Christian Formation

Winter/Spring 2014

St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church

Little Rock, Arkansas

www.stmargaretschurch.org

Replenish the spirit, teach the faith, and make visible the love of Christ.

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Sunday Mornings

9:30 a.m. Women at the Well p.7 ongoing

Bible Study: Matthew p.6 Jan 5—Mar 2

Embracing the God of Love p.8 Mar 9—Apr 19

History of Christianity p.6 Apr 27—June 1

Current Events through the Eyes of Faith p. 7 June 8—Sep

Sunday Afternoons

6:00 p.m. Daughters of Abraham Interfaith Book Group p.4 Third Sundays

Tuesdays

7:30 a.m. Bible and Breakfast at Panera Bread p.5 ongoing

6:30 p.m. Education for Ministry p.4 Sep—June

Friday—Sunday

The Gift of Self-Compassion p.9 Mar 7—9

Saturdays

9:00 a.m. Faith Renewal Workshop p.5 Jan 11

1:00 p.m. Let’s Pray p.5 Jan 25

9:00 a.m. Contemplative Prayer and Meditation p.10 Apr 5

ADULT CLASSES

CHRISTIAN FORMATION AT A GLANCE

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CHILDREN’S CLASSES

YOUTH CLASSES

Sundays

9:30 a.m. Elements in the Bible p.10 Sep—June

6:00 p.m. Episcopal Youth Community p.10 Every Sunday

Friday—Sunday

Happening p11 Apr 4—6

Sr. High Winterstar p.11 Feb 28—Mar 2

Jr. High Winterstar p.11 Feb 7-9

Sundays

9:30 a.m. Catechesis of the Good Shepherd p.12 Sep—June

9:30 a.m. Live it! p.12 Sep—June

10:30 a.m. Children’s Sermons p.10 ongoing

10:30 a.m. Children’s Worship Bulletins p.10 ongoing

4:30 p.m. Episcopal Kids Community p.12 Sep—June

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S EDUCATION FOR MINISTRY

Tuesdays, 6:30—9:00 p.m.

Led by Leah Dalton

EfM meets weekly for nine months beginning in the

fall. It’s a great small group experience in which participants study scripture, theology,

and Church history. New participants will be invited to begin in the fall.

If you have questions about EfM, don’t hesitate to email or call:

leahdalton501@hotmail.com or 501-766-5484.

DAUGHTERS OF ABRAHAM WOMEN’S INTERFAITH BOOK GROUP

This group is currently at capacity, but we will form additional groups if there is

sufficient interest. The mission of the Daughters of Abraham is to overcome

stereotypes and to foster mutual respect and understanding among Muslim,

Jewish, and Christian women. The goal is the slow, thoughtful work of getting to

know each other over a good book—offering one another a window into our living

experience of faith, and in the process, building an interfaith community of women who can speak

intelligently about one another’s faith.

This group includes women who self-identify as members of one of the three faiths and are

willing to share how this identity—with all its nuances and cultural diversity—adds to the shape and

texture of their lives. These are women who want to deepen their knowledge of their own and one

another’s faiths by reading books from different genres—fiction, memoirs, poetry, history, etc.—

that express diverse religious beliefs, practices, and experiences. The common thread in our book

selections is that the books help us learn about one another and our

religions.

For more information, contact Deb Cooper at debsilascooper@gmail.com.

mailto:leahdalton501@hotmail.commailto:debsilascooper@gmail.com

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BIBLE AND BREAKFAST AT PANERA BREAD

Tuesdays

7:30 a.m.

11525 Cantrell Rd.

Led by the Rev. Mary Vano

What better way to start your day than with a good breakfast, good friends, and the

Good Book?! Beginners and experts are welcome for this casual, weekly Bible study

based on the lectionary readings.

LET’S PRAY

Saturday, January 25, 1:00-5:30 p.m., at St. Margaret’s

Workshop fee: $35

Join us for a landmark event, as representatives of the Christian, Jewish, Islamic and Buddhist

faiths teach how their respective religions engage in silent meditation. The workshop will be held

from 1:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. and is designed for people of all stages of experience in meditation. Join

us for food, fellowship and new learning. The cost is $35. Specific meditation techniques will be

taught, and there will be two opportunities to practice meditation in the beautiful Arkansas House of

Prayer. The workshop will be held in the Welcome Center of St. Margaret's Episcopal Church at

20900 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock, AR 72223.

