Growing Together

JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2011 SHARINGTHEHEART.ORG 

ADULT DISCIPLESHIP AT FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Reaching Higher “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 3:18)

Growing Deeper

“The wind of God’s Spirit powers us.”

There’s Something in the Wind

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ne of the pictures of the Holy Spirit of God in the Bible that is most interesting to me is Jesus‘ picture of the Spirit as wind. Christ likens the way that God‘s presence moves in our lives and in our world to a blowing wind: ―The wind blows wherever it pleases.

You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going‖ (John 3:8).

This comparison does not come as a surprise, as the words for ‗wind‘ and for ‗spirit‘ are the same in the original languages of both the Old and the New Testaments. But the idea that Jesus points to in his statement is the notion that we humans don‘t easily observe how and from what direction the Spirit of God moves, but the effects of that movement are often very 2

obvious. When God has arrived and has been at work and has filled our lives, it is usually unmistakable.

Jesus points out that we do not control the ‗wind.‘ Instead, the wind of God‘s Spirit powers us. A little later in the Book of John, Jesus tells us that one of the chief reasons that God has sent the Holy Spirit is to teach us (John 14:26).

God powers our lives as God‘s Spirit instructs us according to God‘s Word how to live in God‘s ways. Our role and responsibility in this process is to stand like windmills who are open and ready to receive the wind that gives us the power we need to live the lives that God created us to have.

How will you become a ‗windmill‘ for God‘s power in 2011? How will you stand tall, strong, and

ready for God to teach and lead you into deeper discipleship? Our hope is that you will connect with places of learning and growing in the community of faith like those contained in the following pages.

Come learn and grow together with us. And find the strength and the exhilaration of spirit that will power you into and through this new year.

Rev. John Harman Adult Discipleship Pastor

Join the Journey Growing

2011

Join the Journey

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f you are new to First United Methodist Church, you‘ll designed to inform and equip you to understand and respond find the Join the Journey experience to to the biblical call to a life of discipleship. be an opportunity to make a meaningful We hope that every person in the church connection. It is especially designed to family has a regular place of connection Begins Jan 9 answer your questions about the Christian where you can learn and grow in community.

10:05 am faith, the Methodist Church, and life in the We believe that Join the Journey will help church family. As you explore some basic you find a pathway to that connection that is Room C210 topics in Christianity, Methodism, personal right for you.

Bible study, and service and discipleship, you See the schedule below and visit the Join the will get to connect with other newcomers and Journey page under Short Term Studies at begin a journey of learning and spiritual growth together in sharingtheheart.org/adults to learn more. You can register this family of faith. there using the online form, or stop by the Information Desk The weekly sessions work around United Methodist Bishop William Willimon‘s This We Believe: The Core of Wesleyan Faith and Practice (Abingdon Press, 2010). They are

in the main church lobby and let us know you‘d like to Join the Journey. This is an ongoing class that you can join at any time in the 12-week cycle.

Join the Journey January 9 – March 27, 2011 Week 1

Come to the Table: The Feast of Fellowship

Week 7

We Believe: In the Guidance of Scripture

Week 2

We the People: Our United Methodist Heritage

Week 8

Personal Bible Study Basics

Week 3

We Believe: In One God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

Week 9

We Believe: In Christian Work and Witness

Week 4

We Believe: In Jesus Christ and His Reign

Week 10 We Believe: In the Gift of the Church

Week 5

We Believe: In the Work of the Holy Spirit

Week 11 Serving in the Spirit: Spiritual Gifts for the Church

Week 6

We Believe: In Salvation for Sinners

Week 12 Called to Grow: Intentional Discipleship

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Making Connections Every Friday Morning

A Class for Confirmation Parents

On Friday mornings at 7:00, men gather at the church for coffee and Bible study together to start the day.

The study is led by experienced Bible teachers from within the group and encourages interaction and fellowship as well as praying for needs that are shared. This large group studies through books of the Bible by reading and discussing a new section each week.

Parents of children in this year‘s Confirmation Class have a new opportunity to connect, learn, and grow.

It‘s an adult Sunday school class called Credo, and it tracks week-to-week right along with the topics that the Confirmation students are discussing.

