All of us are spending a great deal more time at home due to the pandemic. I encourage you to use this time to explore your faith in new ways. To that end, Unity is announcing two new study opportunities.
How Did We Get The Bible? Tuesdays at 4 pm. This Zoom link will work every week: https://zoom.us/j/691556581. BEGINS TODAY!
This six-week study will explore the origins of the New Testament. Here are some of the questions that we will tackle: What New Testament book was written first? When was the canon closed? Why were some books left out i.e. Gospel of Thomas? Can we trust the reliability of the New Testament?
This study begins today! Join us at 4 pm via Zoom.
A New Catechumenate: A study by Whitworth University.
In early Christianity pastors developed a program that new disciples would participate in for the purpose of learning about Christianity. It was a two year program! When a person joins the church today, they do so after an hour and a half lunch. In early Christianity, they did so after two years of study. Wow! This program was called a catechumenate.
Jerry Sittser, professor of Theology and Church History at Whitworth University, has created a new catechumenate i.e. a new program, designed for today’s world, to allow individuals to learn in-depth the major tenets of Christianity.
This program is the equivalent of a college course. Each session is comprised of a 30 minute video lecture and 30 minutes of discussion.
Here is what Sittser says of the program: “…this new catechumenate is a process, not a program. It is a process of formation, not a program to disseminate information. Early Christian leaders used athletic metaphors to explain what it means to follow Jesus. They wanted Christians to become “spiritual athletes,” that is, people who not only understand the faith but also live it, and do so with the seriousness of an athlete. Is it possible to know God in Christ and not respond to him in faith and obedience? I don’t think so. It bears repeating: this new catechumenate is intended to be formational, not merely informational.”
This study will begin on June 18 and will end in early October. Join me on Thursdays at 4 pm via Zoom. If this time does not work for you, you can watch the videos separately at a time that is convenient for you.
To register, simply e-mail david@unitypres.org and say “I’d like to register for a new catechumenate.” Unity is covering the cost of the first ten people. That’s right, the first ten people to register are free! After that, the cost is $25 per family and the cost is paid to Whitworth.
THE CURRICULUM Year 1
- Does God exist? • The Redemptive Story • Who is God? • Jesus Christ • Trinity • The Holy Spirit • Redemption (New Creation) • The Kingdom • The Bible • Sin and Evil • Grace and Repentance • Faith • Way of Life • Worship • Sacraments • Church
“For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”
-1 Timothy 4:8
I hope you will take advantage of one or both of these wonderful faith formation opportunities!
“See” you on Sunday!
-Pastor David
