Classes are in the CSF Atrium on the third floor of the Ministries Center (across Fourth St. from the church), beginning by 10:10 a.m. Handicapped accessible. Coffee and refreshments available.

Coming Next:

Faith & Doubt in Southern Literature I - Sunday Mornings at 10:00 a.m. in the CSF Atrium
Read, discuss, and discern the theological implications of Southern authors. By reading a short story each week and discussing it. Background for the class includes an understanding of the Southern Christian variety of fundamentalism. The South, while not Christ-centered, is, as Flannery O'Connor put it, "still Christ-haunted." Learn the lessons written in fiction about the hold that evangelicalism has on the South, its religion, its culture, and its politics. 

Class 1:     Introduction to Southern religion and literature with a genuflect to Flannery O’Connor and Walker Percy
Class 2:     Story: “Hope of Zion” by Sandra Hollin Flowers
Class 3:     Story: “This Is the Only Time I’ll Tell It” by Doris Betts
Class 4:     Story: Excerpt from Raney a novel by Clyde Edgerton -- No Required Text: Handouts distributed each week.

Faith & Doubt in Southern Literature II- Sunday Evenings at 6:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall Parlor

Part two of Dr. Kennedy’s outrageous course continues with reading, discussing, and discerning the theological implications of Southern authors. The South, while not Christ-centered, is, as Flannery O'Connor put it, "still Christ-haunted." Stories we will read include: "Full Day," by Reynolds Price; "A Roadside Resurrection," by Larry Brown, excerpt from Slow Poison, by Sheila Bosworth; "The Strange and Tragic Ballad of Mabel Pearsall," by Randall Kenan; "Minor Heroism" and "Blessed Assurance” by Allan Gurganus. 

Class 1       Story: “It Had Wings” by Alan Gurganus
Class 2       Story: “A New Life” by Mary Ward Brown  Monday
Class 3       Story: “Roadside Resurrection
Class 4       Story: “Tongues of Fire” by Lee Smith

Classes offered earlier this season:

The mandala (Sanskrit for “circle”) has been used throughout history as an aid to meditation, prayer, and journeying within. Since ancient times, the mandala has been used in depicting and expressing the sacred. Mandalas have been made from stone, sand, nature, and many other forms. Today, mandalas are recognized as an art form and often used to learn more about ourselves through inner guidance and visual expression.

On Sunday, May 5 at 10:00 a.m., Genny Nadler Thomas will offer an overview of the many ways this ancient image has been utilized, and the variety of ways it is used today. This presentation will be held in the CSF Atrium on the third floor of the Ministries Center.

Our Christian story of grace, forgiveness and redemption is powerful and compelling. So much so that Hollywood has intentionally incorporated major components of the Christian story into the plots of popular films. Sometimes the parallel references are obvious. Other times, they are more subtle and disguised. Nonetheless, the themes of our faith have been told and retold so that they have become part of popular culture without us being aware of it. The series, Jesus at the Movies, explores where we might find the story of our faith immersed in the plots of contemporary movies. Fr. Mark Holland leads this exploration of two different Hollywood movies each week: Chocolate, Milagro Beanfield War, Legend of Bagger Vance, Matrix, The Natural, Green Mile. Sundays, April 14, 21 & 28 at 10:00 in the CSF Atrium on the third floor of the Ministries Center.

THRIVE, DON'T SIMPLY SURVIVE: Passionately Live the Life You Didn't Plan
Sundays at 10:00 a.m. – Library, second floor of the Ministries Center

Life is unpredictable and often doesn't turn out as we'd planned. The things that matter most to us -- marriages, children, careers, families, and friends -- sometimes fall apart and leave us only with deflated dreams. Whether you're struggling with the big issues of life or simply overwhelmed by the demands of every single day, Karol Ladd's powerful biblical principles will give you the help you need. In this book, you will discover how to redefine your unexpected life, and you'll learn concrete skills that will help you move past simply surviving and into a thriving life that is lived passionately and with joy. The book and it's lessons are written with women in mind, but men won't be locked out! Contact Kelly Williams for more information.

THE ARTIST'S WAY – Creative process class
Mtr. Mary Ann Garrett leads this 12-week class on Wednesday mornings at 9:00 a.m. The group size is limited to facilitate involvement and discernment.

Using Julia Cameron's groundbreaking book, The Artist's Way, as a basic text you'll open to your creative, intuitive side in this safe, supportive group. The activities are fun and insightful and are designed to help you gain self-knowledge, increase your confidence, overcome your blocks and transform your relationship with your inner critic. This class is perfect for people in a life transition or for those who just want to explore what's next. Contact Mtr. Mary Ann Garrett to register.

Join Ed Henderson as he leads discussion of Tolkien's first fictional work, The Hobbit. He will highlight the themes of faith that begin to emerge in this children's story: the agency of God in history, our bondage to sin and death, our inability to save ourselves (for wars are never won and the Shadow will always grow again), and the roles of mercy, perseverance, suffering, and hope in the ultimate Victory (which will not be won by us). Tolkien's is the most biblical vision in literature since Milton.  Although that vision is not fully developed in The Hobbit, The Hobbit is a good place to see how Tolkien was already being moved toward the fully adult and fully developed expression of a biblical understanding of God's way with the world.  Do Peter Jackson's films manage to incorporate the biblical elements of Tolkien's work?  Not completely, but our focus will be on the written works, so bring your copies of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Sunday, March 3 and March 10 at 10:00 in the CSF Atrium on the third floor of the Ministries Center.

Contemplative Practices: Lectio Divina -- Dr. Ann Holmes leads this introduction of Lectio Divina -- holy, or divine, reading -- as a means of inviting God to speak directly to us through scripture. Central to the practice is the understanding that the Bible is the living Word of God, through which we can experience communion with God. Dr. Holmes will briefly describe lectio divina, and then participants will divide into small groups with leaders to experience the practice together. Sunday, March 17 at 10:00 a.m. in the CSF Atrium on the third floor of the Ministries Center.