This time of Bible study and connection is open to all men, and welcomes visitors and those who are only able to attend occasionally.

Stop by Room B110 (Parlor) any Friday and discover this popular fellowship for yourself!

A Special Connection the Last Sunday of the Month Would you like to know more about McKinney First United Methodist Church? Then join us for a Visitor Information Class! We will provide some church history and some current information about our ministries, and we‘ll take you on a tour.

A small snack will be provided.

The Visitor Information Class will be held the last Sunday of each month. All are welcome! No need to register. For more information you may contact Liz Greenwell at lgreenwell@sharingtheheart.org or 972-562-8556 ext. 24.

Next Visitor Information Classes: January 30 and February 27, 2011 11:10 am in the Parlor

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This allows parents to connect with other parents, to learn and grow as disciples themselves, and to be able to connect with their child about what they are learning. By discussing and learning about the same subjects as their children each week, Credo helps parents to understand, to reinforce, and to have points of conversation about what it means to be in relationship with God and to be part of a church family.

Many parents participate in rotating leadership in various parts of the Confirmation program, so the Credo experience is designed to accommodate come-and-go needs. We hope that all of the parents of our Confirmation Class can participate regularly because of the obvious benefits to families the class offers, but Credo is a good fit also for those who are able to attend only occasionally.

Credo meets weekly at 9:00 am (the same hour as Confirmation Class) in Room A250, located above the sanctuary. No need to register, just come join in!

What is Financial Peace University?

Financial Peace University (often referred to as FPU) is an important step to changing your financial future. It is your Total Money Makeover Program. It takes knowledge from God and turns it into real action in our lives through a stepby-step process taught by best-selling author and financial counselor Dave Ramsey.

FPU is a 13-week life-changing program that empowers and teaches you how to make the right money decisions to achieve your financial goals and God‘s plan for your life. The course includes practical lessons on eliminating debt, building wealth, giving like never before and much more!

Who is Financial Peace University for?

It‘s for everyone...from the financially secure to the financially distressed. Over 1 million families and individuals have attended Financial Peace University.

Applying God‘s Word radically changes your life. On average, FPU graduates have paid off over $5,300 in debt and saved $2,700 during the 91-day program!

What Will I Learn?

In this life-changing experience you will learn: 1. Cash Flow Planning—Luke 14:28: ―For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it.‖ 2. Debt Snowball Plan Technique to Eliminate Debt— Proverbs 22:7: ―The borrower is slave to the lender.‖ 3. How to Invest Wisely—Ecclesiastes 11:2: ―Give portions to seven, yes to eight, for you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.‖

How Do I Get Started?

Sign up now for the free preview class which will be held on January 23 at 4:00 pm in Dyer Hall. The 13-week course will

begin three weeks later on February 13 at 3:00 pm, also in Dyer Hall.

For more information or to sign up online, visit our website at sharingtheheart.org/financial-peace-university. If you wish to speak with someone about FPU, contact Kay Carlson by email at kaycarlson@ebby.com or you may call her at 972562-8729.

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Growing

New Year

Growing in Faith on Sunday Mornings

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id you know that hundreds of adults participate in Sunday school classes at First United Methodist Church every Sunday morning? Adult Sunday school is the church‘s largest discipleship ministry and has much to offer for study, growth, and fellowship.

Sunday morning groups include large lecture-style classes, mid-sized guided discussion Bible studies, and smaller groups that focus on biblical topics in more personal and informal settings. From inductive Bible studies to topical book discussions to marriage and family-focused fellowships, FUMC has a variety of opportunities on Sundays that are sure to include a match for your interests and style. More classes and groups are being added also, so there is always room for you!

Sunday morning classes welcome visitors and those who just want to ―shop around.‖ The Adult Discipleship

Leadership Team (ADLT) and the leaders of the Sunday classes encourage you to try the wonderful combination of worship and group discipleship growth as a regular part of your Sunday morning experience.

Many of the various classes maintain a web page on the church‘s site at sharingtheheart.org/adults. There you can see a basic description of the group, the meeting time and place, and a person to contact if you‘d like more information.

Often you can also find a description of the current study and other activities in which the class is involved.

At FUMC we believe that a life of faith is a life of growth, and we invite you to grow with us on Sunday mornings.

