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Ask Class
The ASK Class (Ask, Seek, Knock) will be taking up the exciting (if a bit daunting!) task of “Understanding the New Testament.” Our teacher will be David Brakke, who holds the Joe R. Engle Chair in the History of Christianity and is a Professor of History at Ohio State University. We will view him on video from The Great Courses. The half-hour lectures will leave us with another 30 minutes each week to discuss what we have heard. Dr. Brakke begins the series with a discussion of how the New Testament came to assume its form of 27 books, and the Jewish origins that formed Jesus’ own religious background and against which Christianity developed. He then proceeds to talk about the books of the New Testament in the order of their composition, beginning with the letters of Paul. This chronological examination results in an understanding of the history, thinking, and practices of the early church. This will be a fascinating course that will help us to better understand our own faith and its traditions.
This class is facilitated by Ann Massie. This class will resume on January 16 and will meet on Zoom each Sunday at 9:45 AM. For more information, email Ann @ massiea@wlu.edu or via Realm.
Koinonia Class
Through various written materials, this class engages in discussions that attempt to make our faith current and alive right where we are.
This January the Koinonia class will begin reading “Searching for Sunday,” by Racheal Held Evans.
Like millions, Rachel Held Evans didn't want to go to church anymore. The hypocrisy, the politics, the gargantuan building budgets, the scandals--church culture seemed so far removed from Jesus. Yet, despite her cynicism and misgivings, something kept drawing her back to Church. And so she set out on a journey to understand Church and to find her place in it.
Centered around seven sacraments, Evans' quest takes readers through a liturgical year with stories about baptism, communion, confirmation, confession, marriage, vocation, and death that are funny, heartbreaking, and sharply honest.
A memoir about making do and taking risks, about the messiness of community and the power of grace, Searching for Sunday is about overcoming cynicism to find hope and, somewhere in between, Church.
This book is an invitation to give a heartfelt ode to the past and hopeful gaze into the future of what it truly means to be a part of the Church.
This class is facilitated by Jan Hathorn and will meet both in-person (rm 113) and on Zoom each Sunday at 9:45 AM beginning January 16. For more information, email Jan @ hathornj@wlu.edu or via Realm.
Parents of School-Aged Children and Young Adult Class
Our curriculum for the 2021-22 year is PC (USA)’s “Feasting on the Word”, based upon the Revised Common Lectionary. Each week we will explore a different Bible passage aligned with the lectionary and with the children's Sunday School classes. We will discuss the implications of the passage for our lives and share our common experiences as parents. There is no homework or outside reading associated with this class and all the lessons can stand on their own allowing for those with busy schedules to come as they are able to do so. The class will meet in the library and will begin a few minutes after Children's Sunday school starts and will end in time for us to pick up our children from their classes.
This class is facilitated by Abbott Keesee and will meet in-person each Sunday @ 9:50 AM in the Church Library once the children return to in person Sunday school. The anticipated start date for this class is January 16. For more information, email Abbott @ abbottkeesee@gmail.com or via Realm.
Theology Class
The Theology Class promotes serious discussion of important theological issues. Everyone contributes their own views as we work to understand texts by leading theologians. All who are interested in exploring and wrestling with theological questions are welcome to attend, and particularly any new members.
This fall the group will “re-start” the H. Richard Niebuhr book, The Responsible Self
The great theologian's delineation of the principles and fundamental character of the moral life focuses on the idea of responsibility as a guiding ideal.
This class is facilitated by Lad Session and will meet each Sunday at 9:45 AM in room D-5 – start date TBD. For more information, email Lad @ lad.sessions@gmail.com or via Realm.
Children Sunday School Classes
Pre K-K
Our Sunday School class for preschoolers and kindergartners introduces children to our Faith through Bible stories, prayer, songs, games, crafts, coloring, and even Play-Doh! The Beginner’s Bible and its accompanying curriculum is the foundation of the class, and each family will receive a copy of this easy-to-read and colorfully illustrated Bible.
This class will be under the direction of Nancy Bidlack and taught by various members of our Sunday School Teaching Team. This class will resume on January 2 and meet each Sunday @ 9:30 AM via Zoom. For more information, email Nancy Bidlack @ nancybidlack@hotmail.com or via Realm.
Faith Village Grades 1-5
Faith Villagers in Grades 1 through 5 will join for Bible stories, singing, faith activities, crafts, prayer, and a sense of service. We explore the stories given to us in Scripture, our purpose as God’s children in this community and the world, and the meaning of our friendship with each other and with Jesus Christ.
Our curriculum for the 2021-22 year is PC (USA)’s “Feasting on the Word”, based upon the Revised Common Lectionary. This allows us to connect with the day’s sermon and adult classes, so that families may talk together at home about the day’s lessons.
This class will be under the direction of Poppy Orendorf and taught by various members of our Sunday School Teaching Team. This class will resume on January 2 and meet each Sunday @ 9:50 AM via Zoom. For more information, email Poppy Orendorf @ orencorp@verizon.net or via Realm.
*Pre-K and Faith Village classes plan to be in-person on January 16. Please look to your weekly newsletters for the most up-to-date information.
