Adult Education Program

For the 2011 - 2012 Education Brochure, click here

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Sunday, 9:15 a.m. Education Hour

FR. JEREMY’S BOOK CLASS                                                 Library
Led by Fr. Jeremy Hole

This class determines the books they will read and discuss. Books do not have to be purchased or read to participate in the class. Newcomers are always welcome.

CONFIRMATION/INQUIRERS CLASS              Stringfellow Chapel
Led by The Rev. Louanne Loch

Bishop John Howard will be coming to Holy Trinity Church on October, 23, 2011, for parish visitation, confirmation, and reception.  If you are an adult and wish to be received or confirmed into the Episcopal Church this year, please contact the parish office as soon as possible.

There will be 6 classes in all.  Confirmation is for those who have been baptized but not yet confirmed by a bishop in the Episcopal, Lutheran, or Roman Catholic Church.  For those who have been confirmed in the Lutheran or Roman Catholic Church, the process of being welcomed into the Episcopal Church is known as Reception.

KUELL HINSON INDUCTIVE BIBLE STUDY              Conference Room
Led by Kathy Navajas and Lanier Harper-Dickson

September 11th will resonate forever with violence done in the name of religious extremism. But this year on September 11th, Holy Trinity takes up our own sacred texts to wrestle with the voices that shout and whisper from those pages, the voices that plead, praise, promise, debate and question. The Lectionary Class will meet each Sunday at 9:15 in conference room 124 to study the Bible readings appointed for the day. Lanier Harper-Dickson and Kathy Navajas invite you to join us every Sunday or any Sunday as we work to discern what God is doing in those texts and what it means for us today.


THE RECTOR’S BIBLE STUDY                                  Library

Led by The Rev. Louanne Loch

The Rector’s Bible Study will meet Wednesdays at 11:00 AM in the Library beginning on Wednesday, September 7th.  Please come casual and bring a sack lunch if you wish.  All are welcome to come to one or all of the sessions as each class is self-contained.  Please feel free to bring a guest!

EDUCATION FOR MINISTRY                   Lilicrop Room

Led by Christina Ford and Jean Reid

EFM meets weekly for about 3 hours at a time for 36 weeks.  It is a four year curriculum covering Old Testament, New Testament, Church History and Theology, however, you only need to commit to a year at a time.  The curriculum involves reading, discussion and theological reflection.

Wednesday Night Programs, 6:30pm

Starting September 7, 2011

The Rev. Loch, Henderson and Hole will lead a class on the topics of Islam and its beliefs and Christianity and our beliefs.  The class will either meet in the parish hall or the library depending on the number of students.

BIBLE STUDY                                                    Conference Room
Led by Rev. Bill Yaeger
Join Rev. Bill Yaeger, a church leader at First United Methodist Church, in a traditional bible study.

ADULT CONFIRMATION CLASS                      Room 204
Led by Rev. Ron Owen
The Rev. Ron Owen will teach a 5 week confirmation class in preparation for Bishop Howard’s visitation  on October 23rd.  This class is especially appropriate for those in the choir who cannot attend the rector’s confirmation class on Sunday mornings and for those who need to make up a class.

HOLY TRINITY YOGA,                                                 Church Nave
Yoga asanas have been traditionally used for centuries to help calm the body, mind, and spirit in preparation for meditation.  Join us on September 7th, beginning in the church nave, as we practice asanas (yoga poses) to condition our bodies, calm our minds, and prepare us for prayer and meditation.  Following practice in the church nave, the Stringfellow Chapel will be open for those  who want to continue prayer in their mindful state.

Wear comfortable clothing you can move freely in, that won’t ride up while stretching, and bring a yoga mat or yoga traction gloves and socks, a towel or blanket for support, and of course, water.  For more information, call the Holy Trinity Parish office, 352-372-4721.

DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN COMMUNITY
In January, we will offer a program called Disciples of Christ in Community or DOCC.  It is both a comprehensive Christian Education opportunity (teaching about many aspects of the faith), and an intense small-group experience, which work to build community. DOCC (pronounced ‘Dock’) is a dynamic Christian adult education course, which offers a step-by-step journey into the heart and soul of Christianity.  It covers the essential foundations of our Christian faith, and examines themes including “Community,” “Becoming Church,” “Sacred Listening,” “Love,” and “How We Are Changed by Christ’s Example.” More details will be forthcoming shortly.

OTHER OFFERINGS

FAMILY SERVICE    Page Parish Hall
First Sunday of the month at 10:30

This alternate service, with Eucharist, is a wonderful opportunity for the whole family to worship together in a relaxed atmosphere.  Children of all ages are welcome to join their parents in the Parish Hall and pray together, sing together, feast together and offer up their thanks and blessings.  This year’s services will continue to offer strong roles for the children and lots of great surprises!  Family Fellowship follows each service, with a chance to get to know the members of your church family who are walking the same walk “right where you are!”  This year’s dates are:  September 4, October 2, November 6, December 4, will not be held in January (due to New Years), February 5, March 4, April 1, May 6, June 3, July 1 and August 5.

BROTHERHOOD OF ST. ANDREW                               Library

This international men’s organization has been active in promoting fellowship, service, and worship for men since the 1800’s.  Holy Trinity became the 7th church in Florida to have a Chapter of the Brotherhood. Many projects will be considered for the Brotherhood to be involved in. Meetings are the first Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m. in the library.  Meetings feature devotion, fellowship, and service to the Church and Gainesville.  Annually, the Brotherhood of St. Andrew hosts the well attended and enjoyable Oktoberfest, and those interested in helping put this great event together can simply find out more by attending the monthly meetings as they are able.  For more information, please contact Doug Johnson, President.

Conferences and Retreats

SPIRITUAL RETREATS AT CAMP WEED

Camp Weed is our Diocesan camp located outside of Live Oak an hour north of Gainesville.  During the Summer it provides the children and youth of our Diocese with an excellent Christian camp experience.  During the remainder of the year it hosts spiritual retreat weekends for children, youth and adults.  Please see your Youth Leaders for information on Breakout, Be the Church, Megamorphosis, Happening, and other youth events.

Cursillo is a three day retreat which brings together a diverse group to share the richness of worship and broaden one’s appreciation for our Church. Lay people conduct the weekend with two or three clergy members functioning as spiritual advisors. Cursillo strives to enrich and deepen your faith and to foster ministry among lay people.  For more information you can visit the national website: www.episcopalcursillo.org  and to learn about Cursillo in this area please contact the parish office.

ADULT SPIRITUAL FORMATION
Charged with enriching the spiritual life of our parish and developing programs that help members experience joyful relationships with God and the church community.  This committee is focused primarily on supporting prayer activities outside of the regular Sunday worship services.  This includes providing resources for developing personal prayer practices as well as providing opportunities for gathering as a prayer community.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL                July 23 - 27, 2012

VBS is a week long event for children aged 3 years -5th grade including not only those who attend our church, but invited guests of parishioners and even community members, as well.   The week is organized around a theme and utilizes a rotation model to enable the children to have opportunities to learn in various different settings and in different ways.  The main part of the program is the morning segment with an aftercare available for those needing childcare in the afternoon.  This is a wonderful chance for adults to spend a week doing something “out of the ordinary” with the parish children, and a chance for the youth to volunteer as well.  There are also multiple opportunities to volunteer in a “behind the scenes capacity.”  For more on this year’s VBS theme please refer to the parish newsletters beginning in January 2012.

For more information, please contact the parish office at 352.372.4721.