We welcome your presence and participation as we open our lives together to the transforming experience of Bible study in community.

Visit the Adult Discipleship area on the FUMC website: sharingtheheart.org/adults There you will find more on the studies, groups and classes that are part of our journey of growth together.

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Faith Connections Studies Revelation

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ou are invited to join the Faith Connections Sunday Morning Bible Study for the second series in the Book of Revelation. The first series (completed in the fall) looked at Revelation 1–3. The study resumes on January 16 in Revelation 4. We will have an opportunity to discuss biblical prophecy and apocalypse as well as some of the crucial Old Testament background to the Book of Revelation. But most of all, the book is a book of hope and victory and words of encouragement to the Church during the struggle of waiting for the Lord’s promised return. As the very first verse points out, the purpose of Revelation is to reveal the person, power, and plan of Christ (1:1).

Would you like to know Jesus more deeply, experience his power more fully, and find hope in his triumphant plans for you and for the world more tangibly? Look for Faith Connections on Sundays at 9:00 am in Room C210 beginning January 16.

Jubilee Explores “The Hole in Our Gospel” Jubilee, which meets Sunday mornings at 9:00 in C200, starts a new six-week series January 16 based on the book, The Hole In Our Gospel by Richard Stearns. This is a story of how a CEO faced his own struggle to obey God, whatever the cost, and his passionate call for Christians to change the world by actively living out their faith.

Believing that the “good news” is more than a private transaction between God and us, Stearns challenges readers with this question: What does God expect of us? Two thousand years ago, twelve people changed the world. Stearns believes it can happen again.

Celebration Investigates Covenant Celebration Class will be working through a seven-lesson series starting in January—The Covenant: Lessons for Faith Communities. “One of the most powerful rituals in the ancient Hebrew culture was that of the blood covenant. This binding agreement combined elements of friendship, loyalty and sacrifice. And when God made the blood covenant with Abraham, our relationship with the Father was irrevocably altered. Discover the awesome nature of the Covenant and the revelation of how this timeless ritual radically shifted when God sacrificed His Son on the cross ...when the Covenant Maker changed Heaven and Earth to become the Covenant Keeper.” Celebration meets each Sunday morning at 9:00 in B105 (the Bell Room).

ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL TIMES/LOCATIONS ROOM A200 A215 A225 A250 B105 B110 B200 B205 B215 C200 C205 C210 C215 CHAPEL

9:00

CREDO CELEBRATION CANAFAX GENESIS

10:05 GENERATIONS ALPHA-OMEGA SOLO ACT BOOMERS SEASONS FELLOWSHIP HOMEBUILDERS LIFE APPLICATIONS

JUBILEE COMPASS FAITH CONNECTIONS LORA RYAN

LEGACY JOIN THE JOURNEY ODYSSEY

Homebuilders HomeBuilders, which meets at 10:05 each Sunday, will be starting a new book in January—Marriage: Learning from Couples in Scripture. We will be exploring actual stories of couples in the Bible to understand the spiritual aspect of marriage.

For more information about Bible classes and other discipleship opportunities at First United Methodist Church, visit the Adult Discipleship area of the website: sharingtheheart.org/adults 7

Find More on the Web

FUMC welcomes Dr. Roby Barrett

The Adult Discipleship Leadership Team keeps you informed about what‘s going in classes, studies, and groups at FUMC at sharingtheheart.org/adults. When you visit, you can easily find your way to class information, online registrations, descriptions of different ministries, and new opportunities to connect.

On January 30, 2011, the United Methodist Women and the Adult Discipleship Leadership Team welcome church member Dr. Roby Barrett for a special presentation, ―The Political Diversity of Islam: The Present in Context.‖ This event will take place in the church parlor (Room B110) at 2:00 pm and is open to all.

Contact information for the adult discipleship staff is available on the site as well, and we welcome questions and comments any time.

We are eager to help you find the connection that is right for you, and there are many possibilities at FUMC. Become informed, look around, contact us when necessary, and join the rich journey of discipleship that is such a special part of life at McKinney First United Methodist Church.

What’s Your Story?

