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St. Andrew’s has always enjoyed a wide-ranging adult formation
program, including Bible studies, the Adult Study Group, Lenten Series,
Rector’s Forums, Education for Ministry, and a variety of retreat
opportunities. Our
excellent music program enriches our worship and inspires both the
people who offer the gift of music and also those who receive it.
St. Andrew’s often invites guest preachers and speakers to
teach us during or after Sunday morning services.
For the past few years we have also set aside at least one Sunday
in the winter for instructed Eucharists.
We hope that all of these existing avenues for adult spiritual
formation will continue to provide inspiration for this large and varied
congregation.
In addition to this well-established list of offerings, we offer
on this page some additional resources for spiritual, theological
and intellectual nourishment including information about local
retreat centers, announcements of diocesan and other church programs,
resources for spiritual formation at home, support groups, and
Episcopal and Anglican Church news.
We have also created a St.
Andrew’s Weekly Devotions offering, which will allow members
of the congregation to receive a meditation by e-mail from a member
of the staff.
One of our main goals in developing new formation programs for St.
Andrew’s is to take full advantage of our multi-generational
community. We are striving
to create an environment in which all members of our congregation,
whatever their ages and experiences, can come together to share their
spiritual journeys, learn about our faith traditions and be empowered to
serve God in the world. All
of the members of the staff are interested in hearing your ideas about
adult formation. Please
speak to any of us about the kinds of programs you would like to see
here at St. Andrew’s.
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Parish Opportunities
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Quiet Days are held on a
Saturday during Advent and Lent, Quiet Days provide a chance to meditate
and pray, alone and in small groups.
Led by the professional staff, these mini-retreats are usually
four to six hours long.
Lenten Series:
On Wednesday evenings during Lent members of the parish gather
for a simple potluck supper followed by a program which often features
outside speakers.
Parish Forums are scheduled
periodically after the 10:00 a.m. worship service and usually on the
last Sunday afternoon of each month at 4:00 p.m. Led by outside speakers
as well as St. Andrew’s clergy, staff and parishioners, these
presentations, lectures and discussions focus on a variety of topics.
Bible Circles offer
opportunities for on-going study and conversation about a specific piece
of Scripture. Bible Circles meet monthly at the church from October through
May. These sessions are
taught by the Director of Education and the clergy.
The Adult Study Group meets
on Wednesday mornings at 9:00 a.m. to read and to study contemporary
theological writings. The
group meets for six-week study periods during which time a particular
book is read and discussed. The
group is open to all parishioners and is facilitated by lay leaders.
The Men’s Bible Study Group
meets on the first Saturday of each month at 8:00 a.m. Group members
select one book of the Bible to study for the academic year. By
examining Scripture, commentaries, and personal experience, members
discern the implications of God’s Word for work and ministry.
Education for Ministry (EFM)
is a four-year program of theological study and worship created and
administered by the School of Theology at the University of The South.
The goals of EFM are to explore faith and action, to support each
person’s ministry, and to help people grow in their spiritual lives.
EFM programs have graduated over 11,360 adults worldwide.
At St. Andrew’s, EFM classes take place on Thursday mornings
under the guidance of a trained lay leader. New members may join in
September.
St. Andrew’s
Weekly Devotions: Each
week a member of the staff prepares a meditation for members of
the congregation to receive by e-mail.
Click here to read a
sample of these meditations.
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