Adult Education

Wednesdays with Westminster will be under way again on January 16. This year, our meals are catered! Meals are very affordable at about $6.00 per person.

Our first offering on January 16 will be a presentation by Avshi Weinstein, one of the founders of Violins of Hope. The violins are a collection of about 50 instruments that were played by Jewish musicians during the Holocaust. They have survived concentration camps, ghettos, pogroms, and long journeys to tell remarkable stories of justice, suffering, resilience, and survival. We hope to have an opportunity to hear the instruments played. Please RSVP for this event by contacting Mary Boyd at marybwpc@gmail.com.

As an aside, there will be performances with the Knoxville Symphony on January 23 and 24, as well as an exhibit at the UT Downtown Gallery January 4-27.

Other upcoming events include presentations from our group who traveled to the Dominican Republic on a mission trip, the New Mexiquest travelers, our friend Jim Harb, who will talk about a recent visit to Palestine, Ann and Scott Brunger who will talk about Presbyterian missionaries based on their personal experiences, and Susan Fuhr, who will tell us about senior co-housing.

Ash Wednesday falls on March 6, 2019 with an Ash Wednesday service and imposition of ashes. On subsequent Wednesdays during Lent, we’ll have evening prayer services.

Dinner begins at 5:45, and lectures will begin at 6:30. Child care will be available for younger children, but older children are welcome to participate on the “lighter side” of things.

Come join our Companions in Christ women’s spirituality group that meets every Wednesday night from 6:30 to 8:00 in the Prayer Room! This group is always open to new people joining. Be on the look out for upcoming articles in the Abbey and bulletin concerning a new study to begin this fall. The class is committed to a study in community of spiritual development by choosing a relevant book, or, discussion and experiential practice of spiritual practices. They usually have scriptures, sometimes hymn singing, sometimes meditative time, and always prayer centered. We hope you will join the weekly gathering as they progress together on their spiritual journeys.

Twice a month on the 2nd and 4th Thursday mornings at 7:30 am a group of men from the church gather in the McKinnon room for a time of fellowship and learning. We start off with a light breakfast and then move into the lesson for the day. The lessons are prepared on a rotating basis amongst the group and the topics are very diverse. Here is a sample of some past topics: “Does God Take Sides?”, “Football, The Moral Hazard”, “Abe Lincoln – Infidel or Believer?”, “Who Stole the American Dream?”, “Why Don’t the Rich Give to Charity?”. The discussion is lively, thought-provoking, and humorous. Our pastors are part of the group and they join right in, often to referee and keep us on track. Come join us and bring a friend as we attempt to connect our faith and life.

Access this page at any time for a current schedule of meetings, lessons and announcements.  Each lesson will be attached to this page for your convenience to read and print a copy.

Next Meeting Date:  Thursday, November 9 at 7:30 a.m.

Breakfast will be served

Lesson: Jerry Carley will make a presentation consisting of a brief introduction about Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Collins is also an author who is interested in the relationship between science and health. Jerry will also show a video of Dr. Collins’s commencement address to the graduating class of 2017 at SMU.

We welcome any thoughts, suggestions, or ideas you may have about the group. Many thanks to all who are volunteering to present a lesson or provide breakfast for the group.  As always, remember, no reservation is necessary.

If you have questions, contact Larry Ridley at larry2543@gmail.com

 

A Bible study for women meets at two different times each month. Both groups use the PC(USA) Horizons Bible study curriculum.  This year, the study is entitled “Cloud of Witnesses: The Community of Christ in Hebrews” The first group meets at 10:00 a.m. on the first Thursday morning of each month in the SHOW room. The second group does exactly the same study, but meets on the fourth Monday evening at 7:00 p.m. in the McKinnon Room. Contact Mary Boyd for more information.

This congenial group meets on the third Tuesday of each month to discuss an assigned book. Join them in the library at 10:30 for great conversation. Contact the church office or check the Abbey for the current book title.

For a complete updated listing of adult Sunday school classes, visit the Sunday school page.