. Each Sunday program is open to all and no RSVP or prior attendance is necessary. This calendar is subject to change and all gatherings will follow the current COVID-19 protocols of the Diocese of North Carolina.
FIRST & FIFTH SUNDAYS: 
Poetry On first and fifth Sundays of the month, we offer Journeys, our popular Poetry Discussion Group. All are welcome to join the conversation, which begins with looking at the spiritual themes in a selected poem, before often meandering in a variety of different directions. The poems range from ancient to contemporary, and it is remarkable how poetry can spark such rich and reflective discussions. 
SECOND SUNDAYS: 
Outreach Forum On second Sundays of the month, we hold a forum to learn more about the Outreach ministries our parish supports through volunteers and/or financial contributions. Hearing from parishioners and community leaders to learn about the needs of our local and global community, we will grow in our understanding of the complex issues around us and the many ways St. Alban’s is involved in loving our neighbors.
THIRD SUNDAYS: 
Bible Study On third Sundays of the month, the clergy offer a drop-in Bible Study from 9:10 a.m. to 10:10 a.m. to deepen our knowledge of Holy Scripture and reflect on its relevance for our lives today. Each month, the study will focus on themes found some of in the upcoming lessons (Old Testament, Psalm, New Testament, or Gospel) of the Revised Common Lectionary. No advanced reading required! 
FOURTH SUNDAYS: 
Faith Forum Typically, on the fourth Sunday of the month, we will hold a forum on topics related to being a disciple of Jesus and following his way of love. This may include presentations from our clergy, members of the congregation, guest speakers, or other miscellaneous topics and events that will help us to grow in our faith and live the Gospel.
SEPTEMBER 5 - Poem: “Music” by Anne Porter 
SEPTEMBER 12 - Marion Medical Mission Outreach Forum Hayden Boyd will present on the transformative ministry of providing sources of sustainable of clean drinking water in rural Africa. 
SEPTEMBER 19 - Bible Study 
SEPTEMBER 26 - Discerning God’s Call: A Forum on Vocation with The Rev. Kevin Lloyd 
OCTOBER 3 - Poem: “Allowables” by Nikki Giovanni 
OCTOBER 10 - La Escuelita Outreach Forum Pat Shaw and representatives from La Escuelita will share updates from Davidson’s first bilingual preschool. 
OCTOBER 17 - Bible Study 
OCTOBER 24 - Book Study sponsored by StAART The St. Alban’s Anti-Racism Team (StAART) will lead a discussion of the book How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America by Clint Smith. The author is a graduate of Davidson College, holds a Ph.D. in Education from Harvard University, and writes for The Atlantic. 
OCTOBER 31 - Poem: “At Thomas Merton’s Grave” by Spencer Reece 
NOVEMBER 7 - Poem: “Flickering Mind” by Denise Levertov 
NOVEMBER 14 - Safe Alliance Outreach Forum Shannon Ritter from the Cornelius office of Safe Alliance will share about their work providing a continuum of crisis services to those impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse. 
NOVEMBER 21 - Bible Study 
NOVEMBER 28 - Advent Fair for All Ages Advent is a season of hopeful waiting and preparation for the coming of Christ. The whole family is invited to participate in activities designed to enhance and deepen your observance of this holy and joyful season. If you would like to make an Advent Wreath at the fair, please let Jessica Ewell (parishadmin@saintalbansdavidson.org) know by Nov. 22 to ensure we have enough supplies. 
DECEMBER 5 - Poem: “Advent Calendar” by Rowan Williams 
DECEMBER 12 - Outreach Forum to be announced December 19 - Bible Study

Confirmation Class


Periodically, St. Alban’s offers a class for any adult who wishes to be baptized, confirmed, or received into the Episcopal Church, or who simply wants to explore what we believe and the basics of faith. The class explores the basics of Christianity: God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the sacraments, the Bible, and The Book of Common Prayer. The class also addresses the way the Episcopal Church lives out our faith through worship and outreach. Bishops preside at Confirmation, so the class is scheduled based on the date of the Bishop’s annual visitation. Class dates will be announced in the weekly bulletin and in the weekly e-newsletter.