Learning & Fellowship Archives - Page 5 of 36 - Community United Methodist Church

Lenten Study

Learning & Fellowship, News, Service & Ministry

Sundays starting on March 9 @ 9:00am in room 7/8

Wednesdays starting March 12 @ 7:00pm in room 7/8 and Zoom

For the Zoom information, please subscribe to our church emails.

Are we paying attention to the holy ground beneath our feet? Where do we see burning bushes in our world today, and what are they calling us to do? Do spiritual encounters in our lives have holy consequences in the world around us? Many of us want to understand how to integrate our personal spiritual lives more actively with our engagement in working for justice and the liberation of the oppressed and marginalized. Hard and Holy Work provides a space for just that, helping readers participate in Lent in a new way by becoming attuned to God’s boundless presence in our world and waking up to and taking action for God’s justice through exploring stories from the book of Exodus that have inspired the work of liberation for centuries.

Pastor Mary Alice Birdwhistell and Hebrew Bible scholar Tyler Mayfield reflect on the brave action of the midwives Shiphrah and Puah and other faithful women in Exodus, Moses’ awakening to the plight of the Hebrew people, Moses’ life-changing encounter with the burning bush, the Israelites taking the risk of crossing the Red Sea, and more, alongside numerous contemporary stories to help readers to see anew and contemplate how God is calling them to respond to what is not right in the world: racial injustice, especially borne by women of color, houselessness, and discrimination against LGBTQ+ communities and people with disabilities.

Lent is traditionally a time of self-reflection and action that prepares followers of Christ to walk more intentionally in the way of God. Hard and Holy Work takes readers through a unique Lenten journey, encouraging us to see those who are marginalized or suffering as God sees them; contemplate how privilege, fear, risk, and feelings of uncertainty can cloud our attention; and practice endurance for the messy middle of justice work, leaning on God’s provision and rest when the way forward is unclear.

The book is available at Cokesbury, Amazon and where ever you buy books.

Sunday’s class is lead by Suzanne Morgan. Wednesday class is lead by Brenda Weikel.

The Wesley Covenant Prayer Challenged

Learning & Fellowship

A Wednesday Evening Online Discipleship Study

4 Weeks Starting January 19 on Zoom

The Wesley Covenant Prayer has been used in Methodist services around the world on the first Sunday of the year since John Wesley introduced it in 1755. Wesley expected that people would pray this prayer as a way of remembering, renewing, and surrendering themselves in complete trust to God. When we pray it, we are to remember what living like Jesus looks like and what loving God with all our heart, soul, and mind and loving our neighbor as ourselves requires of us.

Subscribe to CUMC HB emails for Zoom information.

The Walk Study – Online and In-Person

Learning & Fellowship

Starting October 3rd Pastor George is going to be begin a sermon series inspired by this book by Rev. Adam Hamilton. Join us as we explore deeper into the themes of worship, prayer, study, serving, giving, and sharing. This 6 week study is offered both in person and online.

Classes will be offered:

Starting Tuesday, September 28 @ 2:00pm in person in room 8/9
Starting Wednesday, September 29 on Zoom @noon (Subscribe to our emails to receive Zoom information)
Starting Wednesday, September 29 on Zoom at 7:00pm (Subscribe to our emails to receive Zoom information)
Starting Sunday, October 3 during our 10:30 worship time in the Library

Whether you have been a Christian all of your life or are new to the faith, we can all learn to walk closer to God and in the process learn to live out our faith more fully. Books are available whereever you purchase your books and the first class will discuss Chapter 1: Worship & Prayer. If you have questions please contact Suzanne at Suzanne AT cumchb.org.

Connect with God, Nature, and Friends

Adult, Children, Learning & Fellowship, Youth

If getting out in nature and hiking with some friends sounds like a good way to spend your Saturday once a month than this opportunity is for you. All hikes are moderate hikes that are family friendly. . Our hike this month will be in Whiting Ranch. This hike takes us on a gently climbing trail through an oak woodland canyon and ending in a smooth red rock canyon. We will meet at 9:00 AM on July 16^th at the Portella parking lot.The cost to park is $5 per car. You will want to wear hiking shoes or good walking shoes and a hat. You will need sunscreen, a small backpack to carry your water (16oz or more per person) and any snacks you will want. To be good stewards of God’s creation and courteous to other hikers our group size is limited to 14 people. Reservations will be a first come first serve and can be made by emailing Mary Boyd at mmmwboyd@verizon.net.

The Difficult Words of Jesus

Adult, Adult, Learning & Fellowship, Service & Ministry

Wednesday Evening Study on Zoom 6 Weeks
August 18– September 22 7:00pm
Subscribe to emails for Meeting ID and Passcode

Jesus provided his disciples teachings for how to follow Torah, God’s word; he told them parables to help them discern questions of ethics and of human nature; he offered them beatitudes for comfort and encouragement. But sometimes Jesus spoke words that followers then and now have found difficult. He instructs disciples to hate members of their own families (Luke 14:26), to act as if they were slaves (Matthew 20:27), and to sell their belongings and give to the poor (Luke 18:22). He restricts his mission (Matthew 10:6); he speaks of damnation (Matthew 8:12); he calls Jews the devil’s children (John 8:44).

In The Difficult Words of Jesus, Amy-Jill Levine shows how these difficult teachings would have sounded to the people who first heard them, how have they been understood over time, and how we might interpret them in the context of
the Gospel of love and reconciliation.