Youth Sunday School Class
Youth Sunday School offers middle and high schoolers the opportunity, through study and fellowship, to learn what it means to be a follower of Christ in today's world and build community. The teaching team will use various curriculum to offer our youth an adventure of affirmation and exploration focusing on embracing and validating the tough faith questions youth often wrestle with during their unique season of life.
Join us as we journey and explore what it means to be bold in faith, fearless in life, and make an important difference as they serve each other, the church, and community.
This class will be led by Andy Coffey and his teaching team. This class will meet beginning January 2 and will meet each Sunday in-person @ 9:45 AM in the Youth Sunday School room. For more information, email Andy Coffey @ acoffey@lexpres.org or via Realm.
Mid-Week Class Offerings
Campus Ministry “Exploration” Class
During the latter part of this past autumn, Kelly-Ann Rayle launched and led a Bible study that brought together a few members of the congregation and students from Washington and Lee. Numbering eight or nine folks altogether, the group met on Thursday evenings between October 14 and December 2. Each session began with a meal prepared by Skip Hess, after which the students and the (somewhat older) adults pored over the Presbyterian Outlook curriculum, “Testimony: Vocabulary of Faith.” The curriculum consisted of six sections, starting with “Who is God?” and “Who are We?” (Imago Dei) followed by key concepts of Covenant between God and People, Grace, Love, and Christian Community. The group initially met outdoors in the courtyard, but as daylight hours diminished and evenings grew cooler, they moved indoors to Dunlap Auditorium and wore masks except while actively eating. This small group enjoyed a warm inter-generational fellowship and learned a lot from each other. The participants are very grateful to Kelly-Ann for starting this Bible study. The group intends to undertake an examination of C.S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity in the winter.
In the classic Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis, the most important writer of the 20th century, explores the common ground upon which all of those of Christian faith stand together. Bringing together Lewis’ legendary broadcast talks during World War II from his three previous books The Case for Christianity, Christian Behavior, and Beyond Personality, Mere Christianity provides an unequaled opportunity for believers and nonbelievers alike to hear this powerful apologetic for the Christian faith.
This class will be facilitated by Campus Ministry teaching team (Rich Bidlack, Ann Massie, Julie Hammond, and Liz Ramsey. This class will resume on January 20 and meet each Thursday evening for dinner @ 5:45 PM in Dunlap Fellowship Hall and study and reflection @ 6:15 PM in room D-2. For more information, email Hannah Kearns @ hannah.kearns8@gmail.com or via Realm.
Leah-Ruth Circle
Are you familiar with Circles in the Presbyterian world?
· A Circle is group of women who meet for fellowship, sometimes a mission, Bible study and other interests or activities.
· Circles are not what one thinks of a traditional Christian Education environment, though it is a wonderful place to learn. Circles are groups that build community, affirm women’s calls to leadership and spiritual growth, raise concerns, and channel information throughout the church. They are a great way for women to connect with one another in a smaller, more intimate setting.
· A Circle is a place where faith is nurtured, and growth takes place through worship, study, friendship, and outreach.
· Leah-Ruth Circle has a coordinating person to handle communications and scheduling; members take turns voluntarily leading the monthly discussion that follows the Upper Room Disciplines book of daily devotions, or they address a topic/scripture/reading that is current and relevant.
· Leah-Ruth Circle also has some specific projects they coordinate (Christmas cookie baking/delivery to shut ins, Jesse Tree, and a few members participate in the Habitat Women’s Build).
· The Circle takes a voluntary monetary contribution; decisions about spending and need are jointly determined by members.
The Leah-Ruth Circle meets monthly from September through June, in person, during the day. Meetings are held at the church on the second Wednesday of each month at 2:00 pm. There are about 30 members in total but generally about half that number attend any given meeting. Everyone enjoys the fellowship and Bible study. There is no firm structure to the Leah-Ruth Circle at LexPres, and participation is welcoming and casual.
It is in our Circle that church acquaintances become good friends and a support group. Feel free and welcome to visit Leah-Ruth Circle to see if it fits your time and interests. Reach out to Debbie Pollard (703) 919-1386 or via Realm if you would like more information.
Lectio Divina Bible Study
Lectio Divina is the practice of reading scripture, meditating, and praying. Traditionally, it has four separate steps: read, meditate, pray, contemplate. It is not intended to be a study of God's Word but rather a way for each person reading or meditating to experience God's Word for them. We invite you to experience this contemplative time of listening, meditation, and discussion with us.
This class is facilitated by Mary Ellena Ward and meets each Tuesday @ 10:00 AM on Zoom. For more information, email Mary Ellena @ meward@termineigh.com or via Realm.
Explore Class
This class meets at various times throughout the year for three sessions to do just what the name implies, explore. We spend time considering what it means to be Christian, what it means to be a Presbyterian Christian, and finally what it means to be a member of the Lexington Presbyterian Church. This class is truly an occasion to explore. When the classes are concluded the hope is that you will choose to join this church...but that is not a foregone conclusion. Anyone interested in knowing more about our theological background is encouraged to explore together. For more information about when the class will be scheduled, contact Tom Groome @ tgroome@lexpres.org or via Realm.
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