ADULT LEARNING & FELLOWSHIP
Monthly
Adult Forum
On the first Sunday of each month after worship is an opportunity to connect and grow through topics like aging, grief, transitions, intercultural development, mental health, art, spiritual practices, and current events. Together, we explore rhythms and new ways to support one another while learning practical ways to live well—spiritually, intellectually, emotionally, socially, and physically.
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Led by SOTH member, Rick Newswanger, whose art has been on display this summer in the Adult Forum room. Rick will be speaking about a series of paintings that look at the many sorts of houses and dwellings that our ancestors built and lived in. Across history and across cultures, our homes show much that we share in common. We will also have a conversation about re-kindling interests in arts and crafts.
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No Adult Forum during Labor Day Weekend
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John Owen presents Livestrong’s Survivorship as a field of study with resources available through Livestrong, the mindset of dealing with all of the challenges from the day of diagnosis, and getting second, third and even fourth opinions to the importance of clinical trials, which only a small percentage of adults take advantage of.
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Care Team facilitates on Mental Health topics.
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Art Gallery for Advent from members’ collections.
Women of SOTH (WoSOTH)
Women of all ages gather together twice a year — Christmas Tea in December and in April, a breakfast with a time of connection and guest speaker.
Men of SOTH (MoSOTH)
Men meet most second Saturdays during the year for breakfast and fellowship. A men’s coffee group meets Wednesdays at 9:00 am for conversation and community.
Weekly
Word on Wednesday (WOW) - Bible Studies
The morning group gathers at 9:30 a.m. for coffee, treats, and fellowship before beginning at 10am every Wednesday. This longstanding tradition at Shepherd offers a weekly pastoral-led Bible study based on the following Sunday’s sermon text. There is no preparation necessary and all are welcome.
Pray Without Ceasing (PWC)
Wednesdays at 11:00 a.m. after WOW, participate in a 30-minute informal and non-partisan service of prayer and community in the sanctuary.
Story Circle & Faith Lab
Experiment Boldly -- One Church for All Generations? This fall, our Wednesday night Evening WoW Bible Study and Confirmation will combine as part of an exciting new opportunity called Story Circle & Faith Lab where we explore how God's Story connects to our stories across generations. Inspired by a "one-room schoolhouse" approach, children, youth, and adults will gather to explore Old Testament stories together before breaking into age-specific groups for discussion and activities. Together, we'll discover who God is, ask honest questions, and explore how these ancient stories continue to shape our lives today. If your household would be interested in helping or participating in Story Circle & Faith Lab, Aym wants to hear from you as our Learn Team plans this new intergenerational experience.
5:30p (future meal possibility)
6:15p Story Circle for all-ages engaging the Bible Story
6:30p Faith Lab breakouts for children, teens (Confirmation) and adults
7:00p Story Circle for all ages with collective sharing that includes Bible Timeline art from Confirmation
7:15p Dismissal followed by high school check in, play and service projects until 8:00pm
Reading
Online Book Discussion
Read and discuss Pastor Yolanda’s book, “See Me, Believe Me: A Guide to Deepen Allyship with Congregational Leaders of Color” via Zoom 7:00-8:00 p.m, weekly on Mondays —September 21 through October 27.
From A Church Anew Book Series: Interview with Rev. Dr. Yolanda Denson-Byers, this book "is meant to help navigate avoidable instances of personal, or institutional racism, and open up vulnerable and honest dialogue about how to make churches more actively anti-racist and welcoming to leaders and neighbors of color... I have now learned that this book is also helpful to anyone who has a person of color in their life for whom they care. There are over 75 action items in the book that can be helpful to any cross-cultural relationship one may have."
We will read two chapters a week and dialogue about what we're learning -- to acknowledge ignorance, respect boundaries, join in celebration and lament, offer reparations, and continue doing our own work to dismantle racism and live into the fullness of loving God and neighbor. Sign-up at the Welcome Desk or emailing Aym for the Zoom link.
SOTH Book Club
People are welcome to come to one or multiple offerings, regardless of how much of the book they have finished reading, every third Sunday 11:00a - 12:00p in the chapel. Books chosen for the coming year have an overall theme of "Neighboring Through Stories” and invite participants to ask, "How do we become better neighbors by learning someone else's story?" Copies of the books are available on the book club shelf in the library if needed.
August 16: The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, by Rachel Joyce
September 20: The Power of One, by Bryce Courtenay (late start at 12p after God’s Work, Our Hands)
October 18: The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir, by Kao Kalian Yang