The Church of the Open Door
Adult Education Offerings
Movie Night
We will be viewing and discussing movies with social justice themes during this educational opportunity co-sponsored with ESTHER.
First Friday of the month, 7:00 pm in the Pathways Theater
Contact: Gretchen Revie, (920) 731-9071,gretchen.m.revie@lawrence.edu
Winter Women’s Retreat
Theme: Come to the Well (God Meets Our Needs)
We all come to God's well—whether it is to take something or to bring something. Whichever it is, God will and does provide. The story of the woman at the well, found in the fourth chapter of John is the foundation for our time together. We will join together in exploring how this story speaks to our lives. We will have time set apart to get to know one another, time for fun and fellowship, time for re-creation, time to allow God to refresh us in body, mind and soul. Come join us for a wonderful weekend at the well.
February 17-19, 2012
Pilgrim Center, Ripon, WI
Cost: $115.00 (includes 2 nights lodging and 5 meals)
Lenten Study: “What Does a Disciple Look Like?”
We will be challenged this Lent through an all-congregation devotional to grow as disciples through engaging in six different practices:
Prayer: to engage regularly in prayer for ourselves and for the needs of others;
Presence: to regularly be a part of the First Congo worshipping family;
Participate: to take our part as a volunteer in the ministries of our church;
Prepare: through study and meditation, to discern God’s purpose for our life and hope for our gifts;
Proclaim: to share with others our faith journey and our faith community
Promise: as God has fulfilled the promise of blessing in our lives to be a blessing on our church family through generous and faithful giving.
This 40-day devotional will be given out in worship at the beginning of Lent and will also be available online. Look for more details in February in the Open Door and on the church website.
Lenten Study – Open the Door by Joyce Rupp
Our church-wide theme for this year is A Door Set Open. In our lives, our journey to our true selves, made in the image and likeness of God, what are we opening or not opening the door to seeing, being, living. The door is “an invitation to spiritual growth and awareness. It is an invitation to live more fully in union with God.” This is a six-week process of reflection, study, and discussion. We invite you to join us on the journey.
Thursday evenings 6:30 – 8:00 PM
Cost of book $18.95
Bible Study: Romans
This is the book of the Bible that started a revolution, or more precisely, a Reformation. Paul’s letter to the Romans inspired Martin Luther to take a good long look at the ways in which the Church was living out the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He concluded that the Church wasn’t practicing what it preached, particularly when it came to law and grace. In this six-week study, we will have a chance to encounter Paul’s marvelous theology of grace and ask how we should be living out our faith in the days in which we live. For further information, visit the church website or contact Rev. Steve Savides.
Wednesdays, 10:30-Noon, April 11 – May 16, church library
A Retreat for Women of All Ages and Faith Traditions
Theme: Bold Faith
This retreat is an opportunity for gifted women of diverse Christian traditions, cultures, and communities to gather and grow in faith with one another and the Holy One in our midst. We will have both large and small groups, workshops in the arts, body prayer and music and dance. We will explore, engage, and empower one another as we journey together learning to live the Gospel boldly. A Bold Faith brochure detailing the opportunities of the weekend will be coming.
When: April 13, 14, 15
Where: Imago Dei Retreat Center
Cost: $95.00
Childcare provided – fee TBA
Lay leaders will come from various Christian faith traditions; Christian clergy leaders will include Rev. Susan Phillips, Rev. Jane Anderson, Rev. Grace Imathiu, Rev. Mara Rivera, Molly Haggerty-Brewster, Dara Stull.
