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Bethesda's
2007 - 2008
Christian Education Offerings
We welcome you to Bethesda-by-the-Sea and hope you will join us and take advantage of our Christian education offerings. We have prepared a schedule that will enrich your knowledge and understanding of God and His Son Jesus Christ Our Lord. What follows are descriptions of the courses available to children and adults.

Please do not hesitate to call Fr. Andrew ("Drew") Van Culin or the Christian Education Coordinator, Lynn Rundberg, if we can be of service to you in regard to issues of Christian formation. Bethesda's Adult Education opportunities are coordinated by Tom O'Brien. He can be reached on 624-0175.

 

SUNDAY SCHOOL
Bethesda offers a variety of regular Sunday School classes and activities for children of all ages. Our dedicated staff and volunteers lead the children through lessons, craft activities and interactive discussions as they explore a new theme each week.

ADULT CHRISTIAN EDUCATION COURSES
The Sunday Adult Forum
10:10 to 10:50 a.m.
Location: Parish Hall

The Forum is an opportunity to learn about and discuss topics of interest in the period following the 9:00 a.m. service and before the 11:00 a.m. service.

Newcomers' Orientation
Leader: The Rector
3 Tuesdays: Beginning September 18
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Location: Guild Room

A three-week introduction to The Episcopal Church and The Parish of Bethesda-by-the-Sea.



Inquirers' Class and Preparation for Adult Confirmation, Reception or Reaffirmation
Leader: The Rector
8 Tuesdays: October 9 to November 27
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Location: Guild Room

This course is designed to prepare adults for:

Confirmation if they have never been confirmed by a Bishop in Apostolic Succession;

Reception as members into the Episcopal Church if they have previously made a mature public commitment in another Church;

Reaffirmation of Baptismal vows if they have been previously baptized and confirmed in the Episcopal Church. This option may be especially appropriate for persons who wish to renew the commitments made at their Baptism and Confirmation.

The course will survey the faith and worship of the Episcopal Church from the early Church to today and explore meaningful ways in which the Christian faith may be expressed by adults in a contemporary setting. Speak to the Rector directly about your interest in this class.



BIBLE STUDIES
Enter course description here.

Tuesday Morning Bible Study
Leaders: Members of the Clergy Staff
Tuesdays, on-going
7:15 – 7:55 a.m.
Location: Guild Room

Explore the Biblical texts for Sunday with the scheduled preacher. This is your chance to ask your questions directly, e.g., “What is the historical or critical background of the text?” “What do you think the Scripture is saying?” “What do you think should be included in the sermon?” This Bible Study provides you with an opportunity to help shape Sunday's sermon. Immediately following are a communion service at 8:00 a.m. and a light breakfast. No registration is necessary.



"A Super-Quick Course About the Bible and Ways to Read It"
Leader: Tom O’Brien
4 Mondays from October 22, 2007 to November 12, 2007
6:30 to 8:30 pm.
Location: Parish Hall

When were the different books of the Bible written? Why does it matter? What are some of the verifiable historical events that shaped the books of the Bible? How, when and by whom were the books of the Bible selected? What different kinds of literature are in the Bible? Does it matter in which order the books are presented? What are some of the sources of the Bible? How do scholars select the texts that form the basis of modern translations? What are some of the different ways to read the Bible? What are the strengths and weaknesses of these approaches? Is any one interpretation as valid as any other? What have we learned from the Dead Sea Scrolls? This course is targeted to Biblical beginners and intermediates and will address these and other questions about the Bible. There will be four lectures (with handouts) with time for questions and answers. NO READING IS REQUIRED, although suggested readings will be noted. Registration is not required, and persons are invited to attend as many sessions as they can. If you have questions about the course, please email Tom O’Brien at tgobrien@comcast.net.

The Road Out: A Close Reading of Exodus
Leader: The Rev. Dr. Timothy Cogan
10 Tuesdays: January 8 to March 11
7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Location: Library

The oldest verse in the Bible comes from Exodus, which begins the national epic of the people of Israel. As in last year’s Genesis course, we will recapture the texts that "everyone used to know" - in this case, the beginnings of "Holy History" as told in Second Book of Moses. In a group setting, Dr. Cogan will lead close readings of the Exodus texts, with special attention paid the Mosaic Covenant. For more information, contact Dr. Cogan at 655-4555, ext. 44, or cogan@bbts.org.



Discovering the Bible: Introduction to the Old Testament
Leader: Tom O’Brien
15 Mondays: January 14 to April 28
6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Location: ECW Room

This survey course uses the highly-regarded Discovering the Bible Workbook. The course includes reading and discussing selected passages from the Old Testament and also covers the culture, events, and history that form the context of the various books of Bible. The course includes lectures, group discussion, and reflection. No prior Biblical knowledge is required to join the course. The cost of the Workbook is $25 and students are expected to bring a Study Bible or Annotated Bible to class. Preparation for each class requires about 2.5 hours, but participants are encouraged to attend even if they have not been able to do the readings. If you would like to join, please call Tom O’Brien at 624-0175 or email him at tgobrien@comcast.net.

