The goal of adult ministry is to form mature disciples of Jesus Christ in word and in deed. Through a variety of classes that incorporate a diversity of learning styles, adults at Idlewild come to know Christ’s love, peace, and justice through study of scripture, spiritual practice, literature, fellowship, and critical engagement with contemporary issues. At Idlewild, the questions are as important as the answers, and faith is understood as a lifelong journey.
Associate Pastor
901-259-4357
sdorrien@idlewildchurch.org
Faith and Function – Starting Aug 22 – Room 303W and on Zoom
The Faith & Function class hosts visiting scholars who lead us in exploring the origins, contexts, themes, meanings, and impact of the Bible, both throughout history and in our own time. Although our speakers present a variety of topics, all of them fall within the parameters of Scriptural study.
Fall Topics include: The Bible and the Quar’an, The New Testament, Doubt as a Spiritual Practice, Anti-Semitism, and Why Can’t Church be more like AA?.
Stephen Class – Starting Sept 12 – Room 301W
In memory of the two founders, John and Elaine Whitaker, this class will focus on the short stories the Whitaker’s chose as the original focus of the class. All short stories can be found in The Best American Short Stories of the Century by John Updike.
SEPT 12: Katherine Anne Porter’s Theft
SEPT 19: Richard Wright’s Bright and Morning Star
SEPT 26: Vladimir Nabokov’s That in Aleppo Once…
OCT 3: Elizabeth Bishop’s The Farmer’s Children
OCT 10: John Cheever’s The Country Husband
OCT 17: Flannery O’Connor’s Greenleaf
OCT 24: Philip Roth’s Defender of the Faith
OCT 31: Isaac Bashevis Singer’s The Key
NOV 7: Saul Bellow’s A Silver Dish
NOV 14: Cynthia Ozick’s The Shawl
NOV 21: Raymond Carver’s Where I’m Calling From
NOV 28: Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried
DEC 5: Alice Munro’s Meneseteung
DEC 12: Robert Penn Warren’s Christmas Gift
DEC 19: Alice Elliott Dark’s In the Gloaming
Tuesdays from 9:00-10:00 a.m.
Starting Colossians Sept 21st!
N.T. Wright’s commentary: Paul: The Prison Letters-Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. (available through Amazon)
Conveners: Ted Mealor and Jim McClanahan
4th Thursdays at 2 PM except where stated.
August 26th selection: Becoming Mrs Lewis by Patti Callahan.
September 23rd selection: Death in Holy Order by PD James.
Facilitators: Joyce Webber & Dana Brandon
Wednesdays 10:00 am 303W
September – Profiles of U.S. Vice Presidents – led by Jody Hopkins
October – Foundations of the U.S. Constitution – led by Lucie Bridgforth
November – Conspiracy Theories – led by Ferrell Varner
First Tuesday of the Month 7pm
September – November at Andi Hill’s home
Formally known as the Multi-Gen Circle, this group is geared towards women of all ages. They meet for Bible study and fellowship.
