St. Paul's Church, Newburyport, MA
Adult Christian Education
Adult Forum on Sundays at 9:15
Between September and June, there is an ongoing program of discussions, video screening, book reviews, Bible study, and guest speakers every Sunday from 9:15 to 10:05 a.m.
The Adult Forum is a very dynamic educational setting where the exchange of ideas and sharing of stories and faith is stimulating and extremely meaningful.
Adult Formations Opportunities in 2010Sunday Morning Forum: Each Sunday Morning the Adult Forum meets in the library from 9:15-10:00. It’s a great opportunity to join with others in spiritual conversation. Come join us! During Lent our main focus will be a study of the book, An Altar In the World: A Geography of Faith by the Rev. Barbara Brown Taylor. Here is an excerpt from the introduction to this book:
“I have no idea what you will see when you look at your life – but if you are tired of arguing about religion, tired of reading about spirituality, tired of talk-talk-talking about things that matter without doing a single thing that matters yourself, then the pages that follow are dedicated to you. My hope is that reading them will help you recognize… some of the altars in this world.”Copies of the first chapter of the book are available the week of the 15th through the office (stpauls@stpauls-nbpt.org). After the 21st, we will place a group book order at Jabberwocky Books, so please let us know if you would like to have a copy ordered for you.
February 21: Chapter 1: “The Practice of Waking Up to God: Vision”
February 28: We will take a break from our book study to hear from Priscilla Bellairs about the hymn which is being commissioned in honor of our parish’s 300th anniversary in 2011 (see article below).
March 7: Chapter 2: “The Practice of Paying Attention: Reverence”
March 14: Chapter 3: “The Practice of Wearing Skin: Incarnation”
March 21: Chapter 4: “The Practice of Walking the Earth: Groundedness”
On Palm Sunday (March 28) and Easter Sunday(April 4) we will not hold the Forum.
April 11: Chapter 5: “The Practice of Getting Lost”
April 18: Chapter 6: “The Practice of Encountering Others”
April 25: Chapter 7: “The Practice of Living with Purpose”
May 2: Chapter 8: “The Practice of Saying No”
May 9: Chapter 9: “The Practice of Carrying Water”
Sunday Adult Forum Good Book List
Looking for a good book to
read? Here are some suggestions from those who regularly
attend the Sunday Adult Forum:
Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
What is the What by Dave Eggers
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
The Source by James Michener
Free Lunch by David Johnston
Jesus’ Family Values by Deirdre Good
Banker To The Poor by Muhammad Yunus
Excavating Jesus by John Dominic Crossan & Jonathan Reid
The Word is Very Near You by Martin Smith
Conversations with Scripture and Each Other: Spiritual Formation for Lay Leaders by Bishop M. Thomas Shaw, SSJE
In the Eye of the Storm by Bishop Gene Robinson
Do you like a good mystery? We recommend:
Any of the Merrily Watkins Mysteries by Phil Rickman (sleuth is a woman Anglican Priest)
Any of the Clare Ferguson Mysteries by Julia Spencer Fleming (sleuth is a woman Episcopal Priest in Upstate NY)
What about a video? The Church owns several videos that we have found inspirational:
Living the Questions (especially the one featuring Tony Compolo)
A video featuring Bonnie Perry
i thank You God for most this amazing
by e.e. cummings
i thank You God for most this amazing
day:for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky;and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes
(i who have died am alive again today,
and this is the sun's birthday;this is the birth
day of life and love and wings:and of the gay
great happening illimitably earth)
how should tasting touching hearing seeing
breathing any-lifted from the no
of all nothing-human merely being
doubt unimaginable You?
(now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened)