Pilgrim Prep Adult Formation – Fall Term 2015

Categories: Faith Formation,News

Pilgrim Prep logotypePilgrim Prep: The Academy for Faith & Life at SCC

Fall Term 2015

Pilgrim Prep is our Academy for Faith and Life here at Storrs Congregational.  We have an exciting constellation of adult faith formation courses and opportunities for the Fall 2015 Term, which begins the week of October 4th and wraps up prior to UConn’s Thanksgiving break.

Climate-Change-and-Faith-LogoFeature Course:  Forum on Climate Change

Five members of our congregation will share information regarding the present and future effects of climate change. Each of the presenters will examine climate change through the lens of their area of expertise.

  • “How the Press Blew the Climate Change Story”
    Bob Wyss, UConn journalism professor
  • “What Every Citizen of Planet Earth Needs to Understand about Carbon and Climate Change”
    Ray Joesten, retired UConn Geology professor
  • “Follow the Money”:  a conversation on economics and climate change
    Mike Lake, retired UCC pastor
  • “Evidence that Change is Already Here: Implications for Agricultural Production”
    Richard Cowles, CT Agricultural Experiment Station
  • “Progress Toward a Successful Paris Global Climate Summit”
    Don Hoyle, retired United Methodist pastor

The Forum on Climate Change takes place Sundays, October 4, 11, 18; November 1, & 8, from 11:30 am — 1:00 pm in the SCC Library

To register for this or any of our Pilgrim Prep Fall 2015 offerings:  http://tinyurl.com/PilgrimPrep-2015-Fall

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Making Sense of the Bible by Adam HamiltonBible 101: Making Sense of the Bible

How and when was the Bible written? Who decided which books made it into the scriptures and why? How literally should we read it? Is the Bible ever wrong?These are honest questions people all across the spectrum ask about the collection of writings called the Bible that we Christians use as holy scripture.

This six-session series “Bible 101: Making Sense of the Bible” will invite you into an honest conversation about questions like these and more. Making use of the book Making Sense of the Bible: Rediscovering the Power of Scripture Today by Adam Hamilton, we’ll seek to explore and unpack our questions about the Bible and what it is… but more importantly, we’ll hopefully seek after a deeper appreciation of the Bible so that we might hear God speak through it and find its words to be life-changing and life-giving.

Led by the Rev. Matthew Emery.  Minimum enrollment of 6, maximum of 10.  Course involves readings outside of sessions, including advance reading before first session.  Optional donation of $15 will reimburse for your copy of the book, which is provided free-of-charge.  This course is part of our Pilgrim Prep Core Curriculum.

Bible 101 takes place Sundays, October 4, 11, 18; November 1, 8, 15, from 11:30 am — 1:00 pm in the SCC Memorial Room

To register for this or any of our Pilgrim Prep Fall 2015 offerings:  http://tinyurl.com/PilgrimPrep-2015-Fall

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ThreeFaiths_OneGodFaith & Conflict in the Middle East

This course serves as a primer for those seeking further information about religious perspectives on the ongoing conflicts and crises in the Middle East.  The course will focus the first few weeks on learning about the facts on the ground, and the religious and cultural backdrop of the Occupation of Israel in Palestine.  We will also explore the Kairos Palestine document, a theological statement issued by the Christian community in Palestine, reaching out to its global church partners.  This course will start with the assumption that there is a human rights crisis, and that we, as Christians are called to respond in peaceful action.

Led by the Rev. Nancy McLaren. A simple supper will be available.  Note that our church is co-hosting the Tree of Life Conference on Wed, Oct. 21, and attendance is encouraged for class participants.

Faith & Conflict in the Middle East takes place Tuesdays, October 13, 20, 27, & November 10, from 5:30 — 7:00 pm in SCC’s Parish House Lounge

To register for this or any of our Pilgrim Prep Fall 2015 offerings:  http://tinyurl.com/PilgrimPrep-2015-Fall

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Reformation_congregationalRoots of our Tradition: Reformation & the ‘Congregational Way’

As Protestants and more specifically as Congregationalists, who are we and where do we come from?  This series will take a look at fundamentals of history, theology, and practice coming out of the Protestant Reformation of the 1500s (sessions 1-3), and then explore how the people of the “Congregational Way” continued to embody and evolve those streams (Sessions 4-6).

Led by Pastors Matt & Nancy and others.

Roots of our Tradition takes place Sundays, October 4, 11, 18; November 1, 8, & 15, from 9:00—9:45 am in SCC’s Parish House Lounge

To register for this or any of our Pilgrim Prep Fall 2015 offerings:  http://tinyurl.com/PilgrimPrep-2015-Fall

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serving_from_the_heart-_workbook_2Serving from the Heart: Finding your Gifts and Talents for Service

Does your “ministry” match who God created you to be?  God’s plan for the church calls for each member of the body of Christ to play a vital role.  God wants us to find joy and fulfillment when we serve.  That happens when we serve in a role that matches who God created us to be.

This course will help each participant consider their own spiritual gifts, talents and abilities, resources, individuality, dreams, and experiences… all adding up to an enhanced capacity to serve God and neighbor.

Led by Kate Alexander.  Optional donation of $30 will reimburse for your copy of the workbook and offset costs for lunch.  This course is part of our Pilgrim Prep Core Curriculum.

Serving from the Heart takes place Saturday, November 14, as a one-day ‘retreat’, from 9:00 am—4:00 pm, with lunch included, in the SCC Library.

To register for this or any of our Pilgrim Prep Fall 2015 offerings:  http://tinyurl.com/PilgrimPrep-2015-Fall

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