Footprints is a six-week group workshop whose participants begin to write the stories of their lives. Footprints encourages you to remember the people, places, and events in your life that have made you who you are and to write those memories down as short stories. With an experienced guide to lead the way and a specially designed notebook for the journey, groups meet weekly (or every other week in some sessions) to write and to share their writing.

A Footprints group is currently underway and would welcome your visit, and a new group will begin soon. Groups are started seasonally through the year, so contact the author and facilitator of the program to learn more about the Footprints experience or to express your interest in an upcoming session. Email or call Sue Wagstaff at sue_wag@sbcglobal.net or 972.548.2071.

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Roby Barrett, Ph.D., is an internationally recognized scholar, professor, author, and senior advisor on strategic issues related to the Middle East. He has experience in both the private and public sectors, and is sought after by the international media for comment on Gulf security, nuclear issues, Iraq, Iran, and the Arab Gulf.

Dr. Barrett is the author of The Greater Middle East and the Cold War: U. S. Foreign Policy under Eisenhower and Kennedy (2007), and The Arabian Gulf and Security Policy: The Past as Present, the Present as Future (2009), among many other publications. He publishes and presents in conjunction with his work as a scholar with the Public Policy Center at the Middle East Institute in Washington, and with other institutions where he serves as a senior fellow.

Visit sharingtheheart.org/coming-events for more about the background, achievements, and current interests of our guest, and plan to join us for this fascinating educational opportunity. No registration is necessary.

Invitation to Romans

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new daytime Bible study on Thursday afternoons from 12:30-2:00 will begin on January 20: Invitation to Romans, led by Rev. Sandy Stamey. The class will meet weekly in the Parlor (B110).

So much of our understanding of the Christian faith is shaped by our understanding of this magnificent book of the Bible, and the work of so many key figures throughout Christian history has been formed by its study. The importance of the Book of Romans certainly cannot be overstated, and we hope that you will take this opportunity to be in conversation with the biblical text and with others in the study group.

Rev. Stamey

This short-term (9-week) Disciple Bible Study uses the same format as our full-year Disciple classes and so integrates the powerful combination of short daily readings and a weekly meeting for discussion that includes a brief video presentation from a New Testament scholar.

If you are looking for a Bible study during the day that will allow you to explore and discuss some of the foundational

doctrines of the Christian faith and how they translate into our lives as disciples of Jesus Christ, then we hope you will take advantage of this opportunity. Plan to spend about 30 minutes daily reading the Bible assignments and reflecting over some study questions. Then, plan to attend the 90-minute group meeting to experience the video and discuss what you are learning and applying together.

Jan 20 - March 17

To register for this short course, please visit the short-term studies page in the adult discipleship area of the church website: sharingtheheart.org/adults. You‘ll find an online registration form there. You may also stop by the Information Desk in the main church lobby on Sunday mornings to use the signup sheet there. If you need more information, email us at discipleship@sharingtheheart.org See you in Bible study in the new year!

Visit www.sharingtheheart.org/adults for information about classes, studies, and groups for adults at FUMC!

Personal Bible Study Basics

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ave you been wanting to get into studying the Bible on your own, but feel intimidated or overwhelmed or unprepared to get started? A lot of us feel that way, but it doesn‘t need to be so. God wants us to be listening to him as he speaks to us through the Scriptures. We encourage everyone in the FUMC family to read the Bible daily (see the Reading Plan on page 10 for a suggestion) and to study the Bible regularly—both in a group and on your own.

The short course Personal Bible Study Basics led by Pastor John Harman will be offered in March 2011. In this very

basic class, you‘ll get some tips, strategies, and resources that will help you get started in Bible study. By developing a method and knowing where to start, personal Bible study will be less daunting and much more inviting for you. This interactive class is also a good place to ask questions that you have about the Bible and about Bible study.

Stay tuned as 2011 gets underway, and we‘ll be publishing more information about the class schedule and how to register.

