Small Groups and Learning

SMALL GROUPS AND LEARNING MINISTRIES

Mural Sunday Morning Activities:
During the school year, following the 9:30 worship service, the Sunday Learning Place involves the children and youth of the congregation in Christian education and growth. Each session of Sunday Learning Place involves an opening music time, followed by small group reflection on a theme for the day from the lessons, and then a concluding period devoted to art.

At the same time, confirmation, or affirmation of baptism, for 6th, 7th and 8th graders also takes place along with adult forum. The rite of confirmation is celebrated on Reformation Sunday in the fall.

Guest Theologians:
St Johns occasionally brings in quest theologians to deepen our reflections. Since 2004 we have hosted Dr. Jeanne Stevenson-Moessner with her husband David, both from the U. of Dubuque Seminary.Their work with us was on the problem of suffering, Dr. Boris Matthews, a Jungian therapist in Madison, who worked with us on Peter Richardson’s Four Spiritualities, a look at the different spiritual approaches individuals, groups, and congregations take in their relationship with God, and Dr. Craig Nessan, the Academic Dean of Wartburg Seminary, who worked with us on the theme of congregational mission and theology. Dr. Richard Davidson from the University of Wisconsin spoke recently here on the impact of meditation on brain activity. In February of 2009, our guest theologian was Dr. Norma Cook Everist, from Wartburg Seminary.

Various Groups:
John's also has an active small group ministry. Groups have focused on simple living, gender issues facing the church, a summer men's group, a youth group, afternoon and evening women's circles, a book study group, choirs, a group of men, and teacher groups.

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