Adult Education for 2022-23
Owning Your Theology: How Our Thoughts about God and Faith Affect Our Lives and Relationships
The way we think about God, faith, and religion affects the way we navigate the world every day. Theology isn’t just something academics and clergy think about, it also includes the daily habits that shape our lives and the ways all of us embody our beliefs in our homes, relationships, work, and communities. Christians share various theological beliefs, but we each “own” them in individual ways. Gather with others in adult education this year as we consider how theology animates and enlivens our hearts, heads, and hands in the real world, including its impact on the ways we engage the big issues of our day like racial reconciliation, isolation and connection, complex family relationships, and caring for creation.
Join Adult Education from September 2022 – May 2023 on Sundays at 9:15 am in person and through Livestream beginning, and watch previous classes on the church’s YouTube channel.
The Bible Then and Now
This occasional multi-week class explores themes from the Bible that relate to how we live out our faith. By looking deeper into the ways the Bible first spoke in its original cultural settings, we are better prepared to think faithfully and creatively about what Christian belief should be now, in our culture.
A new class coming in September 2022. Read about past classes.
Small Groups
Small groups at Westminster foster deepening faith, offer new insights to our changing world, and provide opportunities for broader connection in our community. Many groups are open throughout the year to new members, and are listed below.
Third Age
A monthly small group exploring the joys and challenges of life’s third age will meet for six months to read and share together about their experiences. The group will rotate leadership. Contact the Rev. David Tsai Shinn to join or to learn more.
Sunday Sermon Discussion
A weekly small group discussion of the Sunday sermons, possibly over a shared meal. Discussion leadership could rotate among group members and a set of possible discussion questions will be provided. A 6-week initial commitment is encouraged.
Couples Small Group
A regular (weekly or bi-monthly) couples small group meeting to fellowship together and offer support and prayer for the many seasons of a long-term relationship. A 6-month initial commitment is encouraged.
LGBTQ
An LGBTQ small group continues to meet weekly and is open to new participants. This group is led by Terry McEowen.
Women’s Ministry Small Groups
Women’s Ministry is interested in initiating a couple of new small groups. Potential groups include one focusing on how grandparents can nurture the faith of their grandchildren, one that regularly gathers socially to welcome new women-identifying people in our community, and/or one that meets regularly to create together, including arts, crafts, and other making opportunities.
Men’s Ministry Small Groups
There is interest in expanding the number of small groups offered through men’s ministries. The existing men’s small groups have offered to walk alongside potential new groups to share their patterns and tips for success.
Moms Group
Join moms with children of all ages for guided conversation and fellowship. This fall will center on the book Only Love Today: Reminders to Breathe More, Stress Less, and Choose Love, by Rachel Macy Stafford. Led by Marie Kruskop, this group meets on Wednesday Mornings.
Family Matters
Family Matters is open to parents and caregivers with children of any age. This fall the group will look at Search Institute’s findings on building (and maintaining) strong parent-child relationships. This group meets on Sunday mornings and is led by Marie Kruskop.
All-Church Book Read (returning January 2023)
Please join us to read and discuss a book together in January. The January 2022 All-Church Book Read was the 2021 winner of the Pulitzer Prize for fiction, Louise Erdrich’s The Night Watchman.
Lenten Covenant Groups
During Lent, Westminster hosts Covenant Groups as a way for our community to deepen our spiritual journey during the six weeks of Lent. Groups typically meet during the Adult Education hour on Sunday mornings (9:15 am) or pre-existing groups transition into a Lenten Covenant Group for six weeks (such as WestConnect, Moms Group, small groups, etc.). In 2022 the theme is: “Belonging in the Silence of Lent: Prayer, Study, Self-examination, Focus, Letting Go.”
Mini-Pilgrimages
Content experts from the Westminster community have developed a series of self-guided educational tours around the Twin Cities to significant sights with accompanying interpretive and devotional materials to help learners dig deeper. Learn more.