Adult Christian Education
 
Adult Book Study Sunday School class:
This will be a book study using “Christ of the Celts” by J. Philip Newell, one of the foremost experts on Celtic spirituality. This moving book offers a reflection on the “forgotten” Jesus, the Christ of the Celtic tradition. Drawing on ancient and contemporary sources, Newell is critical of, and offers alternatives to early Christian doctrines such as creation ex nihilo (out of nothing), original sin, and substitutionary atonement. 

The Christ of the Celts was repressed for centuries because His is a theology of openness to all and the sacredness of all creation. In a world that grows smaller and more volatile each day, it’s time for doors to open and walls to come down. Newell writes “there is a longing within the whole of creation to form a circle again. It is a sacred circle”.

Come find out why he thinks “original sin” has fed discord among us. Come explore what he means when he says the cross reveals God not appeases God in his chapter “Paying the Piper”. Join us in St. Gabriel’s room, adjacent to the old parish hall, at 10:15 am on Sundays. A lively discussion is guaranteed.
facilitated by Tom Erdmanczyk and Edith Cobourn

Rector's Forum:
The Rector’s Forum is an opportunity for a large gathering of parishioners to experience both events related to the life of our community at St. David’s, as well as have a disciplined approach to theological education. As you will see below, the Rector will continue his course in the Nicene Creed, but with several special events interspersed. Beginning on October 16th there will be eight Sundays in a row on the Creed to build some continuity. Come and join us.

September 18: Green Guild/Stewardship of Creation
September 25: The Nicene Creed: God the Father, God the Son
October 2: "Welcome New Members to Fellowship & Faith!" - special event
October 9: Evangelism in the Life of Faith
October 16: The Nicene Creed: “By the power of the Holy Spirit...”
October 23: The Nicene Creed: “For our sake he was crucified…”
October 30: The Nicene Creed: “On the third day he rose again…”
November 6: The Nicene Creed: “He ascended into heaven…”
November 13: The Nicene Creed: “He will come again…”
November 20: The Nicene Creed: “We believe in the Holy Spirit…”
November 27: The Nicene Creed: “one holy catholic and apostolic Church”
December 4: The Nicene Creed: “the resurrection and the life of the world to come”
December 11: Annual Meeting
December 18: Bishop’s Visitation
December 25: Christmas

Wednesday Night Programs:
The History of Christianity in Britain
Wednesday Evenings at St. David’s, The Rev. Kenneth Swanson, Ph.D.

The religious history of Britain is our history as well. Not just because we are Anglicans, but because America values and public institutions have been primarily shaped by those in Scotland, Wales and England. This course will examine the entire scope of religious history in Britain, beginning with pre-Christian paganism to the stresses on the world-wide Anglican communion today. Plan to join us. 

September 21: The Roman Catholic Response
September 28: Christianity in the Time of Troubles
October 5: British Theology in the Middle Ages
October 12: The Monastic Renewal
October 19: The Initial Struggle Between Church and King\
October 26: “Trunk or Treat” - No class
November 2: The Flowering of British Mystical Spirituality
November 9: The Reformation and the Crisis in the English Church
November 16: The Creation of the Church of England and the Book of Common Prayer
November 23: No class (Thanksgiving)
November 30: Catholic/Protestant Conflict and the Elizabethan Compromise
December 7: The Rise of Puritanism and Radical Protestantism
December 14: Richard Hooker and the “Via Media”
December 21: No class (Christmas break)
December 28: No class (Christmas break)
January 4: The Puritan Revolution
January 11: The Glorious Revolution, the Act of Toleration and the End of Religious Conflict
January 18: The Enlightenment, Latitudinarianism and the Rise of Deism
January 25: The Wesleyan Revival
February 1: The Evangelical Party
February 8: The Oxford Movement
February 15: The Triangular Stasis: Evangelical, Anglo-Catholic and the Broad Church
February 22: Church and Chapel
February 29: Ash Wednesday
March 7: The Missionary Impulse
March 14: The Emergence of Lay Theologians: McDonald, Chesterton, Tolkien, Lewis, Williams and Sayers
March 21: The Church in a Secular and Pluralistic Society
March 28: The Struggle in the Global Communion

Spiritual Adventures Bible Study: 
will meet in the old Parish Hall downstairs by the front door at 10:15 a.m. Each week will be freestanding, so come when you can. This will be guidance for living the Christian life in a tough world. All people are welcome!

Adult Confirmation Class:
What Makes Us Episcopalians?
St. David’s 2011 Adult Confirmation Class meets at 10:15 a.m., in the Nazareth room (upstairs back hallway). This series will prepare adults for the Sacrament of Confirmation on December 18 here at St. David’s. Please contact Anne Elizabeth+ for additional information: aes@stdavidchurch.org.

Confirmation Class Fall 2011 Schedule
9/18 Birth of the Church II – Guest Speaker: Peter Toy
9/25 The Book of Common Prayer 
10/2 Attend the Parish Wide Reception in Jeffords Hall
10/9 Attend Ken’s Class on Evangelism in Jeffords Hall
10/16 The Vestry and St. Aidan’s Guild – Guest Speakers: Charles McMillan, Junior Warden, Janet Conrad & Laura Rexford, Chairs of St. Aidan’s Guild
10/23 Altar Matters – Guest Speaker: Bruce Thomas, Lead Verger
10/30 The Seven Sacraments
11/6 Connecting With St. David’s – Guest Speaker: Linda Thomas, Director of Parish Communications
11/13 The Creeds of the Church
11/20 The Ordination Process, Deacons, Priests and Bishops
11/27 The Ministry of Missions – Guest Speaker: Bonnie Underwood, Parishioner and Postulant in the Diocese of Atlanta
12/4 Church Polity, Diocese of Atlanta, Anglican Communion – Guest Speaker: The Rev. Deacon Kathy Holman
12/11 Attend the 2011 Annual Parish Meeting in Jeffords Hall
12/18 Meet in the old Parish Hall  at 10:15 am to gather for Confirmation at the 11:15 am Service!!