OTHER ADULT COURSE OFFERINGS
Education for Ministry
Leaders: The Rev. Drew Van Culin
29 Wednesdays: October 24 to May 30
12:45 to 3:30 p.m.
Location: ECW Room

Leader: The Rev. Lynne Jones
34 Thursdays: September 20 to May 29
6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Location: ECW Room

 EfM, or Education for Ministry, is a world-wide Adult Education program developed by the School of Theology of the University of the South. It holds that the foundation for bringing Christ to the world lies in a Church empowered by an active, theologically articulate laity. The objective of EfM is to help lay men and women deepen their theological foundation, strengthen their ability to minister to others, and to support them on their spiritual journeys. EfM seminar members commit to one year at a time as they explore the basics of theological education: Old Testament (Year 1), New Testament (Year 2), Church History (Year 3), and Liturgy and Theology (Year 4). The full course entails four years of study, and each year consists of approximately 34 sessions. Currently, the Thursday class is filled, but if you are interested in joining the Wednesday class or in participating in EFM in the future, please advise Father Drew Van Culin or Pastor Lynne Jones. You will be asked to commit for one year at a time.

The experience will include:

- a seminar-sized group of 6–11 students;
- trained mentors and thought-provoking texts;
- theological reflection practiced regularly;
- prayer and worship in a community of study;
- the study of Hebrew and Christian Scriptures, Church History and Theology.



 
"Unpacking" the Nicene Creed and (Gasp!) Restating it in 21st Century Language
Leader: Tom O’Brien
4 Wednesdays: October 17 to November 14, 2007
6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Location: Parish Hall

The Nicene Creed has been a central statement of the faith of Christians since the 4th Century. What theological understandings are found in each of the phrases in the Nicene Creed? Have these theological understandings evolved since the 4th Century? What are some of the ways 21st Century Christians understand the statements in the Nicene Creed? What would the Nicene Creed look like if it were restated to reflect 21st Century understandings of these theological propositions? This discussion course will allow participants to explore some of the most profound mysteries of Christian Faith so that all participants will have a deeper appreciation of their Faith. No advance readings are required, but readings will be suggested. If you have questions about the course, please email Tom O’Brien at tgobrien@comcast.net.

 
C.S. Lewis - The Four Loves
Leader: Rob Wallace
4 Tuesdays: October 25 to November 15
7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Location: Library

Led by Rob Wallace this fall study group will explore one of C.S. Lewis’ most masterful works, The Four Loves. Together, using this "candid, wise, and warmly personal book," we will consider the nature of love from a Christian perspective, as well as the promise and peril that love presents.

 
Power, Love, and Christian Discipleship
Leader: The Rev. Robert Pollard III
12 Mondays: November 12 to May 12
Afternoon sessions: 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. or
Evening sessions: 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Location: Guild Room

Father Pollard’s reading and discussion seminar will examine the nature of power and love in human life from a Christian point of view. To do this, we shall read Father Pollard’s just-printed Power, Love and Christian Discipleship (available in the Bethesda Bookshop). Power and love both come from – and are rooted in – God. How does this fact speak to the way we live our lives and to the way we organize our society? You do not need to register for this seminar and are welcome to come regularly or as often as you can. For more information, call Father Pollard at 655-4555, ext. 26.

 
Interfaith Dialogues and Fellowship
Parallels between Hebrew and Christian Scriptures
Facilitators: Tom O’Brien and Lynne Lieberman
Five Tuesdays: October 30 through March 25
5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Location: Parish Hall
Cost: $10/person for supper

These facilitated dialogues, sponsored by Bethesda and the Palm Beach Fellowship of Christians and Jews, foster fellowship and understanding of the Bible. This year, the sessions examine stories from Hebrew and Christian Scriptures that contain parallels to each other. New and former participants are welcome to attend one or more sessions. A light supper is provided for $10, and participants should confirm attendance at least 4 days before each session by leaving a message with the Fellowship (833-4191). For additional information, please send an email to Tom O’Brien at tgobrien@comcast.net.
October 30, 2007
Bringing dead children back to life
1 Kings 17.17-24; 2 Kings 4.30-37; Mark 5.21-43; and Luke 7.11-17

November 27, 2007
Moses’ Face Shone and Jesus Transfigured
Exodus 34.27-35 and Mark 9.2-13

January 22, 2008
The Songs of Hannah and Mary
1 Sam. 2.1-10 and Luke 1.46-55

February 26, 2008
David Yearns for Absalom and the Parable of the Prodigal Son
2 Sam. 13.30-39 and 2 Sam. 18.31—19.8; and Luke 15.11-32

March 25, 2008
Samaritans Show Mercy
2 Chronicles 28.1-15 and Luke 10.25-37



 
Advent Reading Group
Miroslav Volf, 2008 Smaltz Fellow
Free of Charge: Giving and Forgiving in a Culture Stripped of Grace
Leader: Fr. Van Culin
4 Wednesdays: November 28 to December 19
6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Library

We are at our human best when we give and forgive. But we live in a world in which it makes little sense to do either one. In our increasingly graceless culture, where can we find the motivation to give? And how do we learn to forgive when forgiving seems counterintuitive or even futile? In his deeply personal yet profoundly thoughtful book, Free of Charge, Volf explores these questions – and the further questions to which they give rise – in light of God’s generosity and Christ’s sacrifice for us. Blending the best of theology and spirituality, Volf offers a fresh examination of two practices at the heart of Christianity, giving and forgiving, and encourages us to echo in our own lives the generous gift and forgiveness of God.

