I loved the course catalog in college. I realize it’s pretty nerdy, but I loved the idea that university classes served as a passageway into other peoples’ lives in history, other cultures, or other thought perspectives that I hadn’t considered before. Now, of course, this idealistic thinking got me into trouble when I took Chinese Humor in Poetry & Prose. That was a mistake. Even my peers who were Chinese didn’t seem to enjoy that class.
But other classes arrested my attention! One favorite was called Music, Art & Ideas. We listened to challenging music, like John Cage’s 4’33”. We discussed evocative paintings like Picasso’s Guernica, in which he portrayed the disturbing violence wrought by human aggression in war. These seminars eventually led me to grow into a young Christian man who wanted to help people who were wrestling with these big questions of life arrive at the only real, enduring hope that there is in the world.
Looking at our church’s Formation Forum "course catalog", I am inclined to under-promise with hopes to over-deliver. But I think we’ve got some solid offerings!
• Why Anglicanism? is first up, Jan 23-Feb 20. Nick and Jon Horner will facilitate this Forum, exploring what it is about Anglican theology, history and worship that’s potent in helping us to mature as followers of Jesus.
• Mar 13-Apr 10, the next Forum will be The Body, Gender & Sexuality. I’ll teach this one, along with a team of able facilitators, looking at the beauties and complexities of our sexuality, and how the nature of God and his kingdom informs human sexuality.
• Finally from Apr 24-May 22, our Forum, The Three-Strand Cord, will explore our desperate need for community, and the distinctives, power and beauty of Christian friendship, especially compared with secular understandings of friendship.
We’ll also offer Kids Formation classes for K-5th grade at the 10:00 Hour, and our middle and high school students will gather as well for some time to learn (Confirmation Class) and build relationships (Youth Room hang out).
It all kicks off at 10:00 AM on January 23. Ultimately, I pray that these opportunities will serve as a passageway “to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:19
Eric