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he third Gospel book in the New Testament, the Gospel of Luke, opens with a clear statement of purpose: having carefully researched the facts of Jesus‘ birth, life, death, and resurrection from the firsthand eyewitnesses who experienced them, Luke writes so that his reader ―may know the certainty of the things you have been taught‖ (1:4). Let‘s begin this year as the First United Methodist Church family by grounding ourselves regularly in the certainty of who Jesus Christ is and what he has done for us. Read and know the story. Then tell the story. We as people of God have the greatest news ever given to proclaim in the world. As you follow these readings into the new year, you will know the blessing and strength that come from giving attention to the Word of God, and you will become equipped in your witness as you live out Christ‘s call to discipleship. You can get a copy of this reading schedule printed on a bookmark at the Information Desk in the main church lobby, so join with the church family and let‘s read the Gospel together!

January 2011 1 Luke 1:1-25

14 Luke 5:1-11

27 Luke 10:1-24

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2 Luke 1:26-38

15 Luke 5:12-26

28 Luke 10:25-42

8 Luke 15:1-32

21 Luke 22:1-38

3 Luke 1:39-56

16 Luke 5:27-39

29 Luke 11:1-28

9 Luke 16:1-15

22 Luke 22:39-62

4 Luke 1:57-66

17 Luke 6:1-16

30 Luke 11:29-54

10 Luke 16:16-31

23 Luke 22:63-23:25

5 Luke 1: 67-80

18 Luke 6:17-42

31 Luke 12:1-12

11 Luke 17:1-19

24 Luke 23:26-43

6 Luke 2:1-20

19 Luke 6:43-49

12 Luke 17:20-37

25 Luke 23:44-56

7 Luke 2:21-40

20 Luke 7:1-17

13 Luke 18:1-17

26 Luke 24:1-12

8 Luke 2:41-52

21 Luke 7:18-50

1 Luke 12:13-34

14 Luke 18:18-30

27 Luke 24:13-35

9 Luke 3:1-20

22 Luke 8:1-18

2 Luke 12:35-59

15 Luke 18:31-43

28 Luke 24:36-53

10 Luke 3:21-38

23 Luke 8:19-39

3 Luke 13:1-21

16 Luke 19:1-27

11 Luke 4:1-13

24 Luke 8:40-56

4 Luke 13:22-30

17 Luke 19:28-48

12 Luke 4:14-30

25 Luke 9:1-36

5 Luke 13:31-35

18 Luke 20:1-26

13 Luke 4:31-44

26 Luke 9:37-62

6 Luke 14:1-24

19 Luke 20:27-47

February 2011

Luke 14:25-35

20 Luke 21:1-38

“. . . so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught” (Luke 1:4).

GrowingTogether!

GrowingTogether is the bimonthly newsletter of the Adult Discipleship Leadership Team (ADLT). Its purpose is to highlight upcoming opportunities to connect and grow in the First United Methodist Church family, and to encourage you on your journey of faith. We believe that a journey of faith is a journey of growth and that connecting with God through Bible study and with one another in Christian community are essential to our growth. If the ADLT can provide information or guidance for you along the discipleship pathway, please let us know: discipleship@sharingtheheart.org.

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This Calendar features the opportunities to connect and grow contained in this edition of GrowingTogether. For a comprehensive list of church-wide ministries and events, visit the calendar at sharingtheheart.org.

January FUMC Calendar Sunday Every Sunday Morning: 8:00 am Traditional Worship 9:00 am Adult Sunday School Traditional Worship 10:05 am Adult Sunday School Wellspring Worship Traditional Worship 11:10 Wellspring Worship Traditional Worship

Join the Journey

Monday 2

Tuesday 3

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Friday 6

Saturday 7

1

7:00 am Men’s Bible Study

9:30 am Advent Women’s Study

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5:30 pm Disciple I 7:00 pm Small Groups

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6:30 pm Chapel Service Small Groups

7:00 pm Disciple I Christian Believer

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7:00 pm

11 9:30 am Disciple I Young Women’s Study Footprints

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13

7:00 am Men’s Bible Study

14

15

21

22

28

29

9:30 am Wednesday Women’s Study

5:30 pm Disciple I 7:00 pm Small Groups

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16

6:30 pm Chapel Service Small Groups

7:00 pm Disciple I Christian Believer

4:30 pm Disciple I 5:30 pm Disciple II, Disciple III

7:00 pm Small Group

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18 9:30 am Disciple I Young Women’s Study