 
Advent Reading Group
Miroslav Volf, 2008 Smaltz Fellow
Free of Charge: Giving and Forgiving in a Culture Stripped of Grace
Leader: Fr. Van Culin
4 Wednesdays: November 28 to December 19
6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Library

We are at our human best when we give and forgive. But we live in a world in which it makes little sense to do either one. In our increasingly graceless culture, where can we find the motivation to give? And how do we learn to forgive when forgiving seems counterintuitive or even futile? In his deeply personal yet profoundly thoughtful book, Free of Charge, Volf explores these questions – and the further questions to which they give rise – in light of God’s generosity and Christ’s sacrifice for us. Blending the best of theology and spirituality, Volf offers a fresh examination of two practices at the heart of Christianity, giving and forgiving, and encourages us to echo in our own lives the generous gift and forgiveness of God.

 
Spring Reading Groups
Miroslav Volf, 2008 Smaltz Fellow
The End of Memory? Remembering Rightly in a Violent World
Leader: Fr. Van Culin
4 Wednesdays: February 13 to March 5
or
Thursday, Feb 7 and 3 Wed. Feb 13-27
6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Library

It’s a piece of conventional wisdom that we should never forget the wrongs of the past. But what is the nature and purpose of such memory? Perhaps more importantly, how do we "remember rightly"? Furthermore, how long should we remember? Is there a point at which we ought to let go of the past, to allow memories of wrongdoings to "slip into oblivion"? Using the unsettling memories of his prolonged interrogation by military police in the communist Yugoslavia of the 1980’s, Volf present a new understanding of the function and significance of memory, remembrance as reconciliation, whose ultimate purpose is to draw us into out of hatred in order that we may forgive and be reconciled to our neighbor and enemy.

 
Robert Ferrar Capon
The Fingerprints of God:
Tracking the Divine Suspect through a History of Images
Robert Ferrar Capon is an Episcopal priest and the author of many books. In The Fingerprints of God, he explores central aspects of Christian Faith and the metaphors and images used to describe religious mysteries. Some of these mysteries include heaven and hell, the Church, grace, salvation, sacraments, sin, the humanity and divinity of Jesus of Nazareth, and others. The first session will be an introductory presentation by the leader, and the next six classes will be discussions of assigned portions of the book. Participants may actively participate in the conversations and raise questions, or they may simply listen to the discussions. If you have questions about the course, please email Tom O’Brien at tgobrien@comcast.net.

 
Marcus J. Borg & John Dominic Crossan
The Last Week
Leader: Rob Wallace
4 Thursdays: February 21 to March 13
7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Location: Library

Led by Rob Wallace, this Lenten study group will join Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan as they re-engage the account of Jesus’ last days. As we prepare ourselves to "walk with Christ" upon his final journey to the Cross during Holy Week, The Last Week promises to better prepare us for the power and significance of Jesus’ mission and vision, and its implication for our own lives.

 
Bethesda Book Group
Leaders: Ros Warren and Margaret Young
First Wednesday of the month
3:30 to 5:00 p.m.
Location: Library

The Bethesda Book Group’s selections for the 2006/2007 season are listed below. Everyone is welcome to join us at 3:30 p.m. in the Library on the first Wednesday of the month. The Group has fun discussing books and hopes you can join them on a regular basis or whenever you can.

September 5 - The Fig Eater - Jodie Shields (Fiction)

October 3 - Middlesex - Jeffrey Eugenides (Fiction)

November 7 - The Emperor’s Children - Claire Messud (Fiction)

December 5 - Mayflower - Nathaniel Philbrick (Non-fiction)

January 2 - Everything is Illuminated - Jonathan Saffran Foer (Fiction)

February 6 - Madame Bovary - Gustav Flaubert (Fiction)

March 5 - Snow - Orhan Pamuk (Fiction)

April 3 - Thomas Hardy: The Time-torn Man - Claire Tomalin (Biography)

May 7 - Human Traces - Sebastian Faulks (Fiction)

June 4 - The Known World - Edward Jones (Fiction)



 

We are privileged to offer these studies as opportunities to enrich and stimulate your intellect and to deepen your faith. If you have suggestions for additional courses related to Christian Education, spirituality, or ways we might improve these programs, please contact The Rev. Andrew Van Culin, the Associate for Christian Education at 655-4555, ext. 22, or vanculin@bbts.org, or Tom O'Brien, Chair of the Forum and Adult Education Committee, at 624-0175 or tgobrien@adelphia.net

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