Adult Faith Formation

FALL 2023 SUNDAY MORNING SPIRITUAL FORMATION FOR ADULTS

 

Sunday morning spiritual education programming for adults is typically held from 9:10 a.m. – 10:10 a.m. Topics and locations are subject to change, so check the weekly email newsletter for the most up-to-date information.

 

September 3, October 1, November 5, December 3: Journeys

This fall, Journeys will meet on the first Sunday of the month. Journeys is a group for adults who enjoy poetry, theological discussion, and diving into the deep topics of life and faith. All are welcome to join the conversation, which begins with reading a poem several times in a meditative way, then looking at its spiritual themes, before often meandering in a variety of different directions. The poems range from ancient to contemporary, and it is remarkable how poetry can spark rich and reflective discussions. (Downstairs Youth Classroom)

 

September 10, 17, & 24: What I Did On My Summer Vacation

This three-week series will feature presentations and stories from parishioners who undertook exciting travels during the past summer. (Nave)

 

September 10: St. Alban’s youth Amelia Amadio presents on her trip with the Echo Foundation to learn about the war in Ukraine. She was one of only 9 students to be selected for this experience visiting The Hague and International Criminal Court in the Netherlands, meeting with young Ukrainian refugees in Eastern Poland, and much more.

 

September 17: Cynthia and Bill Lawing present on their travels to Taiwan, where they have established friendships with the Bishop and people of the Episcopal Diocese in this free, democratic Asian country.

 

September 24: Our Holy Land pilgrims present on their experiences walking in the footsteps of Jesus and learning about life in modern-day Israel and Palestine.

 

October 15: Bishop’s Forum

We welcome The Rt. Rev. Jennifer Brook-Davidson, Assistant Bishop of the Diocese of North Carolina, who will share her reflections on ministry within and beyond our diocese. (Nave)

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October 22 & 29, November 12 & 19: God and You Book Study

Our ministry intern Derek Riccelli will lead a four-part series on the book God and You: Prayer as Personal Relationship by William Barry, S.J. Drawing on Barry's experience as a Jesuit and a spiritual director, this slim but powerful book reflects the Ignatian approach to spirituality. Exploring prayer as a conscious, dynamic relationship with God, Barry discusses contemplative approaches to nature and Scripture, emotional self-awareness, and ways of transcending ambivalence or outmoded images of God. All are welcome, especially anyone who wants to deepen their prayer life! (Downstairs Youth Classroom)

 

December 10 & 17: All Creation Waits Advent Study Building on the popularity of our recent study of Gayle Boss’s Lenten writings, we return to her work once more for Advent. Her book All Creation Waits: The Advent Mystery of New Beginnings shares 25 short portraits of how wild animals of the northern hemisphere ingeniously adapt when darkness and cold descend. Their stories offer us the ancient wisdom of Advent: that the dark is not an end but the way a new beginning comes. We will discuss chapters 1-12 on December 10 and Chapters 13-through the end on December 17. (Boss is also publishing a children’s version of All Creation Waits this year for families who wish to use the devotionals for reflection together at home!) (Downstairs Youth Room)

 

*There will be no Sunday morning Adult Formation programming held on October 8 (Blessing of the Animals at 10:30am), November 26 (Thanksgiving weekend), or December 24 & 31 (Christmas Eve & New Year’s Eve)