Sunday Adult Formation: Living as a 'Called Out' People.

Thursday, January 5, 2023, 4:33 PM

January 8, 15, 22, 29, February 12, & 19, in the church library and on Zoom

The Greek word “ekklēsia” in the New Testament, usually translated as “church,” literally means “called out.” It refers to Jesus-people as ones who are called to live in a way that is not just “business as usual” by society’s normal standards. They’re called to make a difference! During Sunday Adult Formation in the Season after the Epiphany, we’ll explore various aspects of that ‘difference.’

January 8 – “Start with Soccer, and then ….” Greg and Lisa Herring will share the story and impact of the Boxwood Soccer Club, Path to Shine, Partner in Education

with Brewer Elementary School, and East Carver Heights Community Development Corp.

January 15 – “CVEM – 40 years of making a difference” Malinda Shamburger, Executive Director of Chattahoochee Valley Episcopal Ministry, will reintroduce us to CVEM’s mission to engage Episcopalians “to learn, connect and act to fight inequity and build strong communities,” in which St. Thomas Church has been a longtime partner.

January 22 – “The Concert Hall as Church” Maestro Paul Hostetter, the Ethel Foley Distinguished Chair in Orchestral Activities for the Schwob School of Music, Columbus State University, will apply his conducting experience and insights to how we can better function as “church.”

January 29, February 12 and 19 – “When ‘Purity Culture’ Contaminates” Joanna and Evan Collins, doctoral candidates in Counseling at Auburn University, will lead an exploration of the unintended, problematic consequences of the ‘Purity Culture’ movement within certain parts of Evangelical Christianity, which encourages youth to make a public pledge of ‘sexual abstinence’ before marriage. This indeed encourages Christians to be “different” -- BUT some differences can cause harm down the road. How can we better appreciate and foster God’s good gifts of sex and sexuality in a responsible way?

(Please attend the St. Thomas Annual Parish Meeting at 9:30 on Sunday, Feb 5. There will be NO Sunday Adult Formation session that day.)