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.
This is a lecture-style Bible Study guided by teachers of scripture. This class explores biblical texts rooted in the times in which they were told and crafted. A careful attention to context illumines new meaning and the function of the stories for people of faith today.
August 21 – Kendra Hotz Why Jesus would take the bus
August 28 – Kendra Hotz Continued
September 4 – Jim McClanahan The Colorful Quilt of American Religion: American Religious Groups
September 11 – Jim McClanahan Continued
September 18 – Janel Bakker Mission as Repair: Western Christianity and Slavery
September 25 – Janel Bakker Continued
October 2 – Ron Serino King Solomon’s Whiteness (Race and the Bible)
October 16 – Mitzi Minor Continued
October 23 – Mitzi Minor Continued
October 30 – Patrick Gray Genesis: In the Beginning and More Recently
November 6 – Patrick Gray Continued
November 13 – Patrick Gray Continued
November 20 – Patrick Gray Continued
November 27 – no class
December 4 – John Kaltner Births of the Messiah
December 11 – John Kaltner Continue
This class continues its engagement with words in the best short stories of the 20th century, The Best American Short Stories of the Century, edited by John Updike. Everyone who likes to read is encouraged to join us. Class members facilitate discussion of the short stories.
September 11
September 18
September 25
October 2
October 9
October 16
October 23
October 30
November 6
November 13
November 20
November 27
December 4
December 11
December 18
Little Selves by Mary Lerner
Blood-Burning Moon by Jean Toomer
Wild Plums by Grace Stone Coates
Here We Are by Dorothy Parker
Resurrection of a Life by William Saroyan
The Peach Stone by Paul Horgan
Death of a Favorite by J. F. Powers
The Resemblance Between a Violin Case and a Coffin by Tennessee Williams
The Ledge by Lawrence Sargent Hall
Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? by Joyce Carol Oates
How to Win by Rosellen Brown
Verona: A Young Woman Speaks by Harold Brodkey
The Way We Live Now by Susan Sontag
Birthmates by Jen Gish
Selected by the class at a later date
This welcoming class invites parents of babies to fifth graders to come together to explore what it might look like to grow into becoming Micah 6:8 parents. How do we live out scripture’s calling for ourselves and encourage our children to do, love, and walk humbly? Join us for discussion, a deepening of friendships with one another, and prayer.
