Why learn? Our church gathers together in worship, fellowship and in classes to try to make meaning of our lives in the light of our faith and to reaffirm that we are loved by each other and by God. This is the the foundation of all of our Christian education ministries, which gives us renewed strength to live our daily lives, and helps us reach in to care for each other and reach out beyond ourselves to serve others.
Our quest for meaning and service is reflected in the several classes we offer at 10:50 on Sunday mornings, (September - May) our primary educational time for people of all ages, and at various times during the week. Visit one this week. You will be welcomed! Call or email Rev. Diane C. Olson, Minister of Education, for more information on any of these classes.
Each Sunday morning:
JOIN US FOR FUSION!
This is a Sunday morning learning experience for people of all ages, including children, youth and adults, meeting from 10:50 – 11:45 in the Fellowship Hall. We study the scriptures that are read and preached in our preceding worship service, in ways that include people of all ages. Our schedule each week includes gathering time, a story circle (time to hear and experience a story from the Bible) and response, several ways we can individually respond to the story – art, music, and more. Our leaders are Mary Wright, Cheryl Skluzacek, Stephanie Sharpe and Norma Swenson, with Pastor Diane.
Our curriculum writers tell us that the Season after the Epiphany is a green, growing time. "Words guide us on the path of this season, words of affirmation, call and response, spirit-filled words spoken with authority, and the words and work of Jesus proclaimed throughout Galilee". Please consider joining us in this adventure called FUSION! May the energy of God’s creative love flow in and through us.
OTHER Sunday morning classes:
Following the Story for all Ages in the 9:30 worship service, our preschoolers and kindergartners are invited to a class downstairs, but they are also always welcome to stay in the worship service. The curriculum for this class is different from FUSION, so after the preschool class, they can attend FUSION with their parents and not repeat the lessons. Our nursery is open from 9:15 – 11:45 each week.
ADULT CLASSES at 10:50 on SUNDAY MORNINGS:
Seekers: focus on the scriptures that are read and preached in worship each week, meet in the Northwest corner of the Fellowship Hall, led by Bill Ekstrum and Shelley Colvin.
Linking Faith and Life: focus this fall on discerning what God is doing, through the lenses of world religions and spirituality, meeting each week in the lounge with JoEllen Ambrose and Kate Smith-Sheeder.
Short Term classes:
Sundays January 15, 22, 29: Spirit Gifts: Spirit Gifts is a 3 session class for people who are considering membership at Fridley UMC. The first two weeks are about how God have given all of us a variety of gifts, and you will learn what your spiritual gifts are, and how they might be shared. The last Sunday is all about Fridley UMC, and what it means to be a Fridley United Methodist. Judy Lange, Cindy Robb and Pastor Deb lead this class.
February 5, 12, 19: Forgiveness This class is led by Pastor Deb and meets in the computer room. Using a book by Flora Wuellner, the class will study the topic of Forgiveness through the lenses of the beatitudes. All are welcome.
February 26 - April 1: Reaching Toward Easter
This book offers a daily devotional pilgrimage through Lent, using the Gospel of John as a guide. There are scripture passages for each day, prayers for personal devotions. On Sunday mornings, we will gather to discuss the readings each week for 6 weeks, led by Les Johnson and Bill Ambrose, a fine teaching team!. The final chapters on Holy Week and Easter will be self study without discussion. PLEASE PICK UP YOUR BOOK IN FEBRUARY AND READ THE FIRST FOUR DAYS’ MATERIAL BEFORE CLASS ON FEB 26TH! The book is also available as a kindle edition; please purchase this on your own if you have interest.
Beyond Sunday Morning:
On Sunday afternoons, we are discussing Brian McLaren’s book entitled A New Kind of Christianity: Ten Questions that are Transforming the Faith. We meet every other Sunday evening from 4:30 – 6:00, until February 19, the Sunday before Lent begins. Pastors Deb and Diane lead the study. A New Kind of Christianity is built around the exploration of ten important questions that Christians throughout the world are asking.
The Wednesday Study Group (WSG) meets most Wednesdays during the school year at 9:30 AM. It is a book-based study led by Pastor Deb, and open to all. They are reading The Journey, by Adam Hamilton.
Disciple Bible Study: Please see Pastor Diane if you have interest in being a part of future Disciple studies.
Seasonal Study:
During special seasons of the year, we offer additional classes.
NEW FOR LENT: 40 Days with Howard Thurman, led by Pastor Diane on Sundays from 4:30 – 5:30. This book invites us to explore our own spirituality under the guidance of one of the 20th century’s great African- American spiritual thinkers and leaders, Howard Thurman. We will read DAYS 1-5 BEFORE THE FIRST CLASS ON FEBRUARY 26!
Book Discussion Group:
Open to all adults of the church, this group meets in a half day retreat or evening, usually discussing a novel chosen at a previous meeting. Our next book retreat is March 3, 2012, from 9:30 – 1:30, and we will discuss The Cellist of Sarajevo, by Stephen Galloway. From a review of the book: Inspired by Vedran Smailovic, the cellist who, in 1992, played in a bombed-out Sarajevo square for 22 days in memory of the 22 people who were killed by a mortar attack, this is a novel about four people trying to maintain a semblance of their humanity in the besieged city. We look forward to another wonderful discussion!
Our group is open to everyone who loves reading. We meet about three times a year, choosing each book as we go. Join us!
