The Church of the Palms offers several educational opportunities to assist folks in their spiritual journeys.
SUNDAY MORNING DISCUSSION (8:30 AM -9:30 AM) Starting May 13, 2018, we began Lost Christianities: Christian Scriptures and the Battles over Authentication taught by: Professor Bart D. Ehrman, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
In the first centuries after Christ, there was no “official” New Testament. Instead, early Christians read and fervently followed a wide variety of Scriptures—many more than we have today. Relying on these writings, Christians held beliefs that today would be considered bizarre. Some believed that there were two, 12, or as many as 30 gods. Some thought that a malicious deity, rather than the true God, created the world. Some maintained that Christ’s death and resurrection had nothing to do with salvation while others insisted that Christ never really died at all.
The discussion group is led by Debby Stinton. Come for one or come for all! We enjoy the diversity of conversation and fellowship.
June 17th – The Gnostic Gospel of Truth
June 24th – Gnostics Explain Themselves
July 1st – The Coptic Gospel of Thomas
July 8th – Thomas’ Gnostic Teachings
July 15nd – Infancy Gospels
July 22th – The Gospel of Peter
July 29th – The Secret Gospel of Mark
August 5th – The Acts of John
August 12th – The Acts of Thomas
August 19th – The Acts of Paul and Thecia
August 26th – Forgeries in the Name of Paul
September 2nd – The Epistle of Barnabas
September 9th – The Apocalypse of Peter
September 16th – The Rise of Early Christian Orthodoxy
September 23rd – Beginnings of the Canon
September 30th – Formation of the New Testament Canon
October 7th – Interpretation of Scripture
October 14th– Orthodox Corruption of Scripture
October 21st – Early Christian Creeds
MONDAY MORNING LIFELONG LEARNING (10 AM – 11:30 AM)
September 10th-October 8th
Richard Rohr…Embracing an Alternative Orthodoxy
A DVD / Discussion led by Debby Stinton
FELLOWSHIP BREAKFASTS (2ND TUESDAYS)
Continental-style breakfasts follow a speaker and program. Bring a friend or neighbor. Freewill offerings accepted to defray the cost.
COSMIC CHRISTIANS (Tuesdays, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.)
This energetic group meets on Tuesdays from 11:30 am till 1pm. We began a new series on Tuesday, May 29, facilitated by Kay Klinkenborg.
Kay presents a DVD, “Everything is Spiritual” produced and preached by Rob Bell. Bell notes that the Hebrew Scriptures have no word for ‘spiritual.’ Jesus never used the words ‘spiritual life’ …yet Jesus’ life and tradition exemplified that all is spiritual. What does that mean for us today?
The DVD and discussion are the bridge to the classes that will learn about ‘Integral Spirituality,’ a model of spirituality designed by Ken Wilbur.
The classes will watch a DVD series: “The Future of Christianity: A Startling New Vision of Hope for the 21st Century,” featuring Ken Wilbur and Fr. Thomas Keating will be the core material for learning about Integral Spirituality.
Ken Wilbur is an internationally known author and philosopher, and Fr. Thomas Keating is a Trappist Monk who has focused his ministry on teaching “Centering Prayer” and is the author on numerous spiritual books.
Integral Spirituality is a model that describes our individual development of spiritual/consciousness levels.
Discussion will include applications and questions that this brings to us personally and to our church, our families and our communities. This series has no book; handouts will be provided for each class session.
JACK EVANS PRESENTS: The Palms’ monthly film
Check the lineup!
SUNDAY AFTERNOON LIFELONG LEARNING (1:30-3 PM)
September 9th through October 7th
Richard Rohr…Embracing an Alternative Orthodoxy
A DVD / Discussion led by Debby Stinton
October 14-January 20: no afternoon class
