Summer Study Series

Our youth and adults gather together in the summer months for joint Christian education - a great opportunity to  learn from each other.  Recent summer studies have included "Cross Walk America," which encompassed a walking/exercise program with a study of progressive Christianity, and "The Christian Response to Violence," a study of the work of Deiterich Bonhoeffer.

For summer 2011, our focus will be:

Forgiveness: A Christian Response to God’s Merciful Love

Each Sunday morning in July and August we will gather in the Fellowship Room for a variety of activities inspired by this summer’s final Union Avenue Opera entitled “Dead Man Walking.”  This production is based on the book of the same name by Sister Helen Prejean, detailing her experiences working with inmates on death row and raises questions about justice, forgiveness, prison reform, and what it means to forgive.

The schedule of Sunday morning (9:20-10:30) activities includes:

July 3 - Viewing and discussion of part one of the documentary “Beyond Belief,” which details two 9-11 widows who choose to respond to the terrorist attacks not with a call for revenge but by reaching out to help widows suffering in Afghanistan. Led by Tom Stockdale.

July 10 - Viewing and discussion of part two of “Beyond Belief.”

July 17 - Part one of a Bible study focused on the question “How Can I forgive?”

July 24 - Part two of a Bible study focused on the question “How Can I Forgive?”

July 31 - Guest Speaker: Lerone Martin, Assistant Professor of American Religious History and Culture at Eden Theological Seminary, will share his experiences working with prison populations from a theological perspective.  Professor Martin will also join us in worship as guest preacher.

Aug 7 - Guest speaker Martin Towey, representing Missourians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty will share with us about the work of MADP and his story of being a family member of a murder victim.

Aug 14 - Preview of the Union Avenue Opera’s production of “Dead Man Walking” including an overview of the story, characters, themes, and music.

Aug 21  - Part one of a discussion of Christian responses to violent crime and the death penalty.

Aug 28 - Part two of a discussion of Christian responses to violent crime and the death penalty.

Sept 4 - Intergenerational art experience focused on the theme of “Forgiveness.”