Adult Spiritual Formation at

Grace St Paul's Episcopal Church

 July 2016
Sunday Mornings @ GSP
[There is no 9:00 am class on Sunday, July 3]
Exploring Today's Lectionary
Sunday, July 10 at 9:00 am
in the Bloom Education Center
One Sunday a month we provide an opportunity to discuss the Bible readings for that day in more depth in a small group setting. Come join us for a thoughtful but always lively conversation about scripture.
This month's discussion will be facilitated by Jim Franks. Jim serves on the ASF ministry team and on the GSP vestry.
The Nature of the Soul &
Near Death Experiences
Sunday, July 17 at 9:00 am
in the Bloom Education Center
What aspect of us endures when we die? What is the soul? This class will explore different understandings we have about the nature of the soul and how accounts of near death experiences inform our conceptions not only of the soul but the afterlife as well. 

Dr. Karen O. Borek teaches courses in religious studies at the University of 
Arizona and Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. She is returning this fall to Wesley to teach a course on the afterlife in world religions.
What Is An Anthem and Why Is It Eating My Cereal?—and Other Musical Musings
Sunday, July 24 at 9:00 am
in the Bloom Education Center
Christina Jarvis will lead an informative frolic through the peculiarities of Episcopal church music for the bemused parishioner. Join us for what is guaranteed to be a lively and engaging presentation!

Christina Jarvis, Music Director at Grace St. Paul's since 2002, is an associate
 faculty member at Cochise College, where she teaches voice and co-directs Nuevo Mundo, an early music ensemble.
How Can We Build A Future at GSP?—Planned Giving
Sunday, July 31 at 9:00 am
in the Bloom Education Center
Are you curious about ways you might help to fund a future for Grace St Paul's? Or why it is important to have a will, no matter what your age? Do you want to leave a gift to GSP but are concerned about current income? Our Legacy Society committee members will explore why end-of-life planning is important for the people and 
communities we love, and we will review the nuts-and-bolts -- the methods of planned giving.

Laurie Camm is a Certified Financial Planner™ and chair of the GSP Legacy Society Committee.
St Brigid of Kildare with Guinness
Sermons on Tap is Back!
Sunday, July 24 at 11:45 am in the Bloom Education Center
Join like-minded folks for an open discussion of the day's sermon over beer and sandwiches? This informal and relaxed small group is for anyone with a desire to connect more deeply with others and a willingness to explore their own questions about how we live into the "good news" as preached at GSP.

No need to register, come anytime.

Beer, iced tea, and a light lunch will be available. Donations will be accepted to cover the costs of lunch .
NEW! Summer Movies @ GSP
Summer Film Series:
The Way of the Pilgrim
Friday, July 15 at 6:30 pm
in the Bloom Education Center
Join us on the third Friday of each month during the summer for a free film and discussion. In July, we'll view THE WAY (2010), a powerful and inspirational story about family, friends and the challenges we face while navigating this ever-changing and complicated world. Martin Sheen plays Tom, an irascible American doctor who comes to France to deal with the tragic loss of his son. Rather than return home, Tom decides to embark on the historical pilgrimage "The Way of St. James" to honor his son's desire to finish the journey. Through unexpected and oftentimes amusing experiences along "The Way," Tom discovers the difference between "the life we live and the life we choose.”
Our theme this summer is "pilgrimage" and the many ways we might find ourselves on unexpected journeys—journeys that lead us to new ways of seeing and being in the world. Look for a special collaboration with the GSP Spirit Players in August! 
Book Discussions @ GSP
GSP Readers Group
Friday, July 8 at 9:30 am
in the Bloom Education Center
[Note: This group now meets on
the 2nd Friday of each month]

The book we're reading for July is The Little Paris Bookshop: A Novel by Nina George. From his floating bookstore in a barge on the Seine, Monsieur Perdu prescribes novels for the hardships of life. Using his intuitive feel for the exact book a reader needs, Perdu mends broken hearts and souls. The only person he can't seem to heal through literature is himself. The Little Paris Bookshop is a love letter to books, meant for anyone who believes in the power of stories to shape people's lives.

All are welcome. No registration necessary. For more information, please contact the church office at 327-6857.
Understanding Scripture @ GSP
For Everyone: Coffee, Bagels
and Bible Stuff
Every Thursday beginning July 7 from 7:30-8:30 am in McBride Hall

Join a diverse group in a discussion of the 1 Corinthians. In our second year many are attending their first bible study and are enjoying the attempt to put the weekly readings into historical prospective while finding current application. All materials are provided. Drop-ins are welcome, and we start and end on time.

Formerly a group for men, this class now welcomes everyone!

Facilitated by Bill Moore, GSP Junior Warden.
Bible Women
2 Fridays, July 1 & 15 from 10:30-11:30 am in the Weeks Room

Where are the voices of women in the Bible? What do they have to say to us about our own lives? This class studies the Bible through the words of women in the Old and New Testaments. The focus is on actual scripture and its contexts; an optional text, Bible Women: All Their Words and Why They Matter by Lindsay Hardin Freeman, is available from Amazon in softcover ($22) or Kindle ($9.99). The group meets twice a month on the 1st and 3rd Friday. No registration is necessary and participants are welcome to join the group at any time.

For more information contact Vicki Stefani, 520-743-3978 or here.
Weekly Small Groups @ GSP
Sharing Our Spiritual Journeys
Summer Schedule for June-Aug:
1st and 3rd Mondays from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm in the Bloom Education Center
[Note: No meeting on Mon, July 4]

In this small group we share what matters most to us as followers of Jesus and how we practice this in our individual lives and the life of our community. Each meeting focuses on a different intersection between spirituality and religion, and the conversation always takes us where the Spirit guides.

Each session stands alone and all are welcome. No registration is necessary.

Co-facilitated by Catherine Penn Williams, Brian Arthur and Jim Franks.
Saturday Java Jive:
Coffee & Conversation
Every Saturday from 8:30-11:00 am at Epic Cafe (745 N 4th Ave, at University Blvd)

Want to meet and get to know folks in a relaxed and friendly environment? All are welcome to join this long-running motley crew that meets every Saturday morning for coffee and conversation. We never know who will show up, the topic is always up for grabs and hilarity often ensues.
Other Community Programs of Interest
Wisdom's Way School:
A Two-Year Interfaith Program
Now accepting applications for Sept 2016 program!
Looking for a safe place to explore spirituality. . .from a wide variety of perspectives? Want to expand your understanding of other faiths? Yearning to open your heart and soul to more? Seeking a community of soulful pilgrims? Consider applying for Wisdom's Way School, a 2-year Interfaith program meeting the 2nd Saturday from September to June in the Phoenix area. Check out the website for more details and click on Wisdom School. Accepting applications now.