10:05 am, Room C210

7:00 pm Small Groups

6:30 pm Chapel Service Small Groups

7:00 pm Disciple I Christian Believer

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25 9:30 am Disciple I Young Women’s Study Footprints

FREE PREVIEW 4:00 pm, Dyer Hall

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7:00 am Men’s Bible Study

9:30 am Wednesday Women’s Study 12:30 pm Disciple Study: Invitation to Romans

7:00 pm Small Groups

30

7:00 pm Small Group

26

5:30 pm Disciple I

4:30 pm Disciple I 5:30 pm Disciple II, Disciple III

7:00 am Men’s Bible Study

9:30 am Wednesday Women’s Study

5:30 pm Disciple I

23

20

12:30 pm Disciple Study: Invitation to Romans

10:05 am, Room C210

Join the Journey

Thursday

Happy New Year!

4:30 pm Disciple I 5:30 pm Disciple II, Disciple III

Join the Journey

4 9:30 am Disciple I Young Women’s Study

10:05 am, Room C210

Join the Journey

Wednesday

7:00 pm Disciple I Christian Believer

6:30 pm Chapel Service Small Groups

7:00 pm Small Group

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10:05 am, Room C210

11:10 am Visitor Information Class 2:00 pm Presentation: Dr. Roby Barrett 4:30 pm Disciple I 5:30 pm Disciple II, Disciple III

5:30 pm Disciple I 7:00 pm Small Groups

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This Calendar features the opportunities to connect and grow contained in this edition of GrowingTogether. For a comprehensive list of church-wide ministries and events, visit the calendar at sharingtheheart.org.

February FUMC Calendar Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday 1

Every Sunday Morning: 8:00 am Traditional Worship 9:00 am Adult Sunday School Traditional Worship 10:05 am Adult Sunday School Wellspring Worship Traditional Worship 11:10 Wellspring Worship Traditional Worship

9:30 am Disciple I Young Women’s Study

2 9:30 am Wednesday Women’s Study

6:30 pm Chapel Service Small Groups

7:00 pm Disciple I Christian Believer

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9

Join the Journey

7:00 pm Small Groups

6:30 pm Chapel Service Small Groups

7:00 pm Disciple I Christian Believer

14

7:00 pm Small Groups

6:30 pm Chapel Service Small Groups

7:00 pm Disciple I Christian Believer

21

22 9:30 am Disciple I Young Women’s Study Footprints

3:00 pm, Dyer Hall 4:30 pm Disciple I 5:30 pm Disciple II, Disciple III

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7:00 pm Disciple I Christian Believer

28

5:30 pm Disciple I 7:00 pm Small Groups

24 7:00 am Men’s Bible Study

12:30 pm Disciple Study: Invitation to Romans

7:00 pm Small Groups

10:05 am, Room C210

25

26

7:00 pm Small Group

9:30 am Wednesday Women’s Study

5:30 pm Disciple I

11:10 am Visitor Information Class

19

7:00 am Men’s Bible Study

23

3:00 pm, Dyer Hall

27

18

12:30 pm Disciple Study: Invitation to Romans

10:05 am, Room C210

Join the Journey

17

9:30 am Wednesday Women’s Study

5:30 pm Disciple I

4:30 pm Disciple I 5:30 pm Disciple II, Disciple III

12

7:00 pm Small Group

3:00 pm, Dyer Hall

20

11 7:00 am Men’s Bible Study

16

15 9:30 am Disciple I Young Women’s Study

10:05 am, Room C210

Join the Journey

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12:30 pm Disciple Study: Invitation to Romans

5:30 pm Disciple I

4:30 pm Disciple I 5:30 pm Disciple II, Disciple III

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9:30 am Wednesday Women’s Study

3:00 pm, Dyer Hall

13

4

7:00 pm Small Group

8 9:30 am Disciple I Young Women’s Study Footprints

10:05 am, Room C210

4:30 pm Disciple I 5:30 pm Disciple II, Disciple III

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Saturday

12:30 pm Disciple Study: Invitation to Romans

7:00 pm Small Groups

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Friday 7:00 am Men’s Bible Study

5:30 pm Disciple I

Join the Journey

Thursday

6:30 pm Chapel Service Small Groups

7:00 pm Small Group