In our busy lives, sometimes it's hard find time to learn and get closer to God. At Atonement, we try to offer different learning opportunities for adults so they can manage to fit one or more into their hectic lifestyles.
ADULT FORUM - Beginning February 28th, we'll begin a study of Galations at 10 AM between worship services. Grap a coffee and bagel and join us!
SPIRITUAL FORMATION
During February there will be two opportunities for you to be involved in studying God’s Word. On Tuesday evenings for four weeks beginning February 23rd we will start on the Book of Faith Initiative and work together reading through and understanding 1 John. The four following questions will direct our attention:
·Who is Jesus—really? 1 John 1:1—2:2
·Who are we—really? 1 John 2:29—3:24
·How can we love—really? 1 John 4:1-21
·How can we live—really? 1 John 51:13
Workbooks will be provided for participants and the class will run for one hour. There will be a sign up sheet on the bulletin board in the Narthex for your sign up pleasure. Come one, come all!
For six weeks in Lent following Ash Wednesday a daytime Bible study will be available from 11:00 to 12:00 on Thursdays in the Library. Making use of ELCA resources we will focus on the lessons for the coming Sunday and delve into them in order to better understand them prior to worship. This will also give us a greater sense of the rhythm of the lectionary and our corporate prayer life as a community. You are welcome to join in at any time.
New Member Classes
New member classes are held twice each year, once in the fall and once in the spring.
If you are interested in learning more about Atonement or are just looking to brush up on your understanding of the Lutheran Church please feel free to contact us for the next scheduled class.
Class Outline
Week 1:
Martin Luther, The Man and the Church. Heretic or Not?
Via a video presentation you will come to better understand the culture and context surrounding the Reformation and Luther's role in it.
Week 2:
What Lutherans Believe and Why!
We will take a look at some basic Lutheran understandings of the Bible, Sacraments and the theology of the church.
Week 3:
Atonement and the ELCA, History and How it Works.
History will take us on a tour of Atonement as it heads into its second 50 years; and the ELCA, still in its teenage years. We'll look briefly at structure and what makes the Church tick.
Week 4:
Discovering your Gifts; A Gift Inventory Assessment Process.
Understanding one's gifts assists a person in carrying out ministry. Where do your passions lie? What is it that excites you? In what ways has God gifted you for ministry in the world? You may be surprised by the outcomes!
Week 5:
Ministry Showcase: Directors and what they Direct.
Atonement is in the process of refining a restructuring process in order to become permission giving, empower people to use their God given gifts and create new opportunities for God's work to be carried out in the world. We'll take a look to see how this all works.
