Adult Education

Since Christians never stop learning how to live as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ, adult education embraces study, fellowship, service and worship. This continuing education at Immanuel includes Sunday morning Bible study; Second Hour programs that are offered after worship on Sunday mornings; book groups; retreats; an Advent workshop; and a special Lenten series.

2008 Lenten Adult Education Series

Tuesdays from 7-9pm
February 12th to March 11th

This year’s adult education Lenten series will explore the teachings of the religions of the world using a set of videos from a Bill Moyers’ PBS series on the “Wisdom of Faith” with Huston Smith. Huston Smith, who is the son of Methodist missionaries and spent his early life in China, is not only an expert on comparative religion. He is also a committed Christian who daily practices prayer and meditation rituals from several other faiths. The class, led by Audrey Chapman and Karim Ahmed, will meet on Tuesday evenings from 7:00 until 9:00 beginning on February 12th. Each session will view one of the videos and discuss the teachings of the religions covered and the implications for our own understanding of faith. For those who would like to delve more deeply, a companion book, Huston Smith’s The World’s Religions, will be available for purchase. The schedule, which will follow the order of the series, will be as follows:

February 12 – Hinduism and Buddhism

February 19- Confucianism

February 26 – Christianity and Judaism

March 4 - Islam

March 11 – A Personal Philosophy

All Immanuel members or friends are welcome to attend some or all of the sessions.

Please sign up for the course through the Church Office at 860.527.8121, or on the sheets in the Fellowship Hall so we will know how many people to expect.

Sunday Morning Series

February 10 - March 9 from 9:00-9:45am
Led by Heidi Gehman and Kelton Cobb

Join us during Lent, as we read and discuss the great spiritual autobiography of St. Augustine! We will read the first 10 chapters of his book, Confessions, written 1600 years ago, and explore the themes of the restless heart, friendship, evil/sin, conversion, and happiness that weave through Augustine's dramatic life story. We will use Augustine's path to God to reflect on our own efforst to seek and find God.

Copies of Confessions will be available for purchase prior to the course. Please sign up in Fellowship Hall or call the Church Offic by January 20th.

Building a Program of Adult Education and Spiritual Nurture at ICC

  1. What are the main goals of adult education at Immanuel? What vision do we have for its overall direction?

Examples:

  • Strengthening the communication and interaction among all church members
  • Deepening the understanding of what brings us together as a church community
  • Nurturing and developing our faith and spiritual lives
  1. What patterns/times are best suited for our adult education program?

Examples:

  • "Second Hour" presentations every 2nd Sunday of the month from 11:30-12:30 (except July and August)
  • Four series per year, each between for 3-6 weeks: in winter (Jan./Feb.); spring (March/April);early summer (May/June) and fall (Oct./Nov.)
  • Two (four?) half-day Saturday programs per year (Spring/Fall; Winter/Summer)
  1. What are preferred formats for adult education?

Examples:

  • Lectures and presentations
  • Reading and discussion groups
  • Learning by various forms of expression
  1. What are some larger topic groups or themes we want to build on?

Examples:

  • Contemporary Moral Issues
  • Foundations of Christian Faith
  • Prayer and Spiritual Nurture
  • Dialogue with Other Faith Traditions
  • Religion in the Arts (including Movies)