The Let's Pray workshop is sponsored by the Arkansas House of Prayer, the Interfaith Center of the

Institute for Theological Studies at St. Margaret's (ITSSM) and St. Margaret's Episcopal Church.

More information is available at 501-801-0272 or cf.itssm@gmail.com

FAITH RENEWAL WORKSHOP

Saturday, January 11th, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Recognizing the need that we all have for ongoing faith

renewal, you are invited to spend a morning with the

Rev. Mary Vano. The workshop will include an Instructed Eucharist, as well as some

prayer and study as we share and support one another in our Christian faith. We will

also enjoy lunch together. Those who are participating in the Confirmation and

Reaffirmation of Baptismal Vows on January 12th are asked to attend, and this workshop

is open to anyone who would like an opportunity for retreat and renewal.

Please email the Rev. Mary Vano if you plan to participate.

mailto:mvano@stmargaretschurch.org

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BIBLE STUDY: N. T. Wright's New Testament

Series-The Gospel of Matthew for Everyone,

Part 2

Sundays, January 5 - March 2, 2014

9:30 - 10:15 a.m.

Adult Classroom

Led by ITSSM Guild Members: Pat Murray and

Skip Cochran, and EfM Mentor, Leah Dalton

In this "for Everyone" series, we will continue

with N. T. Wright's commentary that uses his

The Kingdom New Testament: A Contemporary

Translation to guide our conversation as we

respond to the basic facts in the passage, the

meaning of the passage, and the implications of

the text for growing in Christ. For this section, we

will be reading the Gospel of Matthew,

Chapters 16--28.

N. T. Wright, a leading New Testament scholar, will help us acquire a firsthand

understanding of what the New Testament had to say in its own world, and what it has

to say in ours.

The Matthew, Part 2 book is available at Amazon.com, including a Kindle version.

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THE HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY

The story of the world's most successful religion by one of the leading historians of the Church.

Sunday, April 27 -- June 1, 2014, Adult Classroom, 9:30--10:15 a.m.

Led by ITSSM Guild Members: Pat Murray, Jay Bruno, and Deb

Cooper

In this DVD series presented by Diarmaid MacCulloch, an Oxford

history professor, and co-produced by the BBC, we'll follow the path

of Christianity through the ages and around the globe for an

enlightening and entertaining survey that mixes observation with

beautiful on-location footage shot in some of the world's most

luminous places of worship.

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WOMEN AT THE WELL

Sundays, ongoing

9:30—10:15 a.m.

The Rector’s Office, Room 102

Led by Elizabeth Connery

Women at the Well will do a book study for the new year. The book is Made to Crave:

Satisfying your deepest desire with God, not food by Lysa TerKeurst.

Elizabeth Connery will lead a six week study during formation time (9:30-10:15). We

will meet in the rector’s office, downstairs. The goal of the study will be increased

spiritual and physical health. Class time will consist of a video presentation followed by

discussion.

The schedule is as follows:

Jan 12 introduction and presentation of materials

Jan 19 Session 1: From Deprivation to Empowerment

(Jan 26 no class/Annual Meeting

Feb 2 Session 2: From Desperation to Determination

Feb 9 Session 3: From Guilt to Peace

Feb 16 Session 4: From Triggers to Truth

Feb 23 Session 5: From Permissible to Beneficial

Mar 2 Session 6: From Consumed to Courageous

Information about the book and author is available at www.MadetoCrave.org and

http://proverbs31.org/ At these sites, you will find a 21 day challenge, online Bible

study, Lysa’s blog, and daily devotionals.

Participation can be as simple as attending classes on Sundays only, or as involved as

daily devotion and additional Bible study. There are online groups for support and

encouragement on facebook, twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

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During Lent, March 5 – April 17, the Women at the Well group will join with the congregation-wide

study of the book The Prodigal. (See p. 8) Women and their families will be invited to participate in

Sunday formation classes, as well as Lenten Compass Groups that will meet in leaders’ homes

weekly.

