CHRISTIANITY 101: EXPLORING FAITH FOR GROWN-UPS
We are thrilled to come together, once again, with our Better Together partners.
Join us for conversation covering the broad topic of Christian faith and the Episcopal “slant” on that tradition. Dinner included!
Saturday, October 21, 2023
4:30 - 6 pm
St. Lawrence Episcopal Church, 125 W Church Street, Libertyville, IL 60048
Topic: Spiritual Autobiographies: What brings you to church? And what has been your journey so far in faith? This first session will be a conversation about what draws to explore faith, and particularly Christian faith.
Saturday, November 11, 2023
4:30 - 6 pm
St. Elisabeth's Episcopal Church, 556 Vernon Avenue, Glencoe, IL 60022
Topic: The Bible: The Jewish and Christian scriptures are a primary place Christians go looking to encounter God or to learn more about God. And even though it comes in one "book," there is a lot of different kinds of writing in there. This session will provide an overview to this library of faith and suggest some ways to use it.
Saturday, December 2, 2023
4:30 - 6 pm
Trinity Episcopal Church, 425 Laurel Avenue, Highland Park, IL 60035
Topic: Eucharist: The most common way many Christians pray on Sunday, including Episcopalians, is called Eucharist, the meal that remembers Jesus' hospitality and his death, and transforms those who celebrate it into his presence in the world. This session will explore what we do in this celebration--and how it transforms us.
Saturday, January 20, 2024
4:30 - 6 pm
St. Gregory's Episcopal Church, 815 Wilmot Road, Deerfield, IL 60015
Topic: Baptism: "Christians" get that name by being baptized with water, usually surrounded by other Christians. This session will explore the symbols and stories of baptism, and how they shape our understanding of who we are as members of Christ's body.
Saturday, February 24, 2024
4:30 - 6 pm
St. Elisabeth's Episcopal Church, 556 Vernon Avenue, Glencoe, IL 60022
Topic: Church History: Christianity has been around for a long time, and it has appeared in diverse forms: great cathedrals, desert monasteries, experimental communes, and local parishes. This session will explore Christianity's "back story" and what we might learn from it to live as Christians today.
Saturday, March 16, 2024
4:30 - 6 pm
St. Elisabeth's Episcopal Church, 556 Vernon Avenue, Glencoe, IL 60022
Topic: The Episcopal Church: The Episcopal Church is the child of a particular moment in Christian history: the creation of the Church of England during the Reformation. The Episcopal Church was shaped also by the American Revolution, and the way we practice Christian faith is shaped by our country's history, for better and for worse. This session will explore the particular take on Christianity of the Episcopal Church and its "middle way" between history and the needs of today.
Saturday, April 20, 2024
4:30 - 6 pm
Trinity Episcopal Church, 425 Laurel Avenue, Highland Park, IL 60035
Topic: Prayer: Prayer is a word to describe how we encounter God, both together on Sunday or at other times, with our families, or alone outdoors or in our room. This session will explore different practices that help connect a person to God and deepen that relationship.
Please contact office@stlawrencechurch.org for more information.
Education for Ministry (EfM)
Education for Ministry (EfM) is a unique four-year distance learning certificate program in theological education based upon small-group study and practice. Curriculum is provided by The Beecken Center of The School of Theology at The University of the South in Sewanee, TN. EfM is offered throughout the US and Canada and in many other countries.
EfM at St. Lawrence meets once a week January-June and September-December. The first year texts cover the Hebrew Scriptures, year two the New Testament, year three the History of Christianity, and year four Comparative Theology. All years meet together in a one-room-schoolhouse format; the program is expertly arranged so the discussions are interconnected and relevant to one another. We engage in the art of Spiritual Reflection on a regular basis, a method by which we tie what we've learned to our everyday lives and learn to see the world through a theological lens.
New participants are welcomed each year. For additional information contact EFM@stlawrencechurch.org.
Program information can be found at https://efm.sewanee.edu/about/
The Way of Love
A self directed formation opportunity offered by The Episcopal Church, The Way of Love is a way of life. More than a program or curriculum, it is an intential commitment to a set of practices. It's a commitment to follow Jesus: Turn. Learn. Pray. Worship. Bless. Go. Rest.
Additional information can be found at https://episcopalchurch.org/way-of-love