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Adult Education |
As Christians, we are called to “grow into the full stature of Christ.” We grow in all kinds of ways: by participating in sacramental worship; by prayer and private study; by reaching out in love; by sharing our lives with our brothers and sisters. At Saint David’s we encourage our members to do all of this and more.
But one of our particular strengths is adult education. Our priest earned a PhD in Church History and spent many years teaching religion at the college level. Locally, Fr. Harvey taught at Mount Holyoke College for two years, as well as courses at Smith College and Springfield College. Fr. Harvey brings that expertise to every class he teaches at Saint David’s.
Below is a partial list of our regular offerings, along with contact information for each.
We welcome all to join us.
But one of our particular strengths is adult education. Our priest earned a PhD in Church History and spent many years teaching religion at the college level. Locally, Fr. Harvey taught at Mount Holyoke College for two years, as well as courses at Smith College and Springfield College. Fr. Harvey brings that expertise to every class he teaches at Saint David’s.
Below is a partial list of our regular offerings, along with contact information for each.
We welcome all to join us.
A Year with Luke (2022)
A group of us meet on Zoom on Tuesdays at 4:15 roughly every other week to talk about a chapter of Luke’s Gospel, along with a very accessible guide by N.T. Wright called Luke for Everyone. Our November meetings are tentatively scheduled for the 8th and the 22nd on Zoom. Please join us!
We will finish Luke in December. That means we will have to decide if we want to continue into 2023 and, if so, what we’ll read and discuss. If you are interested in joining the group next year and/or have suggestions for what we might do, please let Fr. Harvey know.
Lent Bible Study
Sunday mornings from 11:45 to no later than 1:00.
We’ll meet every Sunday in Lent except March 11, when we’ll be at Church without walls.
Please mark your calendars and join us if you can!
We’ll meet every Sunday in Lent except March 11, when we’ll be at Church without walls.
Please mark your calendars and join us if you can!
The Reformation at 500: What It Meant and What It Means
On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of a Church, inaugurating the Protestant Reformation and changing the face of Christianity forever. This fall, we will acknowledge the 500th anniversary of that momentous event with a session (or short series, depending on interest) on the Reformation: What It Meant and What It Means. On Sunday, September 17, we’ll gather after the 10:00 service (so about 11:45) for a session called "Shattering Christendom." In it, we will discuss the break-up of Christendom and the uneasy progress towards mutual toleration. We will end with conversation about how Christians think about other types of Christians, and how Christians think about other religions.
If there is interest, we will have additional sessions on "The Big Ideas" of the Reformation (9/24) and "The Middle Way: The English Reformation" (10/15).
If there is interest, we will have additional sessions on "The Big Ideas" of the Reformation (9/24) and "The Middle Way: The English Reformation" (10/15).
Bible Study
Parish Bible Study led by Fr. Harvey, every Friday at 1:00
Roughly ten of us gather each week in our community room for an hour. We work through different biblical books one passage at a time, sharing our insights and learning from each other. We are currently working our way through the Old Testament, book of Daniel. We always close with a brief prayer. Contact Fr. Harvey for more information.
Men’s Bible Study, every Monday at 7:00
The Men’s Bible Study meets on Monday nights in the Community Room. We are a small group of between 4 to 8 men who enjoy some great camaraderie while working together to learn from God’s word. Our meetings begin at 7 PM and usually run an hour to an hour and a half. We would welcome new members both experienced and new study participants for your knowledge and individual insight. A lot of smiles and laughter (along with prayer) are usual parts of our evening. Please join us.
Roughly ten of us gather each week in our community room for an hour. We work through different biblical books one passage at a time, sharing our insights and learning from each other. We are currently working our way through the Old Testament, book of Daniel. We always close with a brief prayer. Contact Fr. Harvey for more information.