CURRENT EVENTS THROUGH THE EYES OF FAITH

Sundays, 9:30--10:15, Adult Classroom, during the Summer beginning June 8, 2014

Led by Leah Dalton and Gill Rogers

http://madetocrave.org/http://proverbs31.org/

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S Lent: Embracing the God of Love

With acclaimed author Dr. Greg Garrett

Two Books, Two Ways to Participate:

The Other Jesus:

Rejecting a Religion of

Fear for the God of

Love

According to recent

surveys, many Americans

associate the label

"Christian" with judgmental

attitudes, hypocrisy, a fear

of hell, and a commitment to right-wing

politics. Author Greg Garrett suggests another

way, arguing that a faith that focuses solely on

personal morality and the afterlife misses

much of the point of Jesus' message. This

other way of following Christ is not concerned

with an array of commandments or with

holding the "right" beliefs. Rather it is centered

on loving each other and loving God, what

Garrett calls "love where the rubber meets the

road, where faith meets the world."

Personal and moving, the book relates

Garrett's experiences growing up in--and

leaving--a disapproving conservative church

and then finding his way back into a different

kind of Christian community, one that is

communal, missional, just, and loving. Garrett

draws on popular culture to illustrate his

spiritual points, showing how authentic

Christian truth can be found in unlikely places,

and suggests how the richness of the

Christian tradition contains continued truths

for the 21st Century.

The Prodigal:

A Ragamuffin Story

In their starred review,

Publishers Weekly called

The Prodigal “a wonderfully

written story that is as

entertaining as it is thought

provoking.” Brennan

Manning, author of The

Ragamuffin Gospel whose powerful

message of grace and forgiveness has

transformed millions, partnered with

critically-acclaimed writer Greg Garrett to retell

one of his favorite stories, the Parable of the

Prodigal Son.

This year, when it comes time for the

Christmas sermon, the congregation at Grace

Cathedral will look to the pulpit, and Jack

Chisholm will not be there. Of course, they will

have seen plenty of him already-- on the

news. After an evening of debauchery that

leads to an affair with his beautiful assistant,

Jack Chisholm finds himself deserted with

chilling swiftness. But just as Jack is hitting

bottom, hopeless and penniless, drinking his

way to oblivion, who should appear but his

long-estranged father, imploring his prodigal

son: “Come home.”

Lenten Compass groups will meet in homes

for a simple meal, followed by discussion of

the themes of The Prodigal, and shared

prayer. Beginning in February, you’ll be able

to sign up for a Compass group near you.

Sunday Mornings, March 9 – April 13 In Compass Groups

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Greg Garrett is the author or co-author of twenty books, among them

a new novel with Brennan Manning, The Prodigal, Faithful

Citizenship and many other books of fiction, theology, cultural

criticism, and memoir. He is 2013 Centennial Professor at Baylor

University, Writer in Residence at the Seminary of the Southwest

(Austin, Texas), Scholar in Residence at Gladstone’s Library

(Hawarden, Wales), and a licensed lay preacher in the Episcopal Church. He writes a

weekly column, "Faithful Citizenship", for Patheos. One of America's leading authorities

on religion, culture, and politics, Greg has appeared on or in NPR, BBC Radio, BBC

Radio Scotland, Interfaith Voices, the Bob Edwards Show, the New York Times, the

Christian Science Monitor, and many other media sources.

On Sunday, April 13th

, author Greg Garrett will join us

as guest preacher and teacher.

THE GIFT OF SELF-COMPASSION

Presented by Joyce Rupp

St. Scholastica Retreat Center,

Fort Smith, AR

March 7--9, 2014 (Registration Deadline: February 21, 2014)

Contrary to common belief, self-compassion is not an indulgent, self-centered orientation. Rather,

self-compassion is essential for a healthy, loving relationship to God, self and others. Joyce Rupp

invites participants to reflect on self-compassion in the life of Christ and in their own lives through

conferences, creative communal prayer, quiet reflection and integrative dialogue.

Cost: $175.00. Commuter $120.00.

A $50.00 non-refundable deposit is needed at the time of registration.

Lodging and 5 meals are included in the price.

Joyce Rupp is a Servite sister whose many books include Praying Our Goodbyes, Fresh Bread,

May I have This Dance?, The Cup of Our Life, May I Walk You Home?, Out of the Ordinary, Inviting

God In, Star in My Heart, Prayers to Sophia, Rest Your Dreams a Little Twig, and Circle of Life with

Macrina Wiederkehr.

