Exploring the Christian Story for Today

Exploring the Christian Story

We have selected a variety of excellent experiences for you - all designed to explore the Christian Story and its meaning for us today. We have developed our offerings to make it easy for you to find a program or activity or resource that best addresses how you want to learn and grow in your understand of the Christian Story and its applicability to life today. You can select from a variety of large group, small group, and on-your-own activities - some are in-person, some online formats, and some have in-person and online components. 

​The learning activities are organized into three types of experiences. We also offer programs that are for all adults. 
  • For adults who are just getting started or need a refresher: We have activities that introduce you to the Christian Story. Look for the activities with introducing or developing in the title. 
  • For adults who are growing: We have activities that help you grow in your understanding of the Christian Story. Look for activities with growing in the title.  
  • For adults who want to go deeper: We have activities that will deepen your knowledge of the Christian Story. Look for activities with going deeper in the title. 

Experience #1 (for all adults). The Christian Story for Today
a monthly exploration of the essentials of the Christian faith & what they mean today

Monthly Themes
  1. God Becomes Human
    (The Incarnation)
  2. Jesus Teaches us the Way
    (The Gospels)
  3. Jesus Dies and Rises
    (The Paschal Mystery)
  4. The Holy Spirit Inspires & Sustains
    (Living the Mission)
  5. The Church Witnesses 
    (The Community of Disciples)
  6. We Worship God
    (Liturgy and Sacraments)
  7. We Live to Love
    (Moral Living)
  8. We Serve & Act for Justice
    (Social Responsibility)
  9. We Pray
    (Intimacy with God) ​​
Choose How You Want to Participate
  • Join us in-person on Thursday morning at 10 am or Thursday evening at 7 pm in the church center for the live presentation
  • Watch the experience streamed live on YouTube Live. 
  • Join a monthly small group to watch the video and use the study guide questions to discuss the presentation. ​​
  • Watch the video on-your-own on our website.​

Experience #2 (getting started or need a refresher). 
​An Invitation to the Christian Story - The Alpha Experience

Join Us for Session 1 to see if Alpha is for you. 

Alpha groups are scheduled for Sessions 2-11 in two formats:  
  • In-person on Friday evening at 7 pm or Sunday Evening at 6 pm in the church center
  • Online using Zoom and the Alpha Online ​​version.​
Everyone will gather together for the Weekend Retreat. 
Alpha is a series of sessions exploring the Christian faith. Each talk looks at a different question around faith and is designed to create conversation. You will explore Christianity in a relaxed, welcoming and engaging atmosphere that allows you to explore the claims of Christ against the backdrop of our culture. Alpha provides an opportunity to encounter the love of God in a personal relationship through Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. Alpha focuses on the basic tenants of Christianity. Each session explores a particular question: 
  1. Introduction Dinner: Is there more to life than this?
  2. Who is Jesus?
  3. Why did Jesus die?
  4. How can we have faith?
  5. Why and how do I pray?
  6. Why and how should I read the Bible?
  7. How does God guide us?
  8. How can I resist evil?  
  9. Why & how should we tell others?
  10. Does God heal today?
  11. What about the Church?  
  12. Weekend Retreat: Who is the Holy Spirit? What does the Holy Spirit do? How can I be filled with the Holy Spirit? How can I make the most of the rest of my life?

View the short video introduction to Alpha

Experience #3 (growing and going deeper). ​How Christianity Makes Sense of the World - A Book Group

Join a book group to read, discuss, and apply Broken Signposts: How Christianity Makes Sense of the World by internationally recognized author and Scripture scholar N.T. Wright. 

N. T. Wright argues that every world view must explain seven “signposts,” indicators inherent to humanity: Justice, Spirituality, Relationships, Beauty, Freedom, Truth, and Power. If we do not live up to these ideals, our societies and individual lives become unbalanced, creating anger and frustration—negative emotions that divide us from ourselves and from God, he contends. Using the Gospel of John as his source, Wright shows how Christianity defines each signpost and illuminates why we so often see them as being "broken" and unattainable. Drawing on the wisdom of the Gospels, Wright explains why these signposts are fractured and damaged and how Christianity provides the vision, guidance, and hope for making them whole once again, ultimately healing ourselves and our world. ​​
Book Group Format 
  1. Prepare by reading by one or two designated chapters.
  2. Share your experience of praying with the everyone engaged in the book study using our "Learning to Pray" Facebook Group. 
  3. Meet with your group to discuss the  chapter 

Choose How You Want to Participate
  • ​​Join a book study group that meets weekly at church.
  • Join a book study group that meets at home.
  • Host your own book study group. 
  • Hold a book study group online at Zoom. ​

View the introduction to the book by N.T. Wright