Men’s Bible Study, every Monday at 7:00
The Men’s Bible Study meets on Monday nights in the Community Room. We are a small group of between 4 to 8 men who enjoy some great camaraderie while working together to learn from God’s word. Our meetings begin at 7 PM and usually run an hour to an hour and a half. We would welcome new members both experienced and new study participants for your knowledge and individual insight. A lot of smiles and laughter (along with prayer) are usual parts of our evening. Please join us.
The 2019 Bible Project
Began the New Year by our journey through the entire New Testament in 2019. We read one chapter every weekday. That's all there was to it - easy, right? So why not make this a priority for the New Year. Pick up your bible and let's get started. Any questions, contact Fr. Harvey. God's blessing and peace to all!
The Hour Series
This is an occasional series when we tackle a major topic in an hour or less. In 2016, we had two sessions: The Bible Story; and The Prophets. In 2017, we will did the Gospels in an hour, and the Apostle Paul. Also, Church History in an Hour or Religion in America in an Hour. Please let Fr. Harvey know if there is a topic of particular interest to you, and we will include it in the next series.
The Episcopal Way
2018: This was a five part series designed to introduce participants to what it means to be an Episcopalian. Topics included: Scripture; Worship and the Prayerbook; Sacraments; the Baptismal Covenant; and a grab-bag session covering history, doctrine, and policy. We offered this series in the fall of 2017 and we did it again in 2018. The sessions were as follows:
Part 1: September 23: Our Foundation: Scripture - In our first session, we will discuss what Christians believe about the Bible, how the Bible works in our Church and in our lives, and in brief, what the Bible actually says.
Part 2: September 30: Our Book: Prayer and Spirituality - In this session, we will discuss how and why Christians pray, with particular attention to the Book of Common Prayer.
Part 3: October 28: Our Common Life: Worship and the Sacraments - In this session, we will talk about what the sacraments are, the role of the sacraments in our worship life, and what it means to have a "sacramental spirituality".
Part 4: November 25: Living Our Faith: The Baptismal Covenant - At baptism, we make promises about how we intend to live our lives. In this session, we will review thos promises and discuss Christian discipleship-what it means to follow Jesus.
Part 5: January 27: Our Tradition: Core Beliefs; Governance; History - In this session, we will discuss more specifically what the Episcopal Church teaches, how we are organized, and how we got to be who we are.
Part 1: September 23: Our Foundation: Scripture - In our first session, we will discuss what Christians believe about the Bible, how the Bible works in our Church and in our lives, and in brief, what the Bible actually says.
Part 2: September 30: Our Book: Prayer and Spirituality - In this session, we will discuss how and why Christians pray, with particular attention to the Book of Common Prayer.
Part 3: October 28: Our Common Life: Worship and the Sacraments - In this session, we will talk about what the sacraments are, the role of the sacraments in our worship life, and what it means to have a "sacramental spirituality".
Part 4: November 25: Living Our Faith: The Baptismal Covenant - At baptism, we make promises about how we intend to live our lives. In this session, we will review thos promises and discuss Christian discipleship-what it means to follow Jesus.
Part 5: January 27: Our Tradition: Core Beliefs; Governance; History - In this session, we will discuss more specifically what the Episcopal Church teaches, how we are organized, and how we got to be who we are.
Twelve Step Programs
Overeaters Anonymous Group meets twice a week during the week. Tuesdays at 9:30am and Thursdays at 10:00am
Narcotics Anonymous Group meets on Saturdays, 7:00 - 8:00pm
Al-Anon group. meets on Saturdays, 7:30 - 8:30pm
For more information about any of the twelve step programs, please contact the Church office.
Narcotics Anonymous Group meets on Saturdays, 7:00 - 8:00pm
Al-Anon group. meets on Saturdays, 7:30 - 8:30pm
For more information about any of the twelve step programs, please contact the Church office.
Seasonal Formation Programs
We have occasional series connected to particular seasons. Our last Advent Programs were on the Gospel of Matthew and on "Mere Christianity." Please contact Father Harvey for more information on future programs.
