We offer a variety of opportunities for adults to explore their faith — including retreats for both men and women, seasonal experiences and small groups.
WEEKLY Opportunities
Our weekly study of the Bible gathers Wednesday mornings at 10:30 am in Davidson Lounge. We call it Leisurely Lectionary as no preparation is required but an open heart. After a summer rest, we’ll gather again on September 14.
Seasonal Opportunities
At various times of the year — including Advent and Lent — our pastors offer experiences to deepen our faith. Below are the upcoming opportunities.
For God so loved the world. For many Christians, this is an exclamation or even a statement of conviction. For other Christians, this phrase leads to more questions than answers. For those Christians, it is difficult to reconcile violence, suffering and even sacrifice with the love that God might have for us. For surely, it can be difficult to understand why a loving God would require such hardship and brutality of God’s people. It’s hard enough to hear the stories of Jesus being whipped, dragged, pierced and crucified. Even if there is good news on the other side of this violent death, is this what God’s love requires of us?
This Lent, we will explore this question through a preaching series led by your pastors — but the question will not be answered only by your pastors’ words. Your pastors seek to offer a variety of experiences for you to ask these questions together.
John McCall will continue to explore the themes suggested in worship in two Davidson Conversations. In these post-worship discussions, John will provide a brief overview of atonement theory as he explores the metaphors explored in worship. Mark your calendars for Sundays February 26 and March 25 at 11:30 am to share in these conversations.
Elsa Peters will lead a book study of Proverbs of Ashes: Violence, Redemptive Suffering and the Search for What Saves Us by Rita Nakashima Brock and Rebecca Ann Parker. This was one of the most engaging and most challenging books Elsa read in seminary. In this book, two pastors reflect on the particular stories of church members that believe God wants them to suffer. The conversation between these two pastors is heartfelt and eye-opening to those of us who have ever said Christ died for our sins. A limited number of books have been ordered at Nonesuch Books in Mill Creek and will be available on February 18 at 10% off the cover price. We will read the whole book together and gather three times over the season to share in conversation. If you are interested in joining these conversations, please mark your calendars for Mondays February 27, March 12 and March 26 at 7:00 pm in Davidson Lounge.
Retreats & Small Groups
Each year, members of our church plan two retreats for members and our friends to find some time way from the busyness of life to seek rest, fellowship and joy.
- The Women’s Retreat (open to all women in the church over the age of 18) in planned for February 2012.
- The Men’s Retreat (open to all men in the church over the age of 18) is planned for March 2012. The men in our church family like to plan their own events.
We plan these events at various retreat centers around the state of Maine and offer scholarships for those that might not otherwise be able to attend. For those that are interested in retreat-like experiences year round, please explore the Small Group opportunities.
