Adult Spiritual Growth
If You’re Not in a Group You’re Out of the Loop!
Catchy phrase, but what does it mean? The Adult Spiritual Growth ministry has become my mission in our church, and I want to share the many reasons why small group participation is so special. Do you look at Adult Spiritual Growth opportunities and say, “I should check out one of them,” and then go home and forget about it? Well, I am here to encourage you to take that second look. Simsbury United Methodist (SUM) invests much of its time and energy in reaching out to members and non-members through its Adult Spiritual Growth ministry.
So, what exactly is Adult Spiritual Growth? It is a ministry designed to form small groups where people can get together, read a book, or watch a video and discuss it in a safe, non-judgmental environment. You can speak from your heart whether you agree or disagree. We are a diverse group of people from all walks of life and at different junctures of our spiritual journey – believers and doubters. As if that is not reason enough to give us a try, just look at the opportunities coming up.
We offer a variety of subjects, authors, and interests. Consider the classes being offered in January:
1/3/24 – 2/7/24 Discussion with Deacon Deb Wed 5:30 – 6:30 pm
Sermon on the Mount with AJ Levine video series:
Dr. Amy-Jill Levine takes a detailed and colorful overview of Matthew 5-7, collectively known as Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Through Dr. Levine’s engaging method of biblical interpretation, participants will come away with a solid understanding of the Sermon on the Mount in its historical and theological context.
1/4/24 - open Ongoing Thurs mornings with Donna Moytl 10:45 – 12 pm Women Bible Study
Story of the visit of the Magi followed by the book of Ruth and then a study of Exodus.
1/4/24 – 2/8/24 Thursday Evenings with Lee McGivney 6:30 – 7:30 pm
Learning to Walk in the Dark by Barbara Brown Taylor:
Taylor asks us to put aside our fears and anxieties and to explore all that God has to teach us “in the dark.” Through darkness we find courage, we understand the world in new ways, and we feel God’s presence around us, guiding us through things seen and unseen.
1/8/24 – 2/12/24 Monday Discipleship with Pastor Gene & Susan Samuel 4:30 – 6 pm
Jesus, A Gospel by Henri Nouwen: Beloved spiritual writer Henri Nouwen is our guide in this unique retelling of the gospel story. Seamlessly woven from his many writings, and beautifully illustrated with Rembrandt drawings, Jesus, a Gospel juxtaposes gospel texts with Nouwen's own reflections on the life of Jesus. We are invited to rediscover the gospel story with new eyes.
1/8/24 – 2/12/24 Monday Evening Zoom session with Eileen Brogan 6 – 7 pm
Wholehearted Faith by Rachel Held Evans (author of Inspired): This book is for the doubter and the dreamer, the seeker and the sojourner, those who long for a sense of spiritual wholeness as well as those who have been hurt by the Church but can’t seem to let go of the story of Jesus. Through theological reflection and personal recollection, Rachel wrestles with God’s grace and love, looks unsparingly at what the Church is and does, and explores universal human questions about becoming and belonging.
1/9/24 – 2/13/24 Tuesday Morning with Pastor Dennis 10:30 – 12 pm
What Do We Do With Evil? The World, The Flesh, and The Devil by Richard Rohr - 2021 edition: What is sin? What is evil? What’s the difference? Richard Rohr writes that the evils that are killing us are usually well-disguised. He describes how Christianity has focused almost exclusively on the individual, flesh level, while the world and the “powers” at play in the universe get off scot-free. With the Bible and human psychology as his source, Rohr offers no easy answers, but does offer principles for resisting evil with contemplation and love.
This is an opportunity to get to know each other better as we open our hearts, share our lives with others and grow. The desired outcome of these groups is not evangelism, but to quote the UMC Discipleship Ministries booklet, “Faith will come to them and, through the love and support of the group and the leader, they will grow in discipleship.” C’mon, get in the loop!
Eileen M Brogan