Register at http://www.stscho.org/retreats/index.php

http://www.patheos.com/http://www.stscho.org/retreats/index.php

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SUNDAY MORNING FORMATION Water, Wind, Earth, Fire:

Elements in the Bible

grades 6-12

meets in the youth room at 9:30 a.m.

We will uncover key stories of the Old and

New Testaments, exploring biblical use and

symbolism of the four elements of nature.

We will experience these elements in our

physical surroundings and discuss their

significance in our lives. Let's discover how

God's creation speaks to us!

EPISCOPAL YOUTH COMMUNITY

(EYC)

Sundays, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Great things are happening in the

St. Margaret's Episcopal Youth

Community! EYC activities are

organized by monthly themes. In

January, we will discuss paths of life.

We will continue each month into

themes of love, fellowship, and

forgiveness. In May, we will examine

liturgy and prepare for Youth Sunday.

Join us for fellowship, service, and fun!

Led by Jordan Miller and Richard

McKay.

CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER AND MEDITATION

Saturday, April 5th, 9:00a.m.—4:30 p.m. at St. Margaret’s

Taught by the Rev. Susan Sims Smith.

The morning class is designed for beginners who want to learn to meditate or for those

who are restarting their practice. The topics covered will include: spiritual

reasons for meditation, physical and psychological reasons for meditation, techniques

for meditation (including Centering Prayer) and challenges and blessings along the

road.

The afternoon class is for those who already have some meditation practice. The top-

ics include: advanced steps in meditation, unusual experiences in silence, the need for

community on the journey, bodily sensations and experiences in meditation,

conceptual framework for the spiritual journey and support from others on the path.

The afternoon class will include Centering Prayer but also add other techniques for

meditation. Participants from the morning class are welcome to also attend the

afternoon class.

The cost is $35 for the morning session and $35 for the afternoon session and

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YOUTH RETREATS

Winterstar: A youth event held at Camp Mitchell that centers on a religious

theme. This retreat encourages spiritual growth, fellowship, and fun.

Junior High: February 7-9

Senior High: February 28-March 2

Happening #31, April 4-6: A spiritual retreat for students in grades 10-12. This

event

encourages spirituality while focusing on Christ and joy.

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CHILDREN’S SERMONS

10:30 a.m. Worship Service

A children's sermon will be offered on the first Sunday of every month. Children age 3

through early elementary school are invited to leave with Jordan Miller at the sequence

hymn to go to the Level I Atrium, where they will receive a Gospel story and lesson that

are designed for their age group. They will return at the Peace.

CHILDREN’S WORSHIP BULLETINS

Children's worship bulletins will be offered at every Sunday 10:30 a.m. worship service.

Bulletins are provided for ages 3-6 and 7-12. They include lessons, pictures, and

activities that correlate with the lessons that are read at each service. Jordan Miller will

distribute bulletins to children as they enter the sanctuary. Bulletins are designed to

teach children Bible stories in a fun, memorable way.

YOUTH CLASSES

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Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me…” CATECHESIS OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD September through May Sundays, 9:30–10:15 a.m. Ages 3 – Kindergarten Grades 1—3 The Shepherd’s Atrium, Room 110 The True Vine Atrium, Room 106 Led by Dan Blair, Drea Razer, Toga Tuite, Led by Debby Walter, Bonnie Johnson, and and Sheila Sieving Fontaine Leonard. This is a Montessori-based approach to children’s formation which focuses on the fact that the child already has a relationship with God. Trained leaders, called Catechists, present stories and manipulatives that give the children language to help express this relationship. Class time is child-led, and based on the teaching of Holy Scripture and church tradition. Children gather in an "atrium," a room prepared for them, which contains simple yet beautiful materials that they use.

“LIVE IT!” 4th

Grade – 5th

Grade Sundays, 9:30—10:15 a.m. Grades 4 & 5 “Live It!” Room 101 Led by Ronda Oline and Allison Johnson. In this class, the children focus on learning scripture and Christian faith, and applying it to daily life.

EPISCOPAL KIDS COMMUNITY (EKC)

2nd Sundays, September—May

Grades 3-5

4:30—6:00 p.m

“Live It!”, Room 101

Led by Judy Cumming, Alice Kunce, and Scott Stricker.

Children in grades 3-5 are invited to a special fellowship community

in which they will tell stories, sing, craft, snack, reach out to others,

and play games! We meet at St. Margaret's on the 2nd Sunday of

each month. The